Here’s four reasons why circuit breakers replaced screw-in type fuses as the standard for new homes long ago:

• Circuit breakers can be easily reset. Fuses must be replaced when blown. If additional fuses are not stored nearby, the circuit will remain dead for a while.

• Circuit breakers are not a shock hazard. Fuses have electrically “live” surfaces that are exposed when changing them, and can arc if replaced under power.

• A circuit breaker can easily be used as on ON/OFF switch. Fuses must be removed to disconnect power to the circuit.

• Circuit breakers can provide additional safety protection for shock (GFCI), arcing (AFCI), or both (DFCI) breakers. These safety features have been phased into the building code requirements starting about 50-years ago. Fuses cannot do this. 

    Also see our articles When did circuit breakers replace fuses in homes? and Why is a fuse box/panel an insurance problem for homebuyers? and Should I buy a house with a fuse panel/box?

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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Here’s links to some of our other articles about OLD AND OBSOLETE ELECTRICAL:

• Is knob and tube wiring illegal?

• How do I find out the manufacturer of an old electrical panel? 

• Is all cloth wiring dangerous? 

• When did they stop using aluminum wiring? 

• Is tinned copper wire safe? 

• Why is there a 3-phase breaker in a single phase electric panel with only two bus bars? 

• When should a corroded or damaged electric panel cabinet or disconnect box be replaced?  

• Why are old electrical components not always "grandfathered" as acceptable by home inspectors?  

• Who is the manufacturer of those "bad" electric panels?

• How dangerous is rust and corrosion inside an electrical panel?

• Are old fuse boxes illegal? 

 • I heard that aluminum wiring is bad. How do you check for aluminum wiring? 

• Are two-prong outlets up to code and legal?

• What are those strange looking wall switches in houses from the 1950s and 1960s? 

 • How dangerous is old electrical wiring? 

• Why is there no bathroom electric receptacle in this old house?

   Visit our ELECTRICAL - OLD AND OBSOLETE page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.