The Power Hub at Home : Understanding The Fuse Box
A fuse box is installed to protect electrical devices and homes from overloading on electricity consumption. Fuse boxes preserve power and will automatically shut it off when the power is beyond the ability to contain it.
Why do short circuits and power outages happen?
Short circuits happen when electricity finds a way through an appliance on a path with a weaker resistance. The flow of electricity to appliances must go through a wire strip, where high heat is produced due to strong electricity currents generated.
Should a short circuit arise, or if an excessive number of appliances overload the wire, causing an excess of current, the fuse wire heats rapidly, melting and disrupting the circuit, effectively preventing the potential for a fire hazard.
Power outages can happen due to various reasons, such as poor weather conditions or any weather-related events. Other reasons are voltage surges, caused by lightning strikes, equipment failure, or other factors, can overload the system and trip circuit breakers, resulting in a power outage.
How to Prevent Your Fuse Box from Burnout
Consider upgrading to a circuit breaker or install surge protectors to safeguard sensitive electronic devices and appliances as they are more efficient and reliable in managing electrical overloads and short circuits.
Voltage spikes can occur due to lightning strikes, power outages, or fluctuations in the electrical grid. Surge protectors act as a buffer, diverting excessive voltage away from your devices and preventing potential damage.
Another useful tip would be to install switching mechanisms that are specially designed to protect against burnout. Let’s compare these two examples, the stabilizer switch and the thermostat.
- Stabilizer switches
Designed to enhance current flow and elevate output voltage and automatically lowers the effects of insufficient input voltage.
An automatic cutout will be activated to completely shut off the output, in cases where the stabilizer cannot boost due to voltage that is too low. These devices are built with robust construction to withstand the challenges of low voltage operation, ensuring the safety of appliances by preventing burnout.
- Thermostat
Mainly designed to protect devices from overheating, the thermostat disconnects power once the appliance heats up more than normal operating temperatures. It measures the temperature in specific areas and activates or deactivates the heating or cooling system to maintain the desired temperature. When the temperature reaches its limit, the thermostat signals the heating or cooling system to turn on or off accordingly.
Keeping Your Fuse Box Clean
An important step that should be practiced more often is keeping your fuse box in a clean state, which is crucial to ensure it functions smoothly in a healthy state. This also reduces the risk of a fire hazard as the fuse box is free from dust and debris.
Here are some simple steps to clean your fuse box:
- Safety First
First and foremost, turn off the power to the fuse box by switching off the main power supply. This ensures your safety while working near electrical components and prevents risk of electrocution.
- Dust and Debris Removal
Use a dry, soft cloth or a small brush to remove any dust or debris from the surface of the fuse box. Refrain from using any liquid or cleaning sprays as moisture may damage the electrical components and cause malfunction of the circuit breaker. This may also cause the fuse box to rust.
- Regular maintenance
Besides cleaning your fuse box, performing regular checks on the wires for loose fixtures, burns and corrosions is recommended so as to prevent hazardous incidents. Contact a licensed electrician for detailed inspection should you suspect any damage or if the fuse box requires further maintenance or cleaning beyond what you can safely do.
Understanding the components and functionality of the fuse box lets homeowners troubleshoot, take necessary safety precautions, and optimize energy usage, ensuring a well-functioning and efficient electrical system within the household. Otherwise, our Titans are just a few clicks away, simply go on the VIDOLA App and have our Titans over for a quick inspection!
