Fuses help to ensure that wires in your electrical outlet do not overheat. A blown fuse can mess up your day, especially if it is for a critical component. However, blowing a fuse does not have to result in a quick trip to an electronics shop. There are various ingenious ways of fixing a blown fuse including using a chewing gum wrapper.
Fuses have been used in home and auto electrical systems since the 1800s. These devices come in various shapes and sizes and they all have the capacity to keep wires in electrical systems from overheating. Generally, a fuse consists of two metal prongs that make contact with wires on either side. The middle of the fuse is usually made form a fireproof protective casing containing a conductive metal with specific melting point. The melting point of the metal contained in the fuse is usually lower than the wires on either side of the fuse. This means that if an electrical current on either wire becomes too high for the wires to handle, the fuse will be the first to detect the temperature change. The main function of the fuse is to interrupt current when temperatures become too high by melting and breaking electrical connections.
Gum Wrappers and Fuses
Although you can use foil chewing gum wrappers to replace blown fuses, it is not the safest fuse repair option. The conductor on the gum wrapper is not the only remedy for a blown fuse; an aluminum foil can also work just fine. Basically, any electrical conductor that can be wrapped around the fuse can do the trick.
Using gum wrapper around the fuse helps to bypass the failed safety mechanism in the blown fuse. When the gum wrapper comes in contact with the wires on both ends of the electrical connection, electricity flow will resume and your problem will be solved, albeit in an unsafe and temporary fashion.
How to Do Home Electrical Repairs
The plumbing and electrical systems of your home may seem extremely different. However, there are distinct similarities between the two systems. Water flows into your home through pipes under pressure. When you turn on the tap, water in your pipes flows into your home at a certain rate, usually gallons per minute. On the same breath, electricity flows into your home through wires at a certain rate or voltage or amperes.
Your home’s electricity is supplied by three main lines (two in older homes). The standard voltage supplied in most homes is 110-120/220-240 volts AC (alternating current). The exact voltage that enters a home varies depending on several factors. A three wire system provides homes with 110-120-volt power for small appliances including lighting and 220-240-volt power for high-power appliances including air conditioning, clothes dryer, and water heater.
Electricity enters into a home through a disconnect device installed in an approved enclosure. The device disconnects electrical service from the internal wiring system. The disconnect is often referred to as the main, main breaker, or main disconnect, consists of fuses, a circuit breaker, and a sizable switch.