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From: crs@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.analog
Subject: Re: Dumb electrical question
Message-ID: <33192@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 12-Nov-85 17:12:09 EST
Article-I.D.: lanl.33192
Posted: Tue Nov 12 17:12:09 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Nov-85 04:20:09 EST
References: <2980@brl-tgr.ARPA> <946@ccice5.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lines: 31

> >I have large cartridge fuses at the main power input to my house 
> >electrical circuits. If I blow these fuses, and replace them with copper
> >rods, what is the next stage of fusing/protection/damage?
> > .
> > .
> > .
> 
> 6) (somebody else already said 5) Most likely, if something in the house
> were to consume massive amounts of power ( greater than 2,000 watts ), the 
> wiring in the walls would glow bright red and start the house on fire.
> 
> 				jvz@ccice5

Must be a typo above.  Ironing clothes typically consumes close to
2000 watts.

It is not clear, to me at least, if the smaller fuses (or circuit
breakers) down stream from these cartridge fuses are intact.  I don't
recall and don't have the original posting.  If so, the fault would
have to be between them and the cartridge fuses mentioned above,
otherwise, the small fuses/circuit breakers would still provide
protection.  If the fault *is* between the small and the "replaced"
large, fuses, I don't know because I don't know if the power company
uses any protective devices upstream from the customer's fuse box.
If not, it would be the wiring upstream of the fault that overheats.
-- 
All opinions are mine alone...

Charlie Sorsby
...!{cmcl2,ihnp4,...}!lanl!crs
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