Do fuses age?

[Harry Worth]

Just had a call to a gas boiler that had blown a fuse. A gas engineer had already diagnosed a faulty fan and quoted circa £400.00 to supply and fit or to supply and fit a new boiler for rather more. I was the second opinion along with a mate who knows gas but bugger all about electrics. The fuse in question was a 2A on the main pcb and had clearly failed. I replaced the fuse expecting it to quickly blow but it remained intact. The fan runs fine and the boiler appears to function correctly. My question - I’ve always heard this theory that fuses ‘age’ but have never really seen any evidence of it. All fuses I’ve known fail have done so for good reason. Any thoughts?

 

[malcolmsanford]

A fuse will "age" yes if it's under a load.

It is just a wire conductor and conductors get brittle and deteriorate over the years due to heat.

 

[ruston]

If the fuse wire has gone completely it's usually the sign that the fuse has blown, if the wire has just broken the fuse may of "just give up". Having said that though if the fan is on it's way out it may way well take the fuse out at start up , depending on how long it stands between fire up.

 

[Guest123]

We all get a bit more brittle the older we get.

 

[Knobhead]

We all get a bit more brittle the older we get.

View attachment 7796

Know how you feel

 

[High Tower]

We all get a bit more brittle the older we get.

Knock it on the head man, your the same age as me!

 

[telectrix]

We all get a bit more brittle the older we get.

but the beer helps to keep us supple. well, that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it.

 

[Silly Sausage]

but the beer helps to keep us supple. well, that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it.

The more you drink the more you need to go to the bog so you're getting plenty of exercise as well.
That's my excuse and i'm sticking to it.

 

[telectrix]

especially if the bog is upstairs.but , to return to topic, yes, fuses do age. i've had loads on alarm systems where various fuses have failed ( the 20mm glass ones ) . replacement fuses have then lasted for years after. only answer is to see how it goes.

 

[Knobhead]

Beer, whats that?

View attachment 7800

 

[GLENNSPARK]

but the beer helps to keep us supple. well, that's my excuse and i'm sticking to it.

Like the boddingtons add that time....using the head as facecream....lol...:dupe: