It can often get confusing hearing different names for a fuseboard, and you may be wondering if you have a fuse board or consumer unit in your Wokingham home.
Thames Valley Electricians in Wokingham are your local and trusted electricians. We have provided this guide to help you understand the differences between a fuse board and consumer unit, so you have a clearer understanding of what you have in your Wokingham home.
What is a Fuse Board?
A fuse board, also known as a fuse box, is the centre of a home’s electrical system. Being the first point of electricity entering a home, a fuse board has the critical job of safeguarding a home from electrical dangers. The contents of a fuse board includes fuse carriers. Inside these carriers are small fuses which are used to ensure the safety of the electrical supply. If there are any signs of overload or faults detected with a home’s electrical system, a short fuse will burn out and disconnect the electricity to the relevant part of your home. A new fuse will have to be connected for the electricity to flow once again.
It is important to know where your fuse board is located and must be easily accessible in an emergency.
What is a Consumer Unit?
The electrical boxes we use today are now known as consumer units. A consumer unit is a more advanced and safer version of the fuse board. They are able to respond quicker than old fuse boards by cutting the power to a circuit at the first sign of overload or fault. It is easy to reset a circuit after a trip, by simply flicking the switch in your consumer unit. Old fuse boards with actual fuses took longer to reset as a new fuse had to be inserted after one had blown. Consumer units can also include more advanced safety features such as RCD’s. An RCD (residual current device) is installed to a consumer box to offer protection to an individual or a group of circuits. It works by monitoring the current flowing through a circuit and if it detects the electricity is going down an unintended path, it will shut off. This is a life saving feature which reduces the risk of injury to a person.
Do I have a fuse board or consumer unit?
Are you still unsure if you have an old style fuseboard or consumer unit? The main way to tell if you have a fuse board or consumer unit is to look inside your box. If you notice cartridges with fuses inside, you have a fuse board. If you are seeing lots of switches, it is likely that you have a more modern consumer unit.
Reliable Electrician in Wokingham
If you electrical supply is still running off a fuse board then it is best to consider an upgrade. Although it is not illegal to own a fuse board, they are not as safe as modern consumer units and can increase the risk of hazards in your home. Thames Valley Electricians are your local, reliable electricians in Wokingham. We are NICEIC approved domestic installers which means we are highly trained to work with your home’s electrical supply. Contact our team of electricians today to discuss your fuse board upgrade.
