I have a house built in the 1950s. It has a fuse box. I was changing fuses the other night to resolve a problem and at one point I removed a 20 amp fuse and went to replace it with another 20 amp fuse - problem is I was holding a 15 amp fuse. When the 15 amp fuse got close to the 20 amp socket I saw a spark fly. At which point I pulled the fuse back, realized what I did and promptly installed the correct 20 amp fuse. All bedroom ceiling lights and regular outlets associated with this line no longer work. Is there a way to fix this? Note: This fuse box besides having fuses also has some large shotgun like shell %26quot;fuses%26quot; I guess. Thanks!|||Dear Sparky,
Old fuses are much like a light bulb. The only reason they do not emit light is that the element inside is designed to break contact instead of overheat and glow. The spark was not caused by screwing in the wrong %26quot;wattage bulb%26quot;. You screwed a light bulb in with the switch on is what happened. Perhaps turning off the switch before replacing the bulb is a good idea. Unplug or turn off all fixtures associated with that fuse. Replace the fuse again. Check the circuit. Still nothing? ... Call a repairman or ask me directly by e-mail by going to my site (link below) I%26#039;ll walk you through it step by step if it means your home will be safe and no one will get hurt.|||ok|||power check is needed, but u may have blown a (shotgun) cartrige fuse. please be xtra carefull. if you have doubts call some1. u can contact me 4 more advice.|||You probably blew one of the main stick fuses that feeds one side of the box. It fed the side that your 20 amp screw fuse is on. Get a flashlight and go to the fuse box.
Shut off the main box (pull handle down) and then remove both stick fuses. * Prior to this purchase 2 new stick fuses - take one to a hardware store to make sure you get the right fuse.
Replace both stick fuses and also your 20 amp fuse with new ones.
* Have you added anything new to the bedroom circuits such as a space heater, or other appliance? If so unplug these and turn off the bedroom lights in the room where they went off.
Now throw the on/off lever back up on your main box and see if that solves the problem.|||Well, you have blown more fuses. The %26quot;shotgun%26quot; types - you describe (LOL)...... is really another fuse for your washer/dryer and or cooking oven /hot plates.
You have to replace them too. Check other fuses.
Replacing with 15 amp instead of 20 amp does not cause major damage - except that when you went to replace the fuse, the appliance was left on. So, it was sucking up juice worth 20 amp while your fuse blew when you had a 15 amp. No major damage done.
Check all fuses and replace as necessary. You are good to go.|||Call a qualified professional electrician, this is probably a bad cartridge fuse, but you may have some other very serious problems in the panel or in your branch circuits. This project needs an experienced, qualified professional to do the work. Since you still have a fuse panel, it may be time to consider a major overhaul to your system. The insulation on the wire from the %26#039;50%26#039;s does deteriorate over the years, it was designed for 30-40 years and it may need a complete upgrade.
