Used to think you could just cram any old fuse into a slot, then my panel melted in 2017

Back in my first apartment I blew a fuse and just grabbed the highest amperage one from the drawer, thinking bigger number equals better protection. Landlord found out during a routine check and showed me the scorch marks inside the box from an overload I caused 3 months prior. That was July 2017 in a duplex off Maple Street, and I had to pay $400 to replace the whole panel. Now I match the exact rating stamped on the fixture and keep a labeled set in my toolbag. Anyone else learn electrical safety through a near miss like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

jana88121d ago

Wait, @the_parker, you mean you never saw the inside of a melted panel before? That's actually what got me to stop being careless. Landlord was pissed but he wanted me to understand why the repair cost so much. He pulled the cover off and there were these black burnt trails running down the sides of the box where the wires had literally caught fire inside. Scared me straight honestly because I had no idea you could smoke an entire electrical panel just by shoving in the wrong fuse. Now I check the little numbers on the fixture before I even touch the drawer.

the_parker21d ago

Wait, the landlord actually showed you the scorch marks?

ryanm6021d ago

Ha, my buddy Dave did the exact same thing and his landlord made him watch the whole replacement!