Thames Valley Electricians in Bracknell specialise in rewiring for domestic properties. Fuse board replacements are one of the main parts of a rewire and often we are rewiring old properties with out-dated fuseboards that need replacing.
Older style fuseboards can become dangerous. If there is an electrical fault, older fuseboards have no safety protection fitted which could result in electric shocks. The new style fuseboards known as consumer units are fitted with RCD protection which prevents electric shocks if you are exposed to bare live wires.
Another reason your old style fuseboard should be updated is the way they detect faults is much safer and convenient . When an older style fuseboard trips, each fuse will have a wire inside that will melt, switching the power off. This makes it quite hard for the average person to detect which part of the house is tripping and the melted fuse needs to be replaced for any power to be restored.
On the other hand, the safer and modern consumer unit uses circuit breakers instead of fuses which are connected to the overloaded circuit. In the event of tripping, the consumer unit will turn off the circuit which makes it very easy to identify and fix the faulty circuit. They can also be installed so that power is only lost in each circuit, so the whole house doesn’t go down in the event of a power surge.
When should you replace your fuseboard?
A domestic fuseboard should be checked every ten years by a qualified electrician. Many people with homes that have outdated electrics, often get their fuseboard upgraded the same time as having a rewire, it’s much easier to get it all sorted in one go so you don’t have to worry about outdated electrics for many more years.
Types of consumer units:
So, the time has come, you’ve decided t bite the bullet and upgrade your consumer unit, but what type will you choose? If you’re not sure Thames Valley Electricians in Bracknell can help.
• Main switch consumer unit – used most commonly in small flats, this type uses only one main switch to power all circuits. In the event of tripping, the main switch will automatically turn off along with the faulty circuit.
• Dual RCD consumer unit – A consumer unit fitted with RCD (residual current device) hast two sets of circuits that can split the power between them both. So, if one circuit trips, the other can remain working. This means if you lose power in the kitchen, your bedroom will be fine!
• High integrity consumer unit – arguably the most popular, all circuits in a high integrity consumer unit can be separated completely.
Surge protection
During your rewire or fuseboard upgrade, as part of new electrical safety regulations it is now compulsory to have surge protection in domestic electrics to prevent electric shocks. This keeps you protected in the event of a power overload.
Rewires & fuseboard replacement
A rewire is a big job and will involve replacing all wiring and your fuseboard. We can also add or change fixtures and fittings as well as sockets to help your home work around modern family life and all the devices we use today.
If you have any other questions regarding fuseboard upgrades & rewires please get in contact with us here at Thames Valley Electricians in Bracknell.
