Things you found in fuse sockets instead of fuses

Ray Gianelli

Ray Gianelli

AK Subscriber
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We've all encountered fuses wrapped in aluminum foil, or 20 amp fuses where there should be 5 amp ones.

But what about the more creative items? I've found:

Pieces of copper tubing
Pieces of all thread (is that one word?)
Screwdriver bits

What have you guys found? I remember hearing an urban myth about someone using a .22 shell in their car fuse box, and it allegedly heated up and went off.

So bring it on!
 
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A cane pole type folding/crimping ear lead fishing weight that was the same diameter & length as a 3 AG type that was in a very high value vintage teed covered Fender guitar tube amplifier decades ago ! I`m sure the amplifier`s power transformer`s primary would give up first !! :yikes:, :wtf:, :no:

Back in the very early eighties, I got myself in the habit of checking every piece of electronics externally mounted fuse holder before ramping up the AC to it with my variac, as it seemed popular with the area`s Rednecks to "hold my beer, I got this", creative fuse substitutions ! o_O, :eek:, :crazy:
And with the older cars having 32 volt fuses of up to 30amp ratings that were discovered in all manner of band electronics, started making me more happy when the automobile industry changed the fuse type to the now current blade style, but there was still cigarette/kitchen aluminum foil still readily available, or even a proper length nail, or screw might be pressed in to desperate "temporary service", and most likely forgotten about later !! :idea:, o_O
 
Glad I’ve never found anything crazy like a shell casing!

I did find a receiver where someone was patient and creative enough to solder a thin piece of wire between the main fuse caps so it’d fit back in the holder. Luckily no significant damage was done.
 
MBuras said:
Glad I’ve never found anything crazy like a shell casing!

I did find a receiver where someone was patient and creative enough to solder a thin piece of wire between the main fuse caps so it’d fit back in the holder. Luckily no significant damage was done.
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done that plenty of times with fuse wire .. some fuses have caps that come off so new fuse wire can be installed .
 
On one open style fuse holder I found a thick short screw wedged in there.
 
Fuse lamps.
Not a personal experience, but I believe there is a Darwin Award for someone who put a 22 long bullet in an auto fuse socket.(back when they used regular fuses in cars)
 
I was in the area of a piece of equipment being repaired, when the repair guy had a "wholly crap" moment. Someone used a piece of conduit as a fuse.
 
Mud dauber nest
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sregor said:
Not a personal experience, but I believe there is a Darwin Award for someone who put a 22 long bullet in an auto fuse socket.(back when they used regular fuses in cars)
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I don't know whether it was actually true or not, but I heard that story on the radio many years ago where a guy did that and the shell went off, hitting him in the nuts. Some say it's just an urban legend, though.

About the only thing I've found is fuses covered in aluminum foil. I don't remember anything else too crazy.
 
Ray Gianelli said:
We've all encountered fuses wrapped in aluminum foil, or 20 amp fuses where there should be 5 amp ones.

But what about the more creative items? I've found:

Pieces of copper tubing
Pieces of all thread (is that one word?)
Screwdriver bits

What have you guys found? I remember hearing an urban myth about someone using a .22 shell in their car fuse box, and it allegedly heated up and went off.

So bring it on!
Click to expand...
I did find a spent .22 shell used in a '70 Camero RS I bought back around 1980. Luckily it wasn't live. I have found foil wrapped fuses, copper tubing and bits of steel brake line in fuse holders before.
 
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