If your older home was built with a fuse panel (rather than a breaker panel), you occasionally may need to perform fuse replacement. If your fuse panel has shown signs of shorts—such as having multiple fuses blown—then you should consult with licensed electrician to avoid injury.
When pulling a fuse, you should have a flashlight and a fuse pulling tool made of rubber. You should also examine your circuit carefully to determine which devices are plugged into it.
Safety Tips for Fuse Replacement
- It is incredibly dangerous to use a penny or any other copper device as a substitute for a fuse. Fuses are designed to blow if too much voltage is applied. Using a penny will allow too much voltage to pass through and could result in a fire.
- Turn off and unplug any devices or appliances which are connected to the fuse you are replacing, and turn off the primary fuse. This will prevent you from receiving a shock.
- Avoid any types of water while replacing a fuse. If there are puddles on the floor, dry them before proceeding. Make sure your hands are dry.
- Never use a fuse that is larger than what is recommended for the application. If you are consistently blowing out fuses, you are putting too much load on the circuit. This means you should remove things from the circuit—not put in a bigger fuse.
- Never replace fuses marked with a “D” or a “P” with a standard fuse. These are special fuses which can overheat and cause fire.
- Screw the fuses into the fuse panel until they are tight. A loose fuse is a potential fire hazard.
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