When will someone invent a proper fuse that doesn't?

[fjm]

We got home last night to find the house fused. I went to bed, E and my Dad looked at it and decided to sort it in the morning. At 5:30am I got up to finish my talk and realised: aargh! No internet, no way to charge my phone to use it to look up things, low power on computer..... whimper

Comments

[anna_wing]

I don't think I've ever seen a fuse. We use circuit-breakers here.

[fjm]

A metaphor. It is a circuit breaker but I am Old.

[miramon]

We got our fuse box replaced with circuit breakers (on the advice of a local electrician) soon after we bought this house. Flicking a switch is a lot easier than replacing a fuse, but they do seem trip more easily.

[fjm]

A metaphor. It is a circuit breaker but I am Old. And the damn thing *kept* tripping.

[nojay]

Something on that circuit has blown to short and needs to be unplugged or disconnected. Or was this the main breaker (almost typed "master breaker" there...)? We have a diagram next to the flat's distribution box showing which individual breaker feeds which set of power points and lights, it makes fault-finding a bit easier when one does trip.

[miramon]

We had something like this. One of the lights was over loaded. It had 5 40W bulbs and for some reason the circuit wouldn't take it and all the downstairs lights would go out every couple of weeks. When we replaced the bulbs with 5W fluorescents, it suddenly stopped tripping.

[fjm]

Thanks!

[beamjockey]

I'll say "Break a leg!" because there's still an hour left before the talk happens. (In Chicago, it's just before breakfast.) Wish I could be there.

[chrissie_m]

Given the time difference, your talk is already over with. I certainly would have attended, not just for support but because I'd love to hear you speak on the subject. Alas, thousands of miles away!

[beamjockey]

The RS tends to make these talks available as podcasts, so there is hope for a vicarious experience in a month or so.

[green_knight]

Oooh! (I wasn't able to make it, but life intervened.) Shall look for it.