Your fuse board is central to all the electrics in your home. No doubt you know where your fuse board is and how to operate it to a basic level but how much do you know?
We have written this blog post to give you a little bit more understanding of how the fuse board in your home works.
What is a fuse board?
A fuse board can also be known as an electricity board, a consumer unit or a fuse box. Its main role is to send electricity around your home so that you can do the things you do on a regular basis. Our day-to-day activities such as watching TV and turning on our washing machine can all be done because of our fuse board. It exists to safeguard the electrics that are found within your home.
It’s important that you know where your fuse board is located and be familiar with its contents, so you are able to turn your electricity off if needed. Normally they are found in utility rooms, under the stairs or in the garage. Once you know where your fuse board is ensuring you have easy access to your fuse board is important in case you need to access it quickly.
What is in your fuse board
There are 3 elements to your fuse board.
- Mains switch
This is the main switch on your board that you use to turn your electricity on and off. It’s vital you know which switch this is in case you need to use it in an emergency.
- RCD
Your RCD is the Residual Current Devices. These switches will turn off electricity to a particular circuit when a fault appears. These are the ultimate safety device, so it is advised to get these tested on a regular basis.
- Circuit breaker
These will switch off a circuit if they find something is wrong. If a fault is detected, then the fuse box switch will move into the off position. To turn the circuit back on simply flick the switch back on.
My fuse board is tripping
If your fuse board keeps tripping, then normally this means something is wrong and needs to be looked at. Ideally, you do not want to keep resetting your circuit breakers as this can cause damage.
If you are unaware of what the problem is then we never advise you to try and fix things yourself. It is always best to speak with a qualified electrician like East Kent Electrical so we can do some fault finding for you. Electrical components can be complex and dangerous if not dealt with correctly, never take unnecessary risks with such items as fuse boards.
East Kent Electrical are electricians based in Thanet. We work in homes across the area offering a range of services. If you need help with any electrics in your home do contact us here.
