This one is a spinoff from my dimmer switch thread. Actually, it should be the main topic of discussion, but I am having so much anxiety about it, that I diddn’t even want to bring it up.
First and foremost, let me say this: I will not under any circumstances be attempting to sort this one out myself. I know when to back off and leave it to a real pro. My friend (licenced electrician) will be coming over very shortly to help me on this one.
I live in acondo with an electrical system that is as old as the city that the building is in. I don’t own the condo, and although I am currently doing many minor modifications, I am not in a position to do any major work i.e. overhauling the electrical service.
I have 15 amps (yes 15) on one fuse powering my apartment. Every day I dream of the day I will build my own house and have all the electricity I could ever want / need, but I digress.
I was putting in a dimmer switch to controll a fan light, so I had to go to the basement and turn off power to my one and only circuit.
The fuse box is an old style where it has some kind of mechanical shutoff handle on the right side that you need to pull down (I imagine some sort of knife switch) then once its down you are able to slide open a door to get access to the fuses. Inside, there are two spots for fuses, one is open (with a spare in it), and the other has the fuse.
So I removed the fuse, locked out the panel, and installed the switch yada yada yada. I went back down and replaced the fuse, slid the door closed and – now here comes the oh boy
As I slid the handle back up into place It is met by slight resistance then something inside lets go and it slides all the way back up into position. Only problem is the meter aint spinning. I shut it off and try again slowly. meter starts to spin, then I get to the top and the meter just stops. If I back the handle back down slightly the meter starts to go. There seems to be a good range of area that will actually complete the circuit, meaning turn the power back on, and it dosent feel funky, meaning that whatever is inside there seems to be making good contact with something.
It is not buzzing, and I can’t hear see any visible signs of any arcing (at least on my superficial inspection). It does not feel hot to the touch (I checked it like 8 times throughout the course of the night) Actually, I wonder if I should touch it at all. Wish I never had.
So, what did I do? I have no idea what this thing looks like inside. I have never seen one like it in my life. I was just replacing a dimmer switch, easy enough, but I wasn’t expecting the old fuse box to disintigrate in my hands.
I just wan’t to know what you all thought might have happened, because I don’t know and that disturbs me. Would anyone with experience with this type of fuse box or other like to take a stab at it?
Replies
huh, I just posted but it diddn't appear in recent.
You are probably right that it is a knife switch.
Something broke loose. If could be the mounting that holds the fixed contacts, or the mounting that know the moving knife, or the a stop that allows the knife to continually move and move out of the "back" of the fixed contact.
You are right it needs to be looked at. Whatever "broke" could cause a poor connection that leads to overheating and fire.
But I am surprised at the condition of your electrical service.
When was the building made condo? In generally things should have been brought up to code at that time.
Bill - one of the problems with "condo-izing" is it's a legal change of ownership from multiple units under one owner to individual unit ownership - sometimes nothing to ensure the condition of the property - I know of two condos in a converted 5 unit three decker (formerly three family) that didn't legally exist when the owners went to sell, don't know how they were originally purchased/sold but it happens.regarding this situation, time to contact the condo board of directors, condo owners, a good electrician and the local electrical inspector - the frig calling for power the same time as using the microwave will draw more than 15 A - just sounds like a problem waiting to happen
I have confused you guys when I said condo. It is the wrong term. The building is actually owned by my extended family and my father. Untill recently, my father really had zero to do with the property, except that his cousins lived there.
The whole thing is a long story really and not worth delving into.
I myself, as well as my father, am disgusted with the things I have seen since I've been there, mostly in regards to the electrical work that was done by some $hit for brains with no concience (probrably a cousin).
But hey, it's free. Just gotta save for that house I'm gonna build.
Edited 12/2/2005 8:34 am ET by xosder11
You have a basic diconnect enclosure with an external arm to activate a knife switch. Newer ones have an interlock that prevents you from opening the door if the swich is closed(on). It sounds like your disconnect is a "buddy box" (added on to the original main service because it didn't have enough space for new circuits). These are common in old houses, especially ones that have been separated into apartments.
The switch or disconnect in question sounds like it needs to be replaced. But it also sounds like the entire service needs to be looked at for the safety of the occupants and for the continuity of the buildings current state of "not burned to the ground".
Minimally, your old switch could cause you the hastle of having to frequently change blown fuses because the parts inside the switch heat up because they are loose and burn out the link in the fuse even though you are not using more than 15 amps on your circuit.
I had to replace the guts of a disconnect this last summer because the old ones got weak and fuses were blowing several times a day. After I changed it out? Never a callback. There was no visual sign of a prblem with the old parts either.There are no electrons! It is all made up. Don't believe it.
Electricity is made by GREENIES.