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Path: utzoo!watmath!watnot!watdcsu!sgcpal
From: sgcpal@watdcsu.UUCP (P.A. Layman [EE-SiDIC])
Newsgroups: net.analog
Subject: Re: Dumb electrical question
Message-ID: <1863@watdcsu.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 10-Nov-85 19:36:57 EST
Article-I.D.: watdcsu.1863
Posted: Sun Nov 10 19:36:57 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Nov-85 05:45:10 EST
References: <2980@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Reply-To: sgcpal@watdcsu.UUCP (P.A. Layman [EE-SiDIC])
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 46
Summary: 

In article <2980@brl-tgr.ARPA> wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) 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?
>
>I can think of several possibilities:
>
>1) The meter outside the house has some sort of built-in fusing, which
>will blow.

No.  The meter has no internal fusing.

>2) The wire(s) from the pole to the house will melt or burn.

This is one real possibility.  See explanation below.

>3) The transformer on the pole, serving several houses, has some form of
>fusing or circuit breaker, which will trip or blow.

No.  Again it is unlikely to have any fusing.

>4) The transformer on the pole, itself, will expire.

No.  The wire to your house will act like a fuse before this happens.

>Which of these, if any, will happen? Thanks for responses!

The fusing you are speaking of is intended to protect the wires to your house,
through the meter, and up to the breaker or fuse panel for individual
home circuits. Ideally fusing is placed at the cicuit feed point.  As this
is not practical or convienient, it is placed in your home.  Provided
any failure occurs past the fusing it provides the same degree of protection
as being located on the pole.  However it does not protect against failures
between the pole and the fusing.

If you replace the fusing with copper pipes etc., you are violating a number
of elctrical codes.  You would likely be responsible for any damage that
occurs to the wires from the pole to your house.  It is also probable that
your insurance will not cover any firethat might result from the lack of
proper fusing.

I would suggest that you pick up some spare fuses instead.  If they
blow frequently it indicates some other problem exists and that it
should be rectified instead.

Paul L.