The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

First Aid For The Ailing Houses

This may be done by removing the free plate from the receptacle, after having removed the fuse or turned off the switch that controls the circuit. Then the two screws that hold the receptacle unit in the wall box may be removed and the unit pulled out as far as the wires will permit. These may be removed by loosening the contact screws and the wires attached to the new multiple-receptacle unit. This is then fastened into the box with the two screws that held the former unit, and a new face plate screwed into place. The fuse may then be replaced, or the switch turned on.

Another device that aids in expanding the number of outlets is the receptacle "strip," a special metal stripping that contains outlets every foot or so. This may be nailed or screwed to the baseboard or wall and a wire led from it to the nearest wall outlet. Care must be taken, however, that the lamps and appliances added to such an outlet arrangement do not exceed the maximum rating of the branch circuit. The new outlets do not increase the capacity of the wire or fuse; they are for convenience and a neat appearance, instead of having an octopus of extension cords all emanating from one wall outlet.

Replacing Fuses Replacing fuses is a simple and safe procedure, if certain safety precautions are taken. If the fuse box is in a basement, care should be taken not to stand on damp concrete when inserting or removing fuses. The main switch, if there is one, should be thrown, and the work done by flashlight if necessary. The burned fuse may be recognized by a burned spot on the mica "window" in the cap. Or it may show a broken or melted fuse strip inside the mica.

The new fuse should be of the same ampere rating as the one taken out. Simply replacing a fuse that continually burns out with one of higher rating throws the overload problem back on the wiring, which may overheat and start a fire in the walls. A penny, a nail, a twist of foil or other metal object should never be placed under a fuse to keep the circuit operating! A box of the proper value fuses should be kept on top of the fuse box or in a nearby handy place in order to have a ready supply in emergencies.