Newbie question cannot get fuse out of fusebox

[Rupesjoel]

Dear All,

I need to change the fuse in a standard household Ashley fusebox but I cannot pull the fuse out, no matter how hard I try. The fuse looks a like a standard cartridge type fuse(16 A MCB16).

There is a small key in the lid of the fusebox which looks like a paper clip opened out, but I cannot work out how to use that. I would post a photo of the fusebox but I cannot on this forum yet.

Any ideas would be gratefully received.

Many thanks,

Rupes

 

[telectrix]

one thing's certain... she'll never fall flat on her face.

 

[Jonny66]

Ok, I know all about the 2nd picture and in fact have fiddled about with some very similar:smug:

I'll be honest and leave myself wide open here for lots of deserved "smirking" as Ayjay would put it (I can take it).......but I know very little about contactors and how to wire or use them.

I know they can be used for large banks of fluros but have never used one....so would they be wired thus.........say 6amp MCB line to switch then switch line & N to contactor coil.....then say 20amp MCB circuit (L/N/CPC) to contactor top and out to lights at bottom?

if so why not just use two 10amp circuits?

 

[telectrix]

because you can reduce the size of the conductors required to energise the contactor/s.

 

[Jonny66]

OK, so using a contactor you could have say 2.5mm conductors feeding lights through the contactor and 1mm for switch through to contactor coil?
instead of two 1.5mm (possibly 2.5mm) circuits without contactor?

 

[Rockingit]

OK, so using a contactor you could have say 2.5mm conductors feeding lights through the contactor and 1mm for switch through to contactor coil?
instead of two 1.5mm (possibly 2.5mm) circuits without contactor?

Sorry....still distracted by the previous page......brb........

 

[HandySparks]

if so why not just use two 10amp circuits?

If your control device will only switch, say, 5A, a timeswitch or light sensor for example, but your load is 20A, then a contactor is the best way round the problem (as opposed to fitting more than one timeswitch or sensor).