Dropout fuse assembly and fuse holder

A fuse holder comprising an elongate electrically insulating body providing at least one electrically insulated elongate fuse housing in the form of a passage associated with the body and adapted to receive a fuse wire held under tension therein, a first contact at one end of the body and a second contact at the other end of the body wherein the first contact and second contact are configured for cooperation with cooperant first and second mating contacts of an insulator unit of a dropout fuse assembly such that the body can be installed in such insulator unit as a replacement to an existing dropout fuse element, wherein the first contact is electrically connected to first cooperant mating contact on the fuse holder body and the second contact is electrically connected to second mating contact on the fuse holder body such that a dropout fuse element can be installed on the fuse holder body between said first and second cooperant mating contact on the fuse holder body, wherein electrical conductors are provided in or on the body for defining an electrical circuit between the first and second contact that operatively includes a fuse installed in said passage and a switch adapted to be held open whilst a dropout fuse element is installed between said first and second cooperant mating contact on the body and wherein such switch is adapted to automatically close, in use, when such dropout fuse element that is installed between said first and second cooperant mating contact on the body drops out in consequence of its fuse being blown.