Consumer Units Explained:

The technical term for a fuse box is a consumer unit, this is where the electricity in your home is controlled and distributed. It’s important that your consumer unit can be easily located in case an issue occurs where you may need to turn off your electricity in an emergency and the need to turn it off or on. Fusebox electrical assembly, as well as choosing the right components for it can look complex to beginners. Here is a quick breakdown of everything you need to know.

The Components of a Consumer Unit:

The fusebox consumer unit is made up of numerous components such as the fuse box mains switch, residual current devices (RCDs), and consumer unit fuses and/or circuit breakers (MCBs). It's important to note that the assembly of these components can differ based on the type of consumer unit or board you're using. 

1. Consumer Unit Enclosure:

Consumer Unit Enclosure is the box which is the main control point for electricity in every household. The fuse box consumer unit enclosures provide critical protection for consumer devices that distribute electrical power into a property. Our range contains fire-resistant consumer units which are manufactured with durable materials such as galvanised steel and glass-reinforced polyester.

2. Busbar:

Busbars are used to transport enormous amounts of current. Every home electrical panel, which is typically built of copper or aluminium, features busbars that deliver alternating current power to the rows of circuit breakers.

3. Main Switch:

 The fuse box main switch allows you to turn on or off the electricity supply to your home. You might have more than one fuse box main switch, for example if your home has electric storage heaters. In this case you may have a separate consumer unit.

This is a 100A 2 Pole Mains Isolator Main Switch from the brand Garo. Founded in 1939, Garo is an industrial electrical distribution manufacturer based in UK as well as Ireland. Garo is one of our most popular and trusted suppliers of consumer units and consumer unit accessories. We offer a wide range of main switches, consumer units, and consumer unit accessories from Garo. 

4. Residual Current Devices (RCD):

 Residual Current Devices (RCDs) is a switch which will trip a circuit under dangerous conditions, and instantly disconnect the electricity. RCDs are one of the most critical safety devices on consumer unit boards. RCDs are a necessary and legal necessity for safety in both residential and business settings. This is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live.

5.  Circuit Breakers:

 A Circuit breaker is an automatic protection device which is placed in your fuse box consumer unit in order to switch off a circuit if a fault is detected. They are similar in size to fuses but give more precise protection. When they trip, you can simply reset the switch. Before resettinga fusebox, make sure you correct the fault first. If you're looking for a guide on how to reset fuse box UK, here's a detailed breakdown of the steps. 

Fuses can be found in place of circuit breakers. In a breaker box with fuses, a rewireable fuse has a piece of wire running between two screws, when a fault flows through the fuse wire, it will become hot and melt. The melted fuse breaks the circuit, disconnecting the faulty circuit and keeping you safe.

Installing a Consumer Unit - DIY 

Though they might look complex, consumer units are pretty easy to install if you have basic electrical expertise. Meteor Electrical carries all the components you need to set up a consumer unit in your space yourself. Once you have the right parts, you're ready to get started. Here's a detailed explanation of how you can install a consumer unit all by yourself!

To learn more about types of consumer units and their components, visit our blog! For further information on purchasing one of our fuse box consumer unit boards, RCDs, MCBs, RCBOS, or Surge Protections, please send an email to [email protected] or use our live chat to speak with one of our helpful advisors!