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Fuse Board or Consumer Unit? Both terms are acceptable but generally a Fuse Board refers to an older style electrical panel and a Consumer Unit is the more advanced equivalent. A Fuse Board uses fuses to protect circuits whereas a Consumer Unit contains circuit breakers and residual current devices. The modern unit has been devised with improved safety and quicker fault detection in mind for your Bridport homes.
Differences with a Fuse Board or Consumer Unit
When a Fuse Board’s fuse blows it needs to be replaced whereas a Consumer Unit’s circuit breaker will trip and can be reset once the source of the problem has been resolved. A Consumer Unit also has features like an RCD (Residual Current Device). This offers protection against earth leakage and electrical shocks. Tyne Electrical Services will install modern Consumer Unit’s as a replacement for improved safety.
How a Fuse Board or Consumer Unit works
A Fuse Board or Consumer Unit is the beating heart for electricity in your Bridport home. It distributes power to different circuits and protects them from being overloaded. It does this by automatically cutting off the power should a fault occur or to prevent a potential electrical fire or shock. It aids your electrical system in operating safely.
When the Fuse Board or Consumer Unit receives the incoming electricity it distributes it within your property to items such as sockets, switches and appliances. It is protected by a fuse or circuit breaker should too much current flow through and will stop the power accordingly.
Main Parts to an old Fuse Board or Consumer Unit
- Old Fuse Board – The main switch (to cut off the entire power supply), a series of fuse carriers and replaceable fuses (that melt when overloaded) and a simple earth bar. These were contained within a ceramic or Bakelite case.
- New Consumer Unit – The main switch (allowing you to turn the power off in an emergency), circuit breakers (that shut down power to a circuit if overloaded or the current is too high and offers a more precise protection than a fuse), RCD’s (protecting against electric shock and often come in pairs covering half of your Bridport home). They also have a casing, but it is now made of a non-combustible material (as per BS 7671 “Amendment 3”).
UK Regulations for a Fuse Board or Consumer Unit
Your Bridport home will have to comply with Building Regulations when it comes to your Fuse Board or Consumer Unit. The regulations apply to new and existing installations and comprise of the following points:
- They must have a minimum IP rating to prevent live parts being touched
- They are to be made of a non-combustible material as previously mentioned in order to contain a fire with the addition of fire protection at cable entries
- They need to be easily accessible and mounted between 0.45 and 1.2m above the floor
- Cables are to be supported in order to prevent any mechanical strain that can cause a fire due to overloading
- Circuits must be protected from overloading also to prevent a fire
- Circuits need to be protected against residual current leakage that can cause an electric shock
- A risk assessment must be completed to ascertain if there is any risk of transient overvoltage
Tyne Electrical Services - Fuse board Electrician in Bridport
We are specialists in domestic electrical services in Bridport including upgrading your Fuse Board or Consumer Unit. So for a local, reliable and trustworthy electrician pick up the phone to Tyne Electrical Services today on 01297 807125.