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DIY & Home Improvement

Eko

(8,831 posts) Sun Mar 17, 2024, 07:22 PM Mar 2024

I have an old 50's to 60's style circuit breaker and I lost power to half my house tonight. [View all]

I believe one of the main fuses in the main breaker may be bad so half of my breaker is working and the other half is not. Can you just pull the big square main breaker out and replace them without needing the power company turning off the power?
Thanks for any help!
Eko.

35 replies

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I have an old 50's to 60's style circuit breaker and I lost power to half my house tonight. [View all] Eko Mar 2024 OP

Yes, you could put the working one inplace sunflowerseed Mar 2024 #1

Federal Pacific? N/t gay texan Mar 2024 #2

Yes, it says that on the box. Eko Mar 2024 #5

get rid of that box NOW gay texan Mar 2024 #19

Thanks, Ill call an electrician. Eko Mar 2024 #20

If you have a 60/70 entrance, I'd definitely upgrade to a minimum 100Amp Service (or 200Amp) if you have future expansio OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2024 #24

Yes, but... RainCaster Mar 2024 #3

Could be you've lost a 'leg' of power coming to your home from the power company. rubbersole Mar 2024 #4

One of the GFI's blew on a outlet in the kitchen Eko Mar 2024 #6

What happens when you turn the oven on? rubbersole Mar 2024 #7

Was afraid to try it and lose all the power. Eko Mar 2024 #8

Good luck 👍. rubbersole Mar 2024 #9

Should I try the oven tonight or just wait till tomorrow? Eko Mar 2024 #10

Try it in the morning when you're ready to replace your main fuses. rubbersole Mar 2024 #15

Sounds like you might have Bussmann fuses protecting the power legs. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2024 #11

Correct. Eko Mar 2024 #12

That makes sense some, Eko Mar 2024 #13

Doubtful. Probably on a branch circuit. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2024 #14

My drier seemed to want to work Eko Mar 2024 #16

That's a 220V source, for sure. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2024 #17

That is what I was thinking looking at the schematic. Eko Mar 2024 #18

pulled the mains and replaced them, Eko Mar 2024 #21

I think you should probably get an electrician to check your entrance. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 2024 #22

Yeah, no joy. Eko Mar 2024 #23

Garage door openers and refrigerators are not 220V. I have never seen one that was or advertised as such. Wonder Why Apr 2024 #26

Thanks, it was more of a problem that anything that took a lot of wattage wouldnt work. Eko Apr 2024 #27

Update on power problems. Eko Apr 2024 #25

A home electrical system, particularly one out of code, is not a location for on the job training ... marble falls Apr 2024 #28

Yeah, paid an electrican and got it inspected. Eko Apr 2024 #29

I've been a Machinist Mate in the Navy, Safety Officer with several companies and production engineer ... marble falls Apr 2024 #30

I grew up in a huge Navy town, Eko Apr 2024 #31

The two largest air forces on the planet by a long lead? USAF and the USN. marble falls Apr 2024 #32

Yup, chuckled at that. Eko Apr 2024 #33

How can you talk about breakers and fuses in the same device? 4dog Apr 2024 #34

My bad, I had a fuse box with fuses in it and now I have a breaker box with breakers in it. Eko Apr 2024 #35