Fuses & Circuit-Breaker Boxes

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Do all the sockets in my house need to be a GFI?

Only the first one in the series needs to be a GFI (ground fault...

 
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What is a ground fault (circuit) interrupter?

An electrical device that shuts off the power in case of a...

 

Is it all right to replace fuse or circuit breaker with a larger one to prevent them from blowing or tripping?

In most cases the answer is no. They are designed to blow at certain levels to protect equipment and for fire...

 

Can I add additional outlets to an existing circuit?

You need to figure the current circuit load in watts to see if it can handle additional use. The National Electric Code is 20 percent less than...

 

I have a circuit breaker that tripped. Is this dangerous?

Usually the problem is simply an overload and you only need to run fewer appliances on the circuit. However, if it is not overloaded and it keeps...

 

I have some slots left on my circuit breaker box that do not have breakers in them. Can I add more circuits?

You need to see how many amps your box is rated for and then look at the existing circuits to see how many total amps are already being used. If you...

 

Why are electric heaters limited to 1500 watts?

Because anything over that would exceed the safe amp rating of most wiring and would present a fire...

 

How do you figure amperage?

It is watts divided by volts. For example, a 1500-watt heater (divided by) 120 volts equals 12.5...

 

I need a circuit breaker, but I don’t have it with me. Are they all the same?

No, it’s best if you bring in the old breaker and match it up. If you know the name of the brand of service box, we could also match it that way....

 

What is a time delay fuse?

Time delay fuses are used on circuits where appliance motors have initial surges of electrical power when the motor starts. This initial surge...

 
 
 
 


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