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In the UK, the consumer unit is also known as the fuse box.
. It is a metal box that is generally located in the hallway or landing of your home. The purpose of the consumer unit is to protect your home by isolating any electrical faults that may occur. There are many different parts to the consumer unit, and it's important to know what each one does and how to safely use or reset them. Over a few blogs, we'll take a look at each part of the consumer unit and explain what it does. If you require any help at all, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Matthew at Allman Electrical on 01527 304049.
One of the first parts we will look at is the MCB (miniature circuit breaker). This is the switch that controls each different circuit. It might have a number on it (60898) to help you identify you are looking at the correct type of breaker.
An MCB can control how much power is used by each circuit. For example, a lighting circuit would usually be 6 Amps, and a socket circuit 32 Amps (actual amounts may be slightly different on your consumer unit if you're unsure contact your local electrician).
If too much power is being drawn from one circuit, it will trip the MCB. This is a safety feature, but it means you must reset it to restore power. Another time when an MCB might also trip, is when there is a fault on the circuit (two wires touch each other). This includes circumstances like when a light bulb blows.
If an MCB trips frequently, this could be an indicator of a fault on the circuit or that too many appliances are being plugged in at once. Either way, if you're unsure please get in touch with your local electrician, and they will be able to advise.
If you have any concerns regarding the safety of your consumer unit, contact your local electrician, or Allman Electrical on 01527 304049 who can help identify any potential issues, or answer any questions.