Stuck fuse

Padstow

I'm trying to remove the fuse on my boiler on/off switch in the garage but it's stuck. I've pulled it out with pincers enough that I can just see the fuse, but it won't come all the way. Shall I take off the plate?

The boiler hasn't been on since Jan as I couldn't afford oil which I now have. When I put the boiler switch to on, it trips the boiler fuse in the main fuse box. I wanted to check the switch fuse before having to get help.

fwor

If the main circuit breaker is tripping it's very unlikely to be an issue with the fuse in the switch.

The problem is likely to be elsewhere. A wild guess would be a seized pump taking too much current and causing the MCB to trip.

cyclonebri1

You need help, and not via the internet.

If the fuse was gone then nothing would work or trip. You are out of your depth, the circuit is still live, be careful, without offence. :eek:

Padstow

Thankyou fwor and cyclone for your prompt replies. I shall leave well alone.
I was so close to having hot water, first time since January, now another long wait 'till I can afford an engineer.

Padstow

Spoken to the Boiler Man who serviced it once a year, when I had no problem handing him a hundred. He said I need an Electrician before he will even look at it.
I am sorry for the charity who granted me 500L of oil, for which I am truly grateful.
Now it's lanquishing at the bottom of the tank and I cannot afford to get it it into my home.

mart.vader

Padstow wrote: »

Spoken to the Boiler Man who serviced it once a year, when I had no problem handing him a hundred. He said I need an Electrician before he will even look at it.
I am sorry for the charity who granted me 500L of oil, for which I am truly grateful.
Now it's lanquishing at the bottom of the tank and I cannot afford to get it it into my home.

As other posters have suggested, electrics can be dangerous. - No-one wants to give you advice that results in you getting fried.

Have you thought of asking the charity if they know of, or can spare a friendly electrician to have a look?

cyclonebri1

Padstow wrote: »

Spoken to the Boiler Man who serviced it once a year, when I had no problem handing him a hundred. He said I need an Electrician before he will even look at it.
I am sorry for the charity who granted me 500L of oil, for which I am truly grateful.
Now it's lanquishing at the bottom of the tank and I cannot afford to get it it into my home.

He's correct and it does point to a fault on some component in the boiler or the pump or it's control valves etc. But he would want to see the boiler off at it's local isolation point so that the power is under his control.

The MCB will trip before the plug or spur fuse, the fact that you can't get the appliance fuse out isn't really relevant to the problem, just the safety of the situation. I'm assuming we are talking about a fused switched spur here.
The problem you have initially is that you will be paying a sparky to fit a new fused spur and that's the worst case scenario, but it will still cost you. You then have the system able to be made safe and the plumber can do his diagnostics.


If you were competant enough the only non electrical advice I would offer would be to access the pump and check it hasn't siezed. You may or may not even know where the pump is so I'm going to leave it there.

Padstow

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

He's correct and it does point to a fault on some component in the boiler or the pump or it's control valves etc. But he would want to see the boiler off at it's local isolation point so that the power is under his control.

The MCB will trip before the plug or spur fuse, the fact that you can't get the appliance fuse out isn't really relevant to the problem, just the safety of the situation. I'm assuming we are talking about a fused switched spur here.
The problem you have initially is that you will be paying a sparky to fit a new fused spur and that's the worst case scenario, but it will still cost you. You then have the system able to be made safe and the plumber can do his diagnostics.


If you were competant enough the only non electrical advice I would offer would be to access the pump and check it hasn't siezed. You may or may not even know where the pump is so I'm going to leave it there.

I have no doubt the boiler engineer is correct as he's serviced the boiler for many years. I simply cannot afford an electrician at present though.
thanks all for your advice.

southcoastrgi

just my 5p's worth, do you have any lights on the boiler normally that would show power to it ? if so switch off the boiler spur, push the fuse back in, reset the trip, do you have lights on the boiler ? switch the spur on does the trip go ? if it does then i would suggest that the spur is ok & points to a prob with the boiler, pump etc for which your boiler man should be able to sort, as you are a existing customer will the boiler man not come out for free just to diagnose if it's a boiler prob ?