Fuse box

What is the fuse box and why is it important?

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  The fuse box protects your home's electrical installation.

  Its function is to prevent damage when the following occur:

  • Overloads.
  • Short circuits.
  • Current leaks.

  In many cases, a power cut occurs because the fuse box trips to protect the installation. For example, when you use more power than your contracted capacity or when there is an internal fault.

Types of fuse boxes in homes

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  There are two types of fuse boxes in homes..

  TRADITIONAL FUSE BOX

  

  1. Traditional fuse box

  It usually includes the following elements:

  • Power Control Switch (ICP)
    Checks that you do not exceed your contracted capacity.
  • Residual Current Device (RCD)
    Cuts the current if it detects an electrical leak to protect people.
  • Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs)
    Protect each circuit in the home, such as lighting or appliances.

   

  FUSE BOXES IN NEW INSTALLATIONS

  

  Newly installed fuse box

  In addition to the previous elements, it incorporates additional safety systems:

  • Main Switch
    Protects the entire installation against overloads and short circuits.
  • Surge Protection Device (SPD)
    Prevents damage to electrical appliances from power surges.

What to do if the power is cut by the fuse box?

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  A frequent cause of a power cut is a switch tripping due to excess consumption.

  If your home has a traditional fuse box, follow these steps:

  1. Disconnect some of the appliances that are currently running.
  2. Wait about 3 seconds.
  3. Turn the Power Control Switch (ICP) back up.

  If the switch trips again:

  1. Turn down all the MCBs.
  2. Turn them up one by one.
  3. Identify which circuit is causing the cut.

  If the ICP trips frequently, you may need to increase your contracted capacity.

  Important

  If you suspect there is a fault in the electrical installation, contact a certified electrician.