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Question about fuse boxes (updated)
Posted by jlovel7 on 11/27/18 at 10:23 am11
UPDATE:
So the advice to just pull the black box out at the top worked. Entire apartment went dark and I was able to work on some switches and am not dead. I looked closer and that box did in fact say MAIN on it so now I know how to work on the apartment in the future. I did come across a new problem though which I will expand upon below.
So in one of the switch boxes I found something I hadn't come across before. It's a 2 gang box with a switch for a bulb and a vent fan. Coming out of the wall was a black wire, a red wire, and a white wire. I would normally assume this white wire was the neutral wire but it was tied in with the black wire as opposed to just with itself. Can anyone confirm that this is a neutral wire? The layout of the switches and their connections was like this
Red wire wall--> switch
Black wire wall-->switch-->switch-->wall
white wire wall-->tied to black wire but not directly to a switch
If anyone needs a picture I can post it after work.
OP
_____________________________________
So I live in an older apartment in New Orleans and it appears to have a fuse box. It has a set of breakers beneath it but that only seems to affect half of the apartment (which I'm assuming is part of an addition). I'm doing some electrical work on the switches (installing wifi switches) and obviously I'd like to turn the power off so I don't electrocute myself .
I assume the fuses are whats powering the rest of the apartment as when I turn all of the breakers off, a bunch of lights still stay on. I've never worked with a fuse box before so I was wondering what the correct way to disable them would be? There are 4 of them in a square and then a black box above them that has a handle that looks like you can pull it out. I can post pictures later when I'm home but if they're pretty standard maybe I don't need them. I didn't want to just start unscrewing or pulling on things without knowing what will happen or if I need specific tools. I just need to be able to cut the power to work on the switches. I figured this was general enough maintenance to be posted on the OT. Thanks.
So the advice to just pull the black box out at the top worked. Entire apartment went dark and I was able to work on some switches and am not dead. I looked closer and that box did in fact say MAIN on it so now I know how to work on the apartment in the future. I did come across a new problem though which I will expand upon below.
So in one of the switch boxes I found something I hadn't come across before. It's a 2 gang box with a switch for a bulb and a vent fan. Coming out of the wall was a black wire, a red wire, and a white wire. I would normally assume this white wire was the neutral wire but it was tied in with the black wire as opposed to just with itself. Can anyone confirm that this is a neutral wire? The layout of the switches and their connections was like this
Red wire wall--> switch
Black wire wall-->switch-->switch-->wall
white wire wall-->tied to black wire but not directly to a switch
If anyone needs a picture I can post it after work.
OP
_____________________________________
So I live in an older apartment in New Orleans and it appears to have a fuse box. It has a set of breakers beneath it but that only seems to affect half of the apartment (which I'm assuming is part of an addition). I'm doing some electrical work on the switches (installing wifi switches) and obviously I'd like to turn the power off so I don't electrocute myself .
I assume the fuses are whats powering the rest of the apartment as when I turn all of the breakers off, a bunch of lights still stay on. I've never worked with a fuse box before so I was wondering what the correct way to disable them would be? There are 4 of them in a square and then a black box above them that has a handle that looks like you can pull it out. I can post pictures later when I'm home but if they're pretty standard maybe I don't need them. I didn't want to just start unscrewing or pulling on things without knowing what will happen or if I need specific tools. I just need to be able to cut the power to work on the switches. I figured this was general enough maintenance to be posted on the OT. Thanks.
This post was edited on 11/28 at 3:24 pm
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by Clyde Tipton on 11/27/18 at 10:25 am to jlovel7
quote:
just start unscrewing
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by TigerstuckinMS on 11/27/18 at 10:26 am to jlovel7
Touch it all over on the inside like I touched your mom last night.
You should probably lick it first, though.
You should probably lick it first, though.
This post was edited on 11/27 at 10:27 am
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by GetCocky11 on 11/27/18 at 10:27 am to jlovel7
YouTube
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by Stoney Baloney on 11/27/18 at 10:28 am to jlovel7
(no message)
This post was edited on 12/16 at 12:24 am
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by BlackHelicopterPilot on 11/27/18 at 10:28 am to jlovel7
Shouldn't there be a Master (racist, I know) switch that turns off power TO the fuse / breaker boxes?
Turn that off and all power is off
Turn that off and all power is off
you may have a main pullout that is akin to a main breaker, if not, just start unscrewing
ETA, you can also turn power off to the whole apartment with the breaker at the meter
ETA, you can also turn power off to the whole apartment with the breaker at the meter
This post was edited on 11/27 at 10:33 am
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by LSUWoodworker on 11/27/18 at 10:33 am to BlackHelicopterPilot
quote:
Shouldn't there be a Master (racist, I know) switch that turns off power TO the fuse / breaker boxes?
Turn that off and all power is off
Only racist if labeled Massa switch BHP. :)
quote:
here are 4 of them in a square and then a black box above them that has a handle that looks like you can pull it out
You pull out the "black box" and that should do the trick. It should just pull right out.
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by stapuffmarshy on 11/27/18 at 10:35 am to Clyde Tipton
I usually just take a butter knife and stick it all up in there. It loosens something up enough to get the lights back on usually.
Usually.
Usually.
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re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by Specktricity on 11/27/18 at 10:35 am to jlovel7
The handle thing is your main fuse. Just pull it out and all power will be off.
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by LSUWoodworker on 11/27/18 at 10:43 am to Specktricity
Go outside, locate the meter.. see pic. Open cover, remove meter and you will be fine then.
quote:
you may have a main pullout that is akin to a main breaker, if not, just start unscrewing
ETA, you can also turn power off to the whole apartment with the breaker at the meter
Ok, I'll look for one. Any way to link a picture that will show me where it is? There's 5 other apartments so I don't want to turn their power off, just my own.
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by White Roach on 11/27/18 at 10:57 am to jlovel7
Do you get an electric bill direct from your service provider? Is there a meter for every apartment? If there isn't, you'll probably be turning out the lights for every unit when you pull the main. I only say "probably" because I've seen older homes that were converted into apartments with meters in more than one location.
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by LSUWoodworker on 11/27/18 at 10:57 am to jlovel7
quote:
There's 5 other apartments so I don't want to turn their power off, just my own.
frick'em that is half the fun.
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by jlovel7 on 11/27/18 at 10:59 am to White Roach
quote:
Do you get an electric bill direct from your service provider? Is there a meter for every apartment? If there isn't, you'll probably be turning out the lights for every unit when you pull the main. I only say "probably" because I've seen older homes that were converted into apartments with meters in more than one location.
Each apartment has a meter and a fuse/breaker box.
quote:
You pull out the "black box" and that should do the trick.
The black box with the handle is the main for the fuse box. Pull it.
To be on the absolute safe side, use a volt meter to test any sockets or switches or simply plug in a lamp to see if you still have power as you work on the boxes.
re: Question about fuse boxes (updated)Posted by White Roach on 11/27/18 at 11:05 am to jlovel7
Just pull the main on your meter and you should be good to go. Use your multi-meter to double check the circuit your working on inside.
quote:Remove the fuse. However, if you have to ask this question, you prob shouldn't be messing with switches or electrical stuff.
I just need to be able to cut the power to work on the switches. I figured this was general enough maintenance to be posted on the OT. Thanks.
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