A Fuse Board also known to most homeowners in Plymouth as a ‘Fuse Box’, ‘Consumer Unit’ or ‘Consumer Board’. You may need a fuse board upgraded by Goodwin Electrical for a number of reasons, including:
- Full home rewiring
- Damage to existing fuseboard
- Outdated fuseboard
- Extra capacity require
- Fuseboard relocation
The Fuse Board is the heart of your Electrical installation, if the heart is not working correctly then your electrics will fail and could also lead to a fire or death.
These have rewireable fuses (difficult to change). These fuses rely on the temperature of the room to when they trip and also do not have RCD protection.
They require all electrics to be isolated so that you can pull the fuse. You then have to have access to a screwdriver to re-wire the fuse.
Due to their poor protection you are at high risk from electrical shock. Cables can catch fire before fuses trip. There is no Surge protection to protect your appliances and electrical gadgets.
Consumer Unit with Surge Protection and RCBO’s
Fuse boards have come a long way since the 60’s. They are now much easier to use, have Residual Circuit Device Protection (RCD), Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB), Surge Protection and optional Arc Fault Protection.
These fuse boards have individual RCD’s on each circuit so if you have a fault on one circuit it will not effect the others.
Fuses (MCB) can be re-energised at the flick of a switch. You do not have to isolate the main switch to reset MCB.
MCB’s have overload protection and short circuit protection. Temperature is not part of the equation like old wire fuses.
They are metal clad, giving added fire protection.
Conclusion
If you value your home and the safety of everyone who lives there, then make sure you have your electrics checked at least every 10 years with an Electrical Installation Condition Report. This will determine how safe your property is (it is like having an MOT carried out on your car). This will determine if you need a Fuse Board Upgrade and if your electrical installation is safe for continued use.
Call Goodwin Electrical now on 01752 916047 or fill in our Free Quote form.
