In article . com, "bubblegummom" wrote:
We still haven't been able to figure out our problem. Our power went
out in our upstairs and our dining room. Basically the same things are
out that would be out if a fuse blew but it's not a fuse, so my husband
thinks it might be a problem in the fuse box, but he can't find it.

Don't let your husband work on the electrical system; he doesn't understand
it. The only problems that could occur in the fuse box to cause this are
pretty easy to find -- so the problem is somewhere else. Probably a
disconnected wire somewhere.

I started a different thread and wanted to continue with it, but can't
find it now.

groups.google.com

Anyway, my husband is afraid that if an electrician tried to find the
problem, he would want to replace the fuse box.

Maybe... but isn't it more important to find AND FIX the problem?

Can a fuse box be
replaced with a circuit breaker box?

Certainly.

We have old style wiring (very old) and my brother says it would be
hard to get it to work with a circuit breaker box.

Don't let your brother work on the electrical system either; he doesn't
understand it any better than your husband does.

How much money would an electrician likely want to change the box if it
can be changed?

That varies widely, depending on (among other things -- this is not an
exhaustive list)
- where you are (likely to be much cheaper in Peoria than in San Francisco)
- how many circuits need to be moved
- where the box is
- how much space is available for installing a new box

Bottom line is, we can't see it from here. The only way to find out how much
that's going to cost is to get several electricians to come out and give you
an estimate.

But you're placing the cart before the horse here. The FIRST thing you need to
do is get an electrician out to find out why half of your power isn't working.

Our fuse box is on the back porch. Is that a problem?

Might be, might not be. Can't see it from here. You need to have an
electrician come out and look at the problem. Don't worry about replacing the
fuse box just yet. You need to find out why your outlets aren't working first.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.