Often on home inspections fuses are found. One of the first questions people ask is "are fuses bad?". The answer to that is a little more involved though.
Why do people think fuses are bad? Many people think fuses are not good because of many reasons. Maybe their insurance company will not give them home owner's insurance if there are fuses. Maybe they have old fuses in their home, or maybe they have seen it on TV.
The real story is that fuses are not as bad as they are made out to be. Actually, in some cases, fuses are considered safer than breakers. On large electrical equipment they often require fuses and not breakers (industrial and some commercial equipment) because when a fuse is dead - it's dead. But breakers can fail.
So why the issue? There are many reasons, but most of all people did not treat fuse boxes with respect. Often times foregoing the trip to the hardware store for fuses and just puttin pennies in the fuse slot. At wither rate, breakers are the standard now, and fuses are most often removed as they get older for the more preferred re-settable breaker.
Why do people think fuses are bad? Many people think fuses are not good because of many reasons. Maybe their insurance company will not give them home owner's insurance if there are fuses. Maybe they have old fuses in their home, or maybe they have seen it on TV.
The real story is that fuses are not as bad as they are made out to be. Actually, in some cases, fuses are considered safer than breakers. On large electrical equipment they often require fuses and not breakers (industrial and some commercial equipment) because when a fuse is dead - it's dead. But breakers can fail.
So why the issue? There are many reasons, but most of all people did not treat fuse boxes with respect. Often times foregoing the trip to the hardware store for fuses and just puttin pennies in the fuse slot. At wither rate, breakers are the standard now, and fuses are most often removed as they get older for the more preferred re-settable breaker.
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