We just bought a condo built in the 80s, yesterday I heard a crackling/whirring noise and found smoke coming out of the fuse box in the hallway, of course in a panic I unscrewed the whole thing not realizing all I needed to do was pull the knob and remove the fuses.These fuses go to the A/C -heater, the ones I took out were 1 use fuses so I went to Home Depot asked and got the primo Fusetron FRN-R-40 250 V, same numbers as the 1 use fuses, however I was paranoid all night and didn't run the heater. This a.m I did and remaining paranoid, kept feeling the box and the fuses were hot.
My questions are-are they suppose to feel hot?
The previous fuses were in when we moved in and worked 2 months we have been here and do I need an electrician?
Thanks!
2007-12-26 23:59:23 · 5 answers · asked by aries32460 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
There are only 2 fuses in the box, both the size of a shotgun shell...I will see what our wonderful maintenance man says if I can find where he is napping today. I do have a program I pay for thru SMUD...unfortunatley it doesn't "kick in" for a week!
2007-12-27 06:44:18 · update #1
Electrician-YES Peace of mind is worth any price.
2007-12-27 00:03:31 · answer #1 · answered by shazaamazam 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dof you have actual fuses - little glass and metal screw-in plugs that you can physically remove from the socket by unscrewing them? Did you take them all out? Did you make a note of what size was in which socket?
Each socket is a different circuit in the house. They probably correspond to areas or individual heavy use appliances, like the living room and dining room, the kitchen, the microwave, the furnace, etc. If you didn't get them back in the same sockets, they will get warm and eventually blow, because an AC unit will draw a lot more power than a few lights.
Yeah, call an electrician. He can figure out what's on which circuit for you. As he does this, make a list of what's on which circuit and what size fuse that takes. Ask him what it would cost to replace the fuse panel with a circuit breaker box. It will be several hundred dollars, but it's more modern, and maybe safer.
2007-12-27 08:13:36 · answer #2 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pretty much any heat electrically is caused by impedance, a fuse operating normally shouldn't really be getting hot.
Either it's not the correct rating and it's close to blowing.....check what size fuse the appliance requires, don't simply trust that the right fuse was installed to begin with.
Some idiot may have put the wrong size fuse in before.
Or if it is all correct then you may have a loose connection, that also causes impedance and therefore heat.
Check the fuse is sitting tight in the fuse carrier and that the fuse carrier is seated firmly.
Do ALL of the above with the power OFF.
However, if in any doubt....get a spark in.
2007-12-27 08:11:38 · answer #3 · answered by Angela D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you need a electrician. Be careful going into a live "HOT" fuse panel.
The electrician can advise you on what needs to be done. You can also call your power company...they just may offer free inspections and advise.
2007-12-27 08:33:26 · answer #4 · answered by xman77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES!
2007-12-27 08:08:07 · answer #5 · answered by R P A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋