Can you use too thick for too low load?

413x · 2 Jul 2012 at 07:06

I know you can use too thin wire for too much load but is the opposite true? Can you use too thick wire for ordinary household appliances drawing less than 3 amps?

Destination · 2 Jul 2012 at 07:10

Are you talking about fuses?
If so, yes you can use a nail, but it completely removed the point qnd use of having a fuse in the first place, as it'll never blow when you want it too.
Enjoy the housefire.

Teknobry · 2 Jul 2012 at 07:15

If you're talking about the cable then no, thicker wire has less resistance.

Meridian · 2 Jul 2012 at 07:23

I assume that the OP is talking about leads, not a fuse? If so, yes: for the same reason that you can use a 13 amp extension for an appliance which draws 1 amp. In fact, the whole point is to use a cable which is rated higher than the load.

M

413x · 2 Jul 2012 at 07:27

Thanks, didn't think so. Was just wondering why I light blew after a couple of days in a lamp I wired. Hoping a dodgy bulb

Blue160 · 2 Jul 2012 at 08:46

Dodgy bulb or dodgy wiring. It won't be the type of cable

jsmoke · 2 Jul 2012 at 08:48

Are you serious?

Blue160 · 2 Jul 2012 at 08:51

Me or OP?

If the cable is rated for the load required or higher it can't cause the bulb to blow.

Antar Bolaeisk · 2 Jul 2012 at 09:00

al4x said:
I know you can use too thin wire for too much load but is the opposite true?

If you like melted wire you can, you'll also be placing more load on your electricity supply so it'll be less efficient. You should always ensure that the wire is suitable to the load carried on it.

You shouldn't have been able to blow a lamp though unless something is incredibly wrong, standard bulbs have no polarity (But for the love of Google make sure that you have the live passing through the fuse and the switch) and they'll only draw as much current as they require.