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As a homeowner in Bromsgrove, you will know that your home's electrical system is a critical part of its infrastructure.
The electrical system is controlled by a consumer unit, also known as a fuse box. This critical piece of equipment contains several switches that control the power to your home. If you still need to read our first two blogs on the consumer unit (MCB and RCD), please find them in the blog section of our website.
One of the most important switches in the consumer unit is the Main Switch. This blog post will discuss what the Main Switch does and how to operate it safely. If you're curious to learn more, keep reading! If you require help, please don't hesitate to contact Matthew at Allman Electrical on 01527 304049.
The Main Switch is the primary switch in the consumer unit. It controls all of the power going to and from your home, so it's vital to understand how it works. The main switch looks like a horizontal toggle switch with an "on" and "off" position. When switched on, it will supply electricity to anything connected to your consumer unit. When off, no electricity will flow through the consumer unit, and you'll be unable to use any electrical appliance in your home that is connected to that consumer unit. On some occasions, you may have more than one consumer unit, so please bare this in mind.
As mentioned in the RCD blog, there are some occasions where your main switch is also an RCD. As expected, you should still test this switch every six months with any other RCD. There are a few brands (e.g. MEM) that when it trips, you have to push the breaker into the 'off' position before it lets you reset it back to 'on'. Please don't let this style of switch cause you to need an electrician (we get many calls due to this).
You must be careful when dealing with the main switch, as there is a risk of electric shocks if not handled correctly. To avoid this danger, make sure that you turn off all other breakers in the consumer unit before flipping the main switch. It's also important to regularly inspect the main switch for signs of wear and tear, such as cracking, corrosion or burning smells. If you see or smell any of these signs, it's best to call an electrician immediately so they can repair or replace the consumer unit if necessary.
This is the main switch on a consumer unit that a fellow electrician found a couple of years ago, where the homeowner had noticed a funny smell coming from their consumer unit.
Remember, if you ever need help understanding your electrical system, please don't hesitate to contact Allman Electrical on 01527 304049 or your local electrician for advice. Remember, always practice safety when dealing with electricity by turning off all other breakers before flipping the main switch, other than in an emergency.