30a 120v service

[Jim Morrison]

Looked at a house with a 30a 120volt service this AM. I can't remember the last time I saw a 30a service, but I bet it's been close to 10 years. There were four #14 gauge branch circuits, can you guess what size fuses were protecting them?

[AHI in AR]

I usually see 30 amp fuses on old branch circuits with 14 ga tin-plated copper wiring...but I've never seen anything less than a 60 amp service.

[Erby]

Sure, Jim. About thickness and diameter of a penny, made of copper.

[Neal Lewis]

Some of those original 30 amp services were enclosed in a wood box with asbestos lining. Located in a second floor front room.

[Jim Morrison]

Correct. Four 30 amp fuses protecting 4 #14 gauge wires.

[John Kogel]

Correct. Four 30 amp fuses protecting 4 #14 gauge wires.

"Them fuses never blow, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

I've never seen a 30 amp service. But the natural gas pipeline didn't reach us 'til the 90's, so we've always been heavy consumers of hydro electric. I imagine this place had gas for heat?

[Jim Morrison]

It was an oil fired steam boiler with a gas kitchen stove.

[Rob Amaral]

Edison "No -Ark" Panel Jim? I just saw a 30A service on an old mansion in Dorchester last summer...(Codman Square). The guy swore it was 'all ok as is'..

Yep... 30A fuses (of course!)

[John Dirks Jr]

I found a 30A 120v service in late '09 in Baltimore City.

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[John Kogel]

I found a 30A 120v service in late '09 in Baltimore City.

That is some scary old junk you found there, John.

Is there a fuse in that main disconnect, or is it just what it says, a switch?

If it is just a switch, the wire that leaves the fuse panel and feeds that transformer on the right is not protected by any fuse. It is tapped off the main service conductor. Good thing it stops there and doesn't go off into the wall somewhere.

They fried a fuse or two with the triple-tap on the left. Too much load for a 15 amp fuse. A 30 amp fuse was not the way to 'fix' that mess. [:-thumbd]

[John Dirks Jr]

I found a 30A 120v service in late '09 in Baltimore City.

That is some scary old junk you found there, John.

Is there a fuse in that main disconnect, or is it just what it says, a switch?

If it is just a switch, the wire that leaves the fuse panel and feeds that transformer on the right is not protected by any fuse. It is tapped off the main service conductor. Good thing it stops there and doesn't go off into the wall somewhere.

They fried a fuse or two with the triple-tap on the left. Too much load for a 15 amp fuse. A 30 amp fuse was not the way to 'fix' that mess. [:-thumbd]

I didn't take the switch box apart so I don't know if it contained a fuse or not.