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From: ewa@sdcc3.UUCP (Eric Anderson)
Newsgroups: net.analog
Subject: Re: Dumb electrical question
Message-ID: <3074@sdcc3.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Nov-85 22:13:24 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcc3.3074
Posted: Mon Nov 11 22:13:24 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 14-Nov-85 07:26:30 EST
References: <2980@brl-tgr.ARPA> <499@brl-sem.ARPA>
Reply-To: ewa@sdcc3.UUCP (Eric Anderson)
Distribution: net
Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center
Lines: 19

In article <499@brl-sem.ARPA> ron@brl-sem.ARPA (Ron Natalie ) writes:
>> 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?
>5)  The wire between the main fuses and your fusebox may melt.

Most likely, whatever is causing the short will fuse, assuming it is an
appliance or something, because the wiring inside the house is of a lesser
guage than that from the fusebox to the grid. The only case that would cause
anything outside of the house/fusebox to fuse would be if the fusebox itself
were shorted with larger conductors than those that fed it.

Experience dictates that the narrowest conductor (impedence comes into play if
different materials are used) will fuse, because the current being constant,
will have the greatest density of flow through the narrowest section of wire.


Eric Anderson, UC San Diego         {elsewhere}!ihnp4!ucbvax!sdcsvax!sdcc3!ewa
Home: (619)453-7315       Work: (619)586-1201       White House: (202)456-1414