Pads Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Need some help from the teccies out there Im in the UK I have a 5amp fuse in my fuse box for my lights ... its been ok up to now but over the last few weeks it has blown a few times and I have been putting 5 amp wire around it and putting it back and its been working OK again ... to stop it blowing again would it help if I use a 15 amp wire ...? Yes daft woman here put what can I do when on my own and cant get an electricain until hubby comes home or a real one after christmas ...??[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Absolutely not pads,You could cause a serious fire. The fuse is the weak link in the electrics its designed to blow first, if you increase the size of the fuse something else somewhere will be getting very hot, hence the fire risk.Also when you wire the fuse, only 1 strand of the fuse wire must span the terminals. you have a fault and maybe someone on the forum would help a Damsel in distress especially at christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 If you mean will it help you find out what's wrong by causing a fire and burning the house down the yes otherwise DEFINATELY NOT it's 5A for a reason and it's blowing for a reason and you have to find out what that is.You should try to find out which circuit is causing the problem by switching on lights on their own until one pops the fuse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 Ok lads thanks alot ... I will just put the 5amp fuse wire back on again then ... hubby home in a few days so I hope he can sort it or I ill get an electrian in after christmas ... Still a good fire would save me a bit in heating ...(only joking [Www] ) Merry Christmas to you all[kiss] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northender Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Might not be a fault but just overloaded.It doesn't take much to reach 5 amps.Light fittings are rated in watts e.g. 25W , 60W , 100W .5A roughly equates to about 1150W . So maybe if you live in a large house and only one lighting circuit and you have lots of lights on at once.............. hope this helps.[I] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Dark nights......extra lights..... and (last few weeks) the Christmas lights......POP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baz Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Using a fuse box with fuse wire in the UK is an indication of its possible age and that it may well be time to consider an upgrade to a modern trip circuit board. I would suggest that an Electrician should test all your circuitry and advise. Baz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 [quote user="Pads"]I havebeen putting 5 amp wire around it and putting it back and its beenworking OK again[/quote]Suggests to me that it's a cartridge fuse not a replaceable wire link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 I have had some new spotlights put in my bathroom .... but that was a while ago ..could this be over loading it ? I live in the house by my self mostly so only have the light on in the room im using ... there isnt lots on at the same time ... does it make a difference ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Yes Pads, it does make a difference Ernie gave a good explanation earlier and suggested trying each circuit in turn.Our maison is wired with a fuse for the kitchen, one for the lounge, one for the bathroom etcIf yours is similar which one is blowing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil & Pat Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 [quote user="Pads"]Im in the UK [/quote]Could it be one circuit for all downstairs lights and one for all upstairs lights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 Oops, yes often one for upstairs one for downstairs and if your lucky another one for the stairs.If you have had spotlights fitted are they low voltage ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 My house is made up of 2 parts one side is a 200 year old cottage , it was then extended in the 50's to an exstention of the same size , so all the black clip in fuze sections , say lights exstention , lights cottage , sockets exstention, sockets cottage ect .... but the new lights are all in the exstention , I believe they are low voltage , but there are 12 of them , again they are never all on at the same time .. each time they have blown , there has one been one strip of three being turned on that does it . With out taking the lights out again , can do any thing about this ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil & Pat Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Hi Pads,If the suspect strip of 3 lights is not vital, I suggest you just put a strip of masking tape over the switch to remind you not to use it. Then get an electrician (or OH if he is happy/able to do it) to investigate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Hi Pads, as Phil and Pat have said "put a piece of tape over the fuse" It is probably a transformer breaking down on that strip of three. The good news is that is easy and relatively cheap to replace.I have just replaced one in my Kitchen an hour ago. It failed a couple of weeks ago and as you can imagine O/H wanted fixed for christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Thanks all .. hubby home tomorrow ... its up to him now mans work ... I have lots of potatoes and sprouts to peel womans work !![Www] Merry Christmas to you all [kiss] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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