On Fri, 21 Aug 1998, Graham Daniel wrote:

> Hi Harold,
>
> if the nutral breaking contact fails, then apliance fails with all
> circuitry at 230vac, makes it more dangerous to service.  remember that
> amatures *will* fiddle.

You are right, but the neutral fuse is a fire protection measure in case
current from somewhere else comes through the apparatus (such as,
lightning). The GFCI in the panel, which is mandatory. takes care of the
situation that you describe.  The new CE rules require the fuse on neutral
apparently. BTW GFCIs used here and in Europe are DPDTs, and break the
neutral too according to the hieroglyph on the one near me here.

Peter