Fuse block protector

An apparatus for providing overcurrent and overvoltage protection comprising:

• a fuse block having a front and a rear, comprising a plurality of terminal lugs and associated fuse clips arranged in pairs on the front of the fuse block, each pair having a top terminal lug adapted to receive an input wire, a bottom terminal lug adapted to receive an output wire, a top fuse clip coupled to the top terminal lug and a bottom fuse clip coupled to the bottom terminal lug, said top and bottom fuse clips adapted to receive a fuse therebetween;
• a plurality of conductive straps mounted on the rear of the fuse block, each strap being electrically coupled with respective ones of said top terminal lug and associated fuse clip;
• a grounding strap mounted on the rear of the fuse block and including means for receiving a grounding wire;
• an overvoltage protection circuit coupled to the conductive and grounding straps on the rear of the fuse block.

A method for retrofitting overvoltage protection to a fuse block, wherein the fuse block includes a plurality of terminal lugs mounted on a front face thereof and wherein the fuse block is mounted in an enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a retrofit device that includes a mounting plate, a plurality of conductive straps each affixed to one side of the mounting plate and each having tabs extending outwardly for connection to the terminal lugs of the fuse block, a grounding strap affixed to the one side of the mounting plate and including means for receiving a grounding wire, and an overvoltage protection circuit coupled to the conductive and grounding straps;
• removing the fuse block from the enclosure;
• coupling the retrofit device to a rear face of the fuse block by connecting the tabs to corresponding terminal lugs and a grounding wire to the grounding strap;
• and
• reattaching the fuse block and retrofit device to the enclosure.