quick question... Household fuses

[Deluded]

How can you tell if these types of fuse have blown? You cant see in like you can with the glass type.

[Overhaulin]

One of these

http://www.sourcingmap.com/three-and-half-bits-lcd...

[Deluded]

So you cant just look at it and see its blown then...

Bugger

House fuse box has a load of these and one (maybe two) is blown. Ive no idea which is for which circuit...

[Murray993]

Lick them

Cheers


The Moose

[Shake&Bake]

If you can borrow a continuity meter from a neighbour put both probes at either end of fuse and turn meter to continuity, you should hear a "beeeeep" if it's good.
Failing that identlfy something with the same rated fuse that you know is working, isolate the power and exchange the fuse that you want to check. If it works then the appliance is probably at fault, not the fuse.

[mechsympathy]

Can't you use a battery, a bulb and a bit of wire?

[john_p]

Get a 9v battery, stick the fuse in the big bit then attempt to lick the end of the fuse and the other battery terminal at the same time

[Deluded]

I would try putting them into other stuff but the box has 5A which are the normal plug type size, then has 15A which are slightly bigger and then 30A which are even bigger than that. So can only test the 5A, but they are all fine.

I'm trying to hunt down the circuit for out immersion heater.

I replaced one of the heaters yesterday as it was knackered. Turned it on, worked for a few seconds, turned it off. Tried to turn it on again 10 mins later and it didnt work. Assumed I had broken the unit somehow so got a replacement today. fitted and it doesnt work.

In the end I tried to short the live and neg and nowt. Fuse in the switch isn't blown (its 15a, tested in the missus hair dryer) so am assuming that the main fuse for the circuit on the fuse box has blown.

I am assuming that it will most likely be one of the 30A fuses?

[Dogwatch]

I would have thought it was more likely to be a 15A fuse for an immersion heater circuit.
BTW. 15A Consumer Unit fuses aren't the same as the fuses you illustrated which appear to be plug-top fuses, they are chunkier (and pricier) and not sold by every electrical outlet.

[cjs]

If you are doing this sort of work you should definitely have a Multi Meter to test circuits!! The circuit for an immersion is usually separate and on a 15/16A fuse at the board. 5/6A are lighting circuits. 30/32A are your ring main sockets.

[john_p]

Deluded said:

In the end I tried to short the live and neg and nowt. Fuse in the switch isn't blown (its 15a, tested in the missus hair dryer) so am assuming that the main fuse for the circuit on the fuse box has blown.

Please go to Maplin or Homebase or anywhere and buy a multimeter before you set your house on fire

[esselte]

Deluded said:

In the end I tried to short the live and neg and nowt.

why did you do this...?

[Deluded]

because it would have sparked if there was power. Which there wasnt.

Anyway, Ive tested all of the fuses (made a simple circuit using the car battery). All of the fuses completed the circuit execpt for the two 15A fuses.

Would I assume this means these two fuses are buggered and likely to be the fuses for the heaters? If I take the fuses out, everything in the house (bar the heaters of course) works still. There are two immersion heaters. each has its own fused switch. Are they likely to both be on there own circuit?

[esselte]

Deluded said:

because it would have sparked if there was power.

There's a possibility that by doing this you've popped the main fuse...

[Deluded]

Which was blown anyway, hence no power in the wires when I touched them.

[esselte]

Deluded said:

Which was blown anyway, hence no power in the wires when I touched them.

I don't thinmk that's the best way to test.....

[barney123]

Deluded said:

Which was blown anyway, hence no power in the wires when I touched them.

I hope for your family's sake you dont have problems with your gas :-)

[john_p]

I remember touching the bare wires on a broken plug when I was about 12.. just to see what would happen.

I remember a big spark, a loud bang and the top part of the cable being totally blackened. That was a 3A fuse I think. Wouldn't fancy trying it with 15A

[Nolar Dog]

Deluded said:

Which was blown anyway, hence no power in the wires when I touched them.

Sounds a great way to test things.

[Ganglandboss]

Deluded said:

In the end I tried to short the live and neg and nowt.

A little advice from a qualified spark...

STEP AWAY FROM THE ELECTRICS - NOW!