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Welcome to A2Ks Fuse board Page |
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All too
often these older Boards fail both to support the modern life style appliance
capacity as there was little room for expansion leading to additional
circuits being piggy backed into existing circuits. The terminations for the
main wire to the unit was restricted to 6mm in keeping with the current
carrying capacity of the unit. They also are unable to carry the RCD’s
required for earth leakage to prevent electrocution. |
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Wired Fuses |
Used in
the early days of limited domestic appliances, radio, TV, The
problem starts with additional appliances to the dwelling and not enough
sockets to go around often leading to doubling up on the existing circuits.
These fuses are slow to blow requiring the fuse wire to reach melting point
to break the circuit. Often
they failed to blow even at near glowing temperatures providing a source of
heat causing the fuse body and holder to disintegrate becoming dangerous
leading to burnouts and fires, explosions if gas is present within the area. |
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RCD |
If
incorrectly installed can be fatal, this one had the phase and neutral in the
wrong sides rendering the RCD ineffective. The old consumer unit was replaces
with a more modern one using MCB’s with the inclusion of an internal RCD
correctly wired. |
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Damaged Fuse |
Due to
overloading the circuit with appliances to the point of destruction with the
heat from the fuse wire. This was
still carrying full load current unbeknownst to the householder and possibly
undiscovered, but for a curious inspection. |
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Cartridge Fuse |
Next generation
from the open wired fuse, the BS1361 enclosed fuse wire in a cartridge
avoiding open source of heat to ignite escape Gas or cause a fire. |
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Cartridge Fuse |
Neat
sealed fuse wire in HRC cartridges colour coded fro the rating. Easy to replace
ranging from 5A, 15A, 20A and 30A. |
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Plugin MCBs |
Modern
day old fuse upgrade to the trip. Unplug the old fuse or cartridge holder and
just plug in the new trip. The colour code is the same 5A is white, 30A is
Red, etc. |
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Modern Board |
Large capacity units carrying more circuits tailoring for the dwelling’s requirements and individualising the circuits on MCB/RCD. Use fast action miniature circuit breaker trips to isolate the circuits and incorporate the RCD allowing split circuit capability for shock prevention. |
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MCB |
Miniature
Circuit Breakers for overload circuit protection, the cable to the appliance
terminations, sockets, ceiling roses, cooker switch, showers and immersion
heaters. They come in a few flavors type A, B, C and can distinguish between a
short and just a spike. Type B is the straight domestic type without delayed
action. The relevant information for both application and current carrying
capacity is usually printer on the back of the package, IE 6A for 1.5mm cable
lighting circuits, 16A for 2.5mm cable single run, 32A for 2.5mm cable ring
main ETC. If it trips there is a fault carefull investigation preferably be a
qualified electrician. |
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RCD |
The
life saver, originally installed an optional extra near the distribution box
and often wired incorrectly rendering them useless. The Phase and Neutral
were on the wrong sides since they rely on the Neutral/Earth short to trip,
they never did. Today they are found as an integral part if appliances
electric lawnmower plug, in the consumer unit in extension leads and as a
plug. They are essential and do save lives particularly in the bathroom,
kitchens and the garden. |
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Changing the Fuse wire. Fuse box and fuse, bit dodgy!! |
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Contact on: |
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