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Electrical Wiring

have to replace the fuse box asap

16 years ago

We have State Farm insur. for the house we are buying in Clarksburg, WV. I was informed today that we have to immediately replace the fuse box with circuit breakers. We have a circuit box in the house also. I posted pictures last week of the two boxes but here they are again.

I am not sure how far apart the boxes are. If they are close together, is it as simple as moving the wire to a newly installed breaker? It looks like there are available spots in the breaker box.

We plan to have the wiring thoroughly looked at and upgraded but I need get the fuse issue resolved within a couple of days to make sure the insurance company does not have a fit.

Anyone have the name of an electrician in the Clarksburg area you can recommend? Tom, I tried to email you but I am not sure if you got the email. Thanks, Janie

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (6)

randy427
16 years ago
I don't know why you cannot have a properly installed fuse panel. Did the ins rep explain?
That said, I don't see ground wires in the picture of the fuse box. (Neutrals and grounds are not permitted to be joined downstream of the main panel.)
spencer_electrician
16 years ago
Couldn't the 6/3 plain and the 14/2 plains potentially be put in a plastic junction box as a multi-wire circuit. Change the double pole breaker in the main panel to 2 seperate 15 amp breakers. fuse box gone. All I see is the 2 circuits so looks pretty simple and they don't have a ground anyway.

State farm is notorious on wiring upgrades. I had to re-wire a person's house that had knob and tube before their insurance was granted, as they moved in. They also don't insure fuse panels because of home owners' common practice of over-fusing.
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I'll answer your questions in a moment. First I have to warn you that those 30 amp plug fuses "protecting" what appears to be AWG 14 wire are a VERY serious hazard. You're risking fire. I'm also worried about those extra wires connected to the RANGE fuses' terminals. They look like they might be AWG 10, which is good for 30 amps. I'll wager that the range fuses are 40 or 50 amp. Let me guess, those go to an electric water heater? Your installation is severely inadequate for modern needs. This is a DANGEROUS situation. You should have it upgraded as soon as you can possibly afford to do so. Take out a loan if necessary. This is urgent. TODAY, replace those 30 amp fuses with ones appropriate for the wiring connected to them. If in doubt, put in 15 amp fuses. If the smaller fuses blow, remove loads until they don't. Now for your questions. The aluminum wire that caused problems was AWG 12 and AWG 10 solid. Large gauge stranded wire is not a hazard as long as anti-oxidant compound was used when it was installed. What you have may not be aluminum, however. The bare neutral that looks like AL might be tinned copper. The hot wires look to me like oxidized copper. I'd have to see it in person to be sure. The slight projection of the MAIN fuseholder might be caused by dirt or debris behind it. Those holders have blades the push into slots. A little less than full engagement probably won't hurt.
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wayne440
16 years ago
When I had a similar issue, I arranged coverage with another insurance carrier. It was a lot less trouble than making all the changes SF wanted.
janie_ga
Original Author
16 years ago
Wayne, what company did you end up with. I have always had SF. Don't even know who else to try.

Randy, the rep asked how many breakers I had. Told her I didn't know (didn't have the picture handy) but that there was a circuit box and two fuses which we planned to switch over once we got settled. She basically said she didn't hear the part about the fuses because they are not supposed to insure them anymore. Considering the electrical in all the houses we looked at in WV- I don't see why SF even serves the area! Every house has some sort of "interesting" electrical stuff!

I need to remember which box I packed my yellow Readers Digest home repair box. That thing is like the "Bible of home repair"- much better than the newer blue edition! LOL

Thanks all- i have a feeling that I will be getting to know all of you very well over the next couple of weeks.
Janie
wayne440
16 years ago
I ended up with Farm Bureau insurance, I think they are a division of Nationwide. The "inspection" amounted to a couple of pictures of the outside of my house, done well after the policy was written. I just took my existing SF policy to a few other agents, tossed it on the counter and said, "can you give me a better deal than this?". If you have been with the same carrier for a few years, it is a good idea to shop prices anyway. I saved about $400/yr. for a half day's time. That would go a long way toward materials for your project.
janie_ga
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Wayne, I will check them out. Our car insurance is expected to drop CONSIDERABLY just from moving out of metro Atlanta.

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