Allman Electrical Services were really most excellent. I would recommend them to everybody.
Fuse board or consumer unit? If you have been doing any research regarding the fuse board in your Bromsgrove home, then you will have come across both these terms and most likely seen them used interchangeably.
So, what are the differences between a fuse board and a consumer unit? And what does that mean for you? Allman Electrical are your local qualified Electrician in Bromsgrove. With many years of experience upgrading and replacing fuse boards, we are here to share our expertise and explain exactly what the differences are between a fuse board and a consumer unit.
Fuse Board
A fuse board is the electrical heart of your home. It controls the safe flow of electricity, and your fuse board is designed to “trip” and cut the power if a fault occurs. If you have an older style fuse board in your Bromsgrove property, it will feature a bank of removable, rewireable fuses. The wire within melts when the circuit becomes overloaded during a fault event. To restore power the correct fuse must be identified and rewired - which can be tricky in the dark! As it takes a few seconds for the fuse wire to melt before power is cut off, there is an increased danger of fire or shock occurring. It can also be harder to identify the source of the fault with an older fuse board. Older style fuse boards do not meet current safety standards and are likely to need replacing due to their age alone.
Consumer Unit
A consumer unit is the newer, safer version of a fuse board and can still be described as a fuse board. The key function remains the same, to safely control the flow of electricity around your home, but a consumer unit does this more effectively and with added safety measures. A consumer unit looks a little different to the traditional fuse board. Instead of removable, rewireable fuses you will see a row of small toggle switches. These mini circuit breakers (MCB) will each be assigned to a specific circuit, such as upstairs lighting, and will switch off the power in milliseconds should a fault occur. This makes them not only safer than their predecessor but also far more user-friendly. Unless it is a major fault the power will only go off on the affected circuit and it is far easier to identify the fault. Once the problem is resolved, it is simply a case of flipping the switch back on. Your consumer unit will also feature both RCD and SPD protective devices which provide a further level of protection for you and your home. An RCD protects you from electrical shock whilst an SPD protects your electrical equipment from damage from high voltage power surges.
Allman Electrical are your local, trusted electrician in Bromsgrove. Fully qualified and NAPIT registered, we are competent, capable electricians who take great pride in the outstanding service we provide. If you are planning on upgrading the fuse board at your property in Bromsgrove to a modern consumer unit, or if you have any questions about your fuse board, contact us today. Our friendly, professional team will be happy to help.