House fuse question - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

bbbbbb555 · 03-06-2005, 06:40 PM

My bedroom is kind of like an old office, and it happens to be on the same fuse as the kitchen. so when i have my computer on and the tv, and then my roomates use the microwave the fuse breaks. this sucks when i am doign something on the computer. i was wondering if there is any easy way to solve this problem. like putting the microwave on one of the other fuses.
thanks for any advice that i get.

tres · 03-06-2005, 06:45 PM

well. unless you own the place, having a different fuse for the kitchen put it is unlikly. Buy A UPS (Uninterputable Power Supply) it will give you about 40 min or so of power. It will also help agains power surges..

bbbbbb555 · 03-06-2005, 06:54 PM

the ups sounds like it would help, but im sure that it would cost a lot of money, i have seen what power supplies go for. i was hoping for advice on how to do some re wiring. my roomate is going to school to be an electrical engineer, so if he learns how to do it then im sure that he'll be able to.

kazoo · 03-08-2005, 12:21 AM

Fuses + kitchen wiring covering more than the kitchen suggests an older dwelling. If you've never done residential wiring or rewiring, I'd strongly urge to not make this your apprenticeship.

A UPS can be had fairly cheap-there's an APC 650 on eBay right now for $50.

shakran · 03-08-2005, 06:09 AM

Also you can get a mini breaker. It's a circuit breaker built into a fuse housing. Then at least you don't have to keep buying fuses.

The UPS is your best bet. If you want to rewire to put the kitchen on a different fuse, you'll have to take the fuse box out and reattach the wires from the kitchen to a different spot on the fuse box, but that will probably just result in a different fuse being blown when you use the microwave.

What's the wattage of your microwave? Try setting it to 50% power and cooking your food longer. It'll draw fewer amps that way - might keep it from blowing.

Chamaeleontidae · 03-08-2005, 12:31 PM

If you want an inexpensive solution you could try the following...

Turn off the PC. Unscrew the fuse that the microwave is on. Then find an outlet that still works by plugging a lamp into each outlet. If you find one that still has power, that would be a good place to plug in the Microwave. If the outlet is near the PC, you could always run a powerstrip or such from that outlet to the PC. Sometimes Stoves have power outlets.

That way you'll at least have the Microwave and PC on different circuits...

Mbwuto · 03-08-2005, 08:11 PM

Speaking as a former electrician's apprentice, you can not do this alone .

Worst case scenario you hit the buzz bar playing with fuses and die. Basically, you can call an electrician and have them put some rooms on new fuses. You probably still have open slots in your fuse box. It will cost a decent penny, probably at least $50 per hour, but at least you will have a permanent and safe solution.

On top of that most city and state codes require at least a Journeyman Electrician when it comes to fuse boxes. When you accidentally burn down your home you don't need a fine too.

03-06-2005, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
bbbbbb555 Crazy Location: New Orleans	House fuse question My bedroom is kind of like an old office, and it happens to be on the same fuse as the kitchen. so when i have my computer on and the tv, and then my roomates use the microwave the fuse breaks. this sucks when i am doign something on the computer. i was wondering if there is any easy way to solve this problem. like putting the microwave on one of the other fuses. thanks for any advice that i get.

03-08-2005, 12:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	Fuses + kitchen wiring covering more than the kitchen suggests an older dwelling. If you've never done residential wiring or rewiring, I'd strongly urge to not make this your apprenticeship. A UPS can be had fairly cheap-there's an APC 650 on eBay right now for $50. __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy

03-08-2005, 12:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chamaeleontidae aka: freakylongname Location: South of the Great While North	If you want an inexpensive solution you could try the following... Turn off the PC. Unscrew the fuse that the microwave is on. Then find an outlet that still works by plugging a lamp into each outlet. If you find one that still has power, that would be a good place to plug in the Microwave. If the outlet is near the PC, you could always run a powerstrip or such from that outlet to the PC. Sometimes Stoves have power outlets. That way you'll at least have the Microwave and PC on different circuits... __________________ "Reality is just a crutch for people who can't cope with drugs." Robin Williams.

03-06-2005, 06:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
tres Insane Location: Long Island, NY	well. unless you own the place, having a different fuse for the kitchen put it is unlikly. Buy A UPS (Uninterputable Power Supply) it will give you about 40 min or so of power. It will also help agains power surges..

03-06-2005, 06:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
bbbbbb555 Crazy Location: New Orleans	the ups sounds like it would help, but im sure that it would cost a lot of money, i have seen what power supplies go for. i was hoping for advice on how to do some re wiring. my roomate is going to school to be an electrical engineer, so if he learns how to do it then im sure that he'll be able to.

03-08-2005, 06:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	Also you can get a mini breaker. It's a circuit breaker built into a fuse housing. Then at least you don't have to keep buying fuses. The UPS is your best bet. If you want to rewire to put the kitchen on a different fuse, you'll have to take the fuse box out and reattach the wires from the kitchen to a different spot on the fuse box, but that will probably just result in a different fuse being blown when you use the microwave. What's the wattage of your microwave? Try setting it to 50% power and cooking your food longer. It'll draw fewer amps that way - might keep it from blowing.

03-08-2005, 08:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mbwuto Crazy	Speaking as a former electrician's apprentice, you can not do this alone . Worst case scenario you hit the buzz bar playing with fuses and die. Basically, you can call an electrician and have them put some rooms on new fuses. You probably still have open slots in your fuse box. It will cost a decent penny, probably at least $50 per hour, but at least you will have a permanent and safe solution. On top of that most city and state codes require at least a Journeyman Electrician when it comes to fuse boxes. When you accidentally burn down your home you don't need a fine too.