I have inherited a house that has been in my wife's family since 1860. I do not know when it was electrified, but it seems to have skipped knob and tube. There is a lot of fabric-covered wire, and also some more modern romex wire. On examining the fusebox (yes, fuses, no breakers) I see that both the hot leg and the neutral leg have fuses in them.
My long-term strategy is to replace the fusebox with a modern panel with breakers. In the short term, I have purchased 30 Amp fuses which I intend to install in the neutral fuse positions. (The hot-leg fuses are 15 or 20 Amp.) My thinking is, since the hot-leg fuse is of a lower rating, it will blow instead of the neutral leg fuse.
Is this an acceptable solution? Is there a better way to ensure a continuous neutral leg connection?
Best Answer
I understand the theory of what you're trying to do, but I also understand the theory of the electrical installer that put fuses on both wires. You still have a wire running through the house that is only designed for 15-20 amps even if it's the neutral that should be fused via the hot. If there was ever a short that resulted in 25 amps going down the neutral, you could be looking at a dangerous situation.
My suggestion, if you want to fix it, is to go all the way and modernize the wiring with a full rip and replace. Although the reason I avoid older homes is because I would end up ripping and replacing so much that it's cheaper to get the newer home (think insulation, wiring, windows, weather seal, etc). And until then, if a fuse blows, don't assume the wires are safe unless you have personally removed the hot fuse.