Consumer units also commonly referred to as fuse boxes can potentially save your life. However, a faulty consumer unit can also be responsible for loosing your life too. It definitely will pay you to be aware of the 'current health' of your consumer unit, and how capable it may be of saving your life should a problem develop.  

What a consumer unit should do  

Apart from control the electrical function of your home, a consumer unit should also be intelligent enough to detect a dangerous problem. This would be more than just the standard 'tripping' but rather in the form of dual protection RCD's which all new consumer units are now fitted with. I cannot over emphasise how important it is to have RCD protection in your home. RCD's are clever enough to detect faulty appliances before you are even aware and will even activate if someone accidentally touches a live cable in your home. The capabilities of an RCD far exceed any other safety function of a fusebox such as a trip switch activating or a fuse blowing. An RCD activates in less than a split second.  

Unfortunately there are still far too many homes without any RCD protection. I advise all my customers in my area of Shropshire to upgrade their consumer units before considering any other electrical work. 

Consumer Unit first!

It is always a bind having to recommend to customers considering other home upgrades such as new kitchens and major decorating to hold off until their consumer unit has been upgraded. Many kitchen fitters will not fit a kitchen unless the home has RCD protection. Although it can seemingly delay making your home look nice, no one wants a fire to break out in their home after spending money having it upgraded. Equally, who wants to strip their new wallpaper off because of bad wiring that needs to be repaired or replaced. Unfortunately this has happened many times in my years of being an electrician. Now is the best time to upgrade if your consumer unit is past it's best.  

How do I know my consumer unit needs upgrading?

Basically speaking, any consumer unit without an RCD needs an upgrade. This doesn't always mean a whole new consumer unit so it is essential you speak to a registered, qualified electrician who can decide what needs to be done. Consumer units with wooden backs almost always need replacing as these can often date back to the 1950's – a lot has changed since then!  

How to check if your fusebox has RCD protection

Look for a button with T or test on your consumer unit. This indicates if an RCD is present. Don't forget to press the button to make sure your RCD is working as it should be. If it does not activate (turn off your power) or you have any concerns about it, then consult a qualified and registered electrician asap.  

Consumer units, like fire alarms, need to be tested regularly to ensure they are working as they should be. Remember they are there to protect you from electrical harm. 

We can provide fully NIC EIC qualified, experienced Electricians to deal with all home electrical work, from a complete house rewire to upgrading consumer units etc. You'll find us reliable and trustworthy - read our customer reviews and see why people choose Wiring Works.