The lighting circuit fuse in my fuse box went. I had a spare 5 amp fuse=20 so I put it in - it all works fine. However looking in B&Q I noticed=20 that the fuse box fuse they were selling was =A32.98 or something whereas= =20 they were selling "normal" fuses 5 for 99p. Am I missing somethig here?=20 What's the difference?
Thanks
--=20 John Kelly
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Size?
Hi
Plug top fuses are to BS1362.
CU cartridge fuses are more likely to BS1361, High Rupture Capacity (HRC).
I don't have access to the standards, but a quick google indicates that the breaking capacity of BS1362 is about 6kA and BS1361 is about 16.5kA.
So it depends whether you are on top of a substation or not, but you should replace your fuse with the correct one.
If the prospective fault current at the CU exceeds 6kA then in the event of a fault your fuse may explode, and secondly the fault may take out the service head fuse. If you're in a rural setting on the end of long bits of string on sticks it will generally make no real difference.
B&Q are ripping you off - Maplin:
Cheers
Tim
Thanks for the link - a visit later I think.
Cheers.
--=20 John Kelly
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