ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Photos for General Discussion Good ol' copper pipe in the fuse holder trick

This is in an actual motor controller that resides in one of the buildings that I work in. I do not know the exact details of how it came to be but I was told it's been there for many years. I was told that the motor controller no longer serves it's original function and power simply runs through it. A closer look is needed.

Besides the copper pipe 'no blow' fuse....there are other issues.

That is a 5 amp fuse, correct?

Yup, looks like an FRN 5 to me.
I suppose you are talking about the double lugging (triple?) on the bottom of the pipe holder and what is going on with the white wire?

It's a neutral bar and someone forgot to tape the copper tube white.

The area that this motor starter is in once housed the boilers for the building (mid 1960's). It still has a lot of pump and fan motors - all 600VAC with some having 600V controls. I have had to troubleshoot a few things in this area. The wiring that has been done on some of the equipment makes me nervous at times. Most of the time there will be two of us - four eyes and two brains are better. It was in this area that I first seen a 3 phase motor starter with O/L's on only two of three phases. The third had a factory metal jumper. Had to ask my supervisor, who has been in the trade for about 40 years, how many years back when that was code. He couldn't remember.

OK, I hope the 250 volt fuse, and the copper pipe non-use don't see 600 volts. Please tell us this MC is 'dead'.