Fuses

[soaps]

Is there anyway to tell if a fuse has gone in a plug? My iron just cut off and when I checked for loose wires there was none, so I put the fuse in silver paper and it worked then, is it dangerous to do this?

[alexanderd]

Yes it is!!! put a new fuse in the same size as the old one never put silver paper in. you might as well use a 6inch nail.

[soaps]

But it's OK once it's supervised and I get the ironing done ? I don't leave it plugged in!

[sir.prize]

If you are unsure whether a fuse has 'gone', put it into another appliance plug to check it.

[alexanderd]

There is a reason the fuse has gone, it may just be old age but it may be something more serious and you are taking a big risk. If it is something serious it could cause a fire, change the fuse and if it blows again look elsewhere for the problem. you should always have spare fuses at home for this reason

[soaps]

God idea sir.
Alex, the iron is less than 2 years old and the house is only 10 years old.

[soaps]

Good^

[wildwood]

The age of the iron doesn't matter soaps. The fuse is there for your safety. It blows when there is something amiss. Never do the silverpaper thing PLEASE.

[alexanderd]

sorry soaps but as an electrician I can tell you never to wrap silver paper round a fuse.sir. prize has a good idea but please dont put yourself in danger which you are doing with the silver paper. The fuse is rated for a reason, your safety

[4getmenot]

what do you do when a battery goes, you try a new one, so do it wth a fuse

[mike11111]

I remember when plugs did not come with fuses (and they were round pin with red, black and green wiring). If a fuse blew my father would have to crawl into the cubby hole under the stairs and wrap some fresh fuse wire around the offending fuse. Fuse wire used to come wrapped around a piece of card and you would snip off however much you wanted. Can you still get it?

[alexanderd]

Mike yes you can I have some at home. 5,10 and 15 amp

[DTCwordfan]

can I have some?

My mother still has those type of fuses in part of her house. Wire is available from her local hardware store - Mallets in Truro

[mike11111]

At the time I am talking about, just after the Dark Ages and shortly before the Norman Conquest, all electrical goods were sold without plugs. You had to buy the plug separately then fit it at home (and you'd better make sure you got the wiring right or you would fuse the whole house). Shortly before fitted plugs became compulsory I would take an electrical item to the sales desk and say, "I'll buy this if you fit a plug to it". They never failed to oblige.

[soaps]

Alex, I remember my Dad putting tin-foil around the fuses, we never had any problem when he did it.
Mike, I remember those days when ..... "all electrical goods were sold without plugs" ...I'd say your are a haggler...You sound like someone I'd like to have with me when I go shopping!

[Hopkirk]

The young today have no idea how to wire a plug

(Bill Turnbull said that this morning on BBC Breakfast)

[welshlibranr]

soaps! for safety sake!...............just change the fuse!............

[soaps]

Hopkiirk, Thats because they come attached to the appliance nowadays.

[soaps]

I will do Welsh,

[mike11111]

i was quite happy to pay for the plug (though some times I got it free). I just couldn't see why I should be arsed lugging the thing home then having to spend 15 or more minutes trying to wire the thing up (quite a tricky job, having to strip the ends of the wires down to bare metal to fit them inside the relevant pin points). I remember having to do it with my first two record players, but not with my third!

[soaps]

Yeah, it seems silly now buying an electric item and no plug on it!" and then having to hook a plug up to it!
I guess the EU is good for something.