Is it OK to replace a fuse in your fuse box with a metal paper clip?

Answer 1

NO!!! major cause of fire!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Maybe you are asking why as it is definitely NOT OK.

A fuse is a device that is engineered to protect the house and power supply. The three main components to electricity are voltage (pressure), amperes (flow/current) and ohms (like friction or resistance. Electricity needs to flow in a circuit, whether it be alternating from active to neutral and in reverse, or from negative to positive.

Electricity needs to have resistance in the circuit to restrict the current, kind of like with water, if there was an insane water pressure without resistance, your pipes would have problems.

Power cables are engineered to handle up to the rated current (commonly 10-20 amperes in Australia). A fusebox is the junction of several household circuits has a higher limit (in Australia on single phase - i think 90 amperes).

An electrical fault commonly is caused by one of two conditions, a component breaks to open circuit (disconnects the circuit, which can be dangerous if it livens a case or something else in the device) or short circuit, where the resistance device is not providing any resistance.

Basically if a device short circuits, your fusewire in the fuse in the fusebox is meant to melt and save the day by creating an open circuit.

You stick a paperclip in there and complete the circuit, and the current gets too high, cabling will melt and is highly likely will start a fire, and depending on faulty device, that may very well explode too.

A fusebox will provide some protection in the event that there is fault in the supply (eg a high voltage tower cable drops and connects to a low voltage line which circumvents other protections your power supplier should have in place)

As at high voltage electricity will jump distances through high resistance (such as air, ceramics), a fuise box will not completely protect you from this (which is why other protections with larger clearances should be in place)

This is why noone should ever put a paperclip or nail into the fusebox.

When a fuse goes, there is either a solid or transient fault. A solid fault occurs when a device is faulty or when you are drawing too much current from the devices on the circuit (use to happen when washing machine, drier, heater were running concurrently.

Transient is when a device draws more current at specific points in time, eg air conditioner (which should be isolated on its own circuit) clicks on, massager element kicks in, someone is using their circular saw in the shed and sawing, and refridgerator has been opened for a while and the cooler kicks in. Devices that have fluctuating resistance to control the current. These are really hard to find. A transient fault could also be caused by an intermittent electrical fault.

Hope this answers why it is very bad to short your fusebox out

Answer 3

NO! NO! NO! Do you want to burn the place down? Fuses are there for a good reason, to protect an overloaded circuit. Putting a paper clip in there instead of a fuse virtually guarantees you will overload something, and cause a fire sooner or later. Call an electrician!

Answer 4

no this is very dangerous it should be replaced with the correct rated fuse,the metal paper clip could cause a fire.also checks should be made to find out why the fuse went in the first place

Answer 5

No. The fuse is designed to blow when to much current is in the circuit. You are circumventing this safety precaution.

The circuit probably will operate with a piece of metal to bridge the gap, but it being open metal, sparks and fire are likely.

Replace the fuse box with a circuit breaker.

Answer 6

Erm, no?

The fuse box is there to protect you from power surges and that's why the fuse blows when the circuit goes above a certain current.

Replace with a paper clip only if you want your appliances to blow or your house to burn down.

Answer 7

No - it is very dangerous - use the correct fuse or you risk a fire. Better yet, have your fuse box updated by a qualified electrician and have circuit breakers fitted - then you'll never have to change a fuse again!

Answer 8

First, call the local undertaker to measure you up for a coffin...then, use a 6 inch nail as a fuse.

Answer 9

Seriously, find another plug don't need and nick the fuse from that until you can get to suitable shop. Better than being a housefire statistic.

Answer 10

Kind of makes the whole idea of a fuse box pointless...

Answer 11

It is fine. Just improvise. Why waste money on capitalist nonsense like fuses, they are just a marketing trick designed to make you buy things you don't need.