Should rewirable fuses be pensioned off?

[oracle]

The 3036 re-wireable fuse link was invented long, long, ago, but according to the standards list became a BS standard about 1957.

Tried and trusted in standard form, it has probably been the most abused electrical component, with wrong fuse wire, paper clips, hair clips, copper wire etc fitted.

Yet even the 18th edition includes tables for them. Let's take this poor old, badly abused fuse and put it into retirement. Like the ghost of Christmas past it's past its heydays.

 

[Octopus]

As a bit of a laugh I had my last niceic assessment on a 3036 CU, well I enjoyed it but the inspector was most uncomfortable! I am not sure why?

What were you showing him ?

 

[Octopus]

duplicate deleted

 

[oracle]

As a bit of a laugh I had my last niceic assessment on a 3036 CU, well I enjoyed it but the inspector was most uncomfortable! I am not sure why?

Was it a EICR? He might have hoped to see you doing a bit of wiring.

 

[littlespark]

On my old caravan site, one of our permanent customers replaced our 16A MCB supplying his unit with a 32A.
He then sawed off the toggle switches, which had the rating moulded into the plastic and superglued it to the other MCB

On a casual glance, you couldn't see the difference... not until I was meter reading one day and could smell the burning in the hook up unit.

I think we kicked him off the site for that one

 

[sam400]

It was a new circuit I put in to supply boiler in loft at my house.
He was adamant it needed an RCD but couldn't back it up with any regs. then we moved on to why I haven't got any bonding to water service. All good fun,
I've got plenty of decent jobs I could have showed him but couldn't be bothered to go anywhere.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Personally I think that the old wylex rewirable boards should no longer comply for alterations and additions, and that's nothing to do with the fuse being rewireable.
The problem with these boards is that unless the fuse cover is in place there are exposed live parts, especially if the carrier is not pushed fully home.A high proportion of these boards will be missing the fuse cover and easily accessible to kids. Not everyone will switch off the main switch before withdrawing a fuse carrier and it is very easy to contact live parts while doing so, in fact if the carriers a bit tight it's tempting for the uninitiated to curl fingers round the back to get more purchase....where it can be live. These boards have served well for decades, but are simply not up to todays standards on barriers and enclosures.
During an EICR one of these boards missing the fuse cover is always a code 2 for me.

 

[westward10]

That cover is not there to prevent access to live parts, its purpose is to contain molten metal from a rupturing fuse element.

 

[oracle]

Fuses are OK provided they aren't wrongly wired and ALL the Earthing arrangements are in place.

Even the fuse carrier is colour coded and has pins sized and arranged to prevent accidentally fitting the wrong size but the thinking if a fuse blows, fit a bigger one prevails.

 

[SJD]

I did once find one with a "tail" of live fuse wire hanging out from the carrier, rather than being cut off at the screw. Just waiting for someone to put their fingers over the ends.

 

[static zap]

Their cheapness and reliability helps them stay.
( and the cost of their convenient -but non RCD- plug in -UP grade )

.... find one with a "tail" of live fuse wire hanging out from the carrier, rather than being cut off at the screw. Just waiting for someone to put their fingers over the ends.

SJD May be on to something with the populations worsening eyesight , and thinnest wire being for lights !

 

[sparkdog]

Used to be most people could rewire a fuse years ago, I suppose.

 

[static zap]

..... prevent accidentally fitting the wrong size......"If a fuse blows, fit a BIGGER one prevails.

I'm sure that's called natural selection .
(Stop buying cheap light-bulbs -if its the 5A one)

 

[Deleted member 9648]

That cover is not there to prevent access to live parts, its purpose is to contain molten metal from a rupturing fuse element.

That's beside the point, without it live parts are accessible without the use of a tool. Some of the covers have a screw retainer, some a thumb screw, a thumb screw cover is still a code 2 even if it's in place. Regardless of it's intended purpose as far as I'm concerned it's main function is a barrier from live parts.

 

[dmxtothemax]

The fact that they are still out there in big numbers and still doing there job decades after they where first installed, tells me they are not a bad thing, like anything in life use it properly and as intended and it will serve you well. You should not blame fuses for stupid carefree humans, they are the problem not the fuses. What next ? are we going to stop people driving on the road because sooner or later you could be in an accident ? RANT OVER !

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I still find re-wireable DNO fuses.
smoke packet silver paper has gone right down hill, last time I tried some, there was no continuity at all.