Checking Fuses and Circuit Breakers |

Every house has an electrical switchboard. It protects the electrical wiring system in your home. As part of your home maintenance checks or when you are doing your next renovations, have a look with your switchboard. This is where the main power switch, along with a number of fuses, or circuit breakers are located. Each fuse or circuit breaker connects completely to another area of wiring in your home. Appears to be electrical fault accurse, the fuse will blow or the circuit breaker will trip, reducing the power preventing overloading or household fire. A circuit breaker is usually switched back on, whereas once a fuse blows it must be substituted with a new one.

Always turn off the main power switch if you are changing a fuse together with turning off all electrical appliances and light-weight switches that are connected to the blown fuse. Replace the fuse using the correct current rating. Too high a current rating will cause excessive current to flow through the circuit. Overheating and even fire can occur.

If a fuse keeps blowing, acquire one of the many licensed Auckland electricians. There might be hidden electrical problems that you’ll not have picked up. If possible, swap the fuse with your switchboard with plug-in circuit breakers of the same rating, because they are safer to use and require replacing.

Find out what electrical switches and appliances the fuse or circuit breaker protects. Switchboards are often labelled for easy identification. Otherwise, ask an electrician to do this in your case. This can save you time in identifying a blown fuse or which circuit breaker to exchange off.

How to Replace a Fuse

Abide by these steps:

1. Turn off the main power switch at the switchboard.
2. Look from the switchboard for a list of where each circuits each fuse connects to.
3. When not obvious which fuse has blown, inspect each fuse one at a time.
4. Once you have found the blown fuse, shut off lights and unplug all appliances on that circuit.

Replace the fuse wire. You should definitely use the correct current rating fuse wire. The latest rating is generally indicated for the front of the fuse carrier.

Lighting circuits typically use 5 amp, although not greater than 10 amp fuse wire.
Socket outlets use 10 amp although not greater than 15 amp fuse wire.
Large appliances make use of a larger size fuse.
Be sure to cut off any excess fuse wire.

5. Position the fuse back in its slot and turn back on the main power switch.
6. If the fuse blows again, call a licensed electrician.

What to do if a Circuit Breaker Trips?

Should your power goes off because your circuit breaker has tripped follow these steps:

1. Switch off lights and unplug all appliances within the faulty circuit.
2. Push the operating lever towards the “on” position, or push within the button on the circuit breaker.
3. In the event the circuit breaker continues to trip, it’s time to get hold of one of the many licensed Auckland electricians.

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