Angram:

Am I right in saying that fuses are not protecting the network, and that cables and transformers are burning out instead?

We are not getting to that stage here are we?

We have not had pavement link boxes exploding for a while.

I expect Con Ed is still profitable all the while.


Angram

I suspect that a lot of the UK network is not protected against overload by fuses either. Many DNO substations have outgoing LV fuse ratings that total several times the transformer capacity. Reliance is placed on prudent design and hopefully cautious estimates of the maximum likely load, rather than on fuses.

The fuses generally only blow in case of a short circuit.

Small pole mounted transformers are often "protected" by HV fuses of several times the nominal input current, these are primarily to protect the rest of the network from a faulty transformer, not to protect the transformer.

The odd blow-up does occur, but not that many. The USA approach is perhaps similar but a bit less cautious ?


The blowing-up of pavement link boxes may not be load related, I would suspect water ingress and insulation breakdown.

Angram:

Am I right in saying that fuses are not protecting the network, and that cables and transformers are burning out instead?

We are not getting to that stage here are we?

We have not had pavement link boxes exploding for a while.

I expect Con Ed is still profitable all the while.


Angram

I suspect that a lot of the UK network is not protected against overload by fuses either. Many DNO substations have outgoing LV fuse ratings that total several times the transformer capacity. Reliance is placed on prudent design and hopefully cautious estimates of the maximum likely load, rather than on fuses.

The fuses generally only blow in case of a short circuit.

Small pole mounted transformers are often "protected" by HV fuses of several times the nominal input current, these are primarily to protect the rest of the network from a faulty transformer, not to protect the transformer.

The odd blow-up does occur, but not that many. The USA approach is perhaps similar but a bit less cautious ?


The blowing-up of pavement link boxes may not be load related, I would suspect water ingress and insulation breakdown.