Can I buy a 'trip fuse' for an old style fuse box?

[Mattk]

We have an old style fuse box i.e. just bog standard fuses which blow rather than trip.
For some reason when our living room light bulb goes it blows the fuse which costs several pounds to replace.

Can I buy some sort of trip fuse to slot in the box so that when a bulb next goes it only trips the fuse and doesnt blow it?

Thx.

[ChuckFickens]

like this?

http://www.screwfix.c...A-SP-Type-B-Curve-MCB

(obviously get ones of the correct amp rating)

[BRIGHT SPARK]

If your fuseboard is made by Wylex/ Mem/ Hagar then yes you can possibly get a retrofit mcb to replace your exsisting fuse.However I feel that you should be saving your money to have the system upgraded to a dual Rcd/Mcb or Rcbo unit.These will protect you and your system from earth leakage faults as well as short circuit/overcurrent faults and will be compliant with BS7671 17TH EDITION.Let me know the make/model/age of your fuseboard.

[Vagrant]

I'm not an electrician, but In my experience (many houses), normal filament bulbs don't blow/trip fuses when they blow, but spotlight (halogen) bulbs do.

[Hymie]

I would agree with Bright Spark – you would be better off replacing the complete consumer unit rather that swapping each fuse for an mcb. When you look at the price of replacing all the fuses with mbc’s versus a new unit (with rcd), there will not be a great deal of difference in price (including fitting).

[deggers316]

someone i know who has 60 watt candle type bulbs (tungsten) in her main light fitting and they blow the circuit breaker every time one goes and it's a new board,she had i checked out when i said something wrong with it but it checked ok

[BRIGHT SPARK]

I agree with you 316 this is a characteristic of B curve 6a mcb's and 6a BS 1361/1362 fuses.When a lamp (thats not internally fused)fails or blows it attracts a heavier than normal inrush current.This is why the device trips or fuses.It is not a fault just an inconvenience.It can be sometimes rectified by installing a 10a device ...but only if the system design will allow.

[woodchopper]

As BrightSpark says - good bulbs with internal fuses - 99 times out 100 dont pull the breaker or fuse. Cheap bulbs do. You get what you pay for.