Parts of a Fuseboard

The Fuseboard is responsible for a great deal of electrical safety and for shutting down the electrical supply when there is an electrical fault in the system. This clever box of tricks can also be known by other names such as the Fuse Box, Consumer Unit, Electrical Panel or Distribution Board. 

There are many important components to the modern Fuseboard and as your local electrician in Axminster we have written this educational article for our customers. 

Let’s jump in and look at the PARTS OF A FUSEBOARD.

•    Main Switch
•    Various Trip Switches
•    Busbar
•    Neutral Bar
•    Main Earthing Terminal

Main Switch

The Main Switch is the device that receives the incoming power cables from the electricity meter in your property. This device is responsible for isolating the power to all the electrical circuits at once and is a vital piece of equipment in the consumer unit. 
In most cases, the device will completely break the connection from BOTH the LIVE and NEUTRAL cables that enter the fuseboard resulting in complete electrical shutdown. This device is intended for emergency power shut off or for maintenance to safely be carried out by your electrician.

Various Trip Switches

Aside from the Main Switch, there are numerous other switches within the consumer unit or fuseboard. 

RCD – (Residual Current Device) A device that protects against electrical shock. This switch monitors the electrical circuits to make sure there is no electrical current missing and leaking through a body that may be receiving an electric shock. It is imperative that this device is regularly tested and is working correctly. The RCD (RCB, RCCB) can also protect against some forms of damage to the wiring system. 

MCB – (Miniature Circuit Breaker) This device protects the cables from gradual overload, as is the case where too many appliances are being operated at the same time. 
It also protects against sudden and large electrical currents which would occur where wires get crossed, shorted out, appliances go faulty or accidental damage occurs to the electrical system or wiring. 

RCBO – (Residual Current Breaker with Overload) This is the RCD and MCB combined in one handy device. A more up-to-date form of technology for the fuseboard.

AFDD – (Arc Fault Detection Device) This device combines all the features of the RCBO and offers protection against electrical arcing. Arcing is a dangerous situation where poor connections or damaged wires can reach very high temperatures due to electrical currents trying to jump an air gap in the circuit. 

Busbar 

The Busbar is the metal (usually copper) bar that runs from underneath or behind the main switch or RCD devices and feeds the individual circuit breakers power. 

Neutral Bar

This bar receives all the neutral connections from the electrical circuits. In some fuseboards there will be one, two or even three neutral bars. Each RCD will have its own specific neutral bar to help monitor the electrical currents. 

Main Earthing Terminal

This terminal receives all the earth connections from the electrical circuits and any metal pipework in your home. In larger commercial electrical installations, there may be several parts of the building that require earthing connections and these will also be fed into the main earth terminal.

Fuseboard Electrician in Axminster

There are many specific PARTS OF A FUSEBOARD and each needs to be correctly installed and maintained. As your local electrician in Axminster, we are able to safely check consumer units and fuseboards to ensure that the connections are tightened correctly according to the manufacturers torque requirements and that your RCD devices are working correctly. 

It is recommended in domestic premises to have the electrical system checked every ten years so give us a call if your inspection is overdue or if you would like to know more.