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[pwdiver]

Went outside this morning to check the boiler had lost power, found it was the fuse. This is the first time in 3 years would this be normal life span for the fuse.

[MTJAG]

Good question.  However, fuses typically blow because of an overload.  Have you oiled your solenoid recently and check to make sure the solenoid damper moves freely?

[Ridgekid]

Alway check your voltage too.. Low voltage means higher current draw.

Anyone know there is a fuse next to the solenoid too?  I didn't until I took the cover off the other day to find solenoid info.

[RSI]

Alway check your voltage too.. Low voltage means higher current draw.

Anyone know there is a fuse next to the solenoid too?  I didn't until I took the cover off the other day to find solenoid info.

How do you figure that?

[Ridgekid]

I'm no electrician but if you have a certain current draw at a certain voltage and that voltage drops, the current draw will be higher.  I see this often with the equipment I work with.

Maybe a electrican can give a better explanation.

[RSI]

If you have something like a light bulb and lower the voltage the current drops too.
Motors may have the current draw go higher due to getting out of sync but most stuff will drop.

If I have time next week I will wire up a solenoid to a variac and put an amp meter on it but I bet the current goes down.

[pwdiver]

I would have to agree with Ridgekid I see this at work we have a 1500 HP motor that might be pulling 260  amps at 2300 volts under the same load if the Voltage drops the Amps go up and if the Voltage goes up the Amp's drop.

[Ridgekid]

Your both right. High voltage motors will do that.

A light bulb I'm not so sure. I do think a solenoid would. Why? Even though they are the same voltage, they have different Amp draws.

[RSI]

See for yourself here. The green meter is volts and the yellow is amps.
All numbers were mA till it hit 4000mA and switched over to amps.