Home electrical question?

I just moved into a new house that i’m going to sublease for 2 months or so. The wiring looks to be old due to all the plug in’s being only two pronged outlets. The problem i am having is the circuit my room is on keeps blowing the fuse over and over. I’m pretty sure that it’s the same circuit another roommates room is on.

Now, the thing that is annoying is the fuse box is not circuit breakers, they are the old type screw in plug fuses that keep blowing.

Do they make anything to upgrade from the plug type to a circuit breaker switch without having to re-do the whole fuse box? Like a screw in breaker switch?

I know there is most likely something wrong with the wiring in the circuit, or it’s just not built to handle the power we are putting across it, which is sad because it isn’t that much, but since it’s a rental house, and i’m subleasing, i don’t want to spend any more than i have to on this….

I’m afraid also, that my roommates will be idiots and try to put a larger amp fuse in place so it doesn’t keep blowing, and in turn possibly start a fire… Seeing as they didn’t know what to do when the lights/accessories went out the other day, i’m not to worried about that. They didn’t even know what that box of colored plugs was….

Thanks!

I’ve never saw a breaker that you screw in. Is there anyway you could run a drop cord somehow and steal off another circuit?

Walleye,
Yes they make a screw in fuse style resetable “breaker”. We had one in our last house before we upgraded to breakers and a larger service. I would try to figure out what all that circut serves. If it serves lights and outlets in multiple bedrooms, (fairly common in older homes), you will need to try to be selective with what is running when. Anything that produces heat will take up more amperage as will things that “cool” (like a mini fridge). If both you and your roomate have a fridge in your rooms, and say an electric blanket that is on, and then you both decide to surf the net while cranking the stereo (ok, I know kids today have IPODS and no one listens to a stereo any more… I am showing my age!)and someone turns on a light…. well you get the picture. It won’t take long to add up to that 15 amp fuse (that is what is in most older homes for non kitchen areas). Be carefull not to reset it too often in a realativly short amount of time. The wires heat up and melt the insulation over time and then you could have a real problem! I am of course assuming that it is simply an over loaded circut and not a problem with the wireing. If it happens often, check your load (what is plugged in) and see if you are exceeding the rated amps for the fuse/breaker. If you are not, call your landlord ASAP and get the system checked by a qualified electriction. Fuses pop for a reason… either they are over loaded, or you have a wireing problem!

Labman

Quote:

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Fuses pop for a reason… either they are over loaded, or you have a wireing problem!

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Wise words that can bear being repeated.

Go no farther with This . Inform your landloard Pronto.