What to Do If You Lose Power!?

What to Do If You Lose Power!?

A Step-by-Step Guide to Checking and Resetting Your Consumer Unit Safely

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1. Stay Calm and Check If It’s Just Your Property

• Look outside to see if neighboring homes have power. • If others are affected, it may be a local power outage — check your energy provider’s website or call their emergency line. • If your property is the only one affected, continue with the steps below.

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1. Check Your Consumer Unit (Fuse Box)

• Your consumer unit is usually located in a hallway, cupboard, utility room, or garage. • Look for any switches in the ‘off’ position — especially RCDs (Residual Current Devices) or MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers).

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1. Identify Tripped RCDs or Breakers

• An RCD protects multiple circuits and trips if a fault is detected. • MCBs are individual circuit breakers (e.g., for sockets, lights, or appliances). • A tripped switch will be clearly in the ‘down’ or ‘off’ position.

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1. Turn Off All Affected MCBs

• Before resetting the RCD, switch all associated MCBs to the ‘off’ position. • This helps isolate the issue and prevents further tripping when you reset the RCD.

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1. Reset the RCD

• Push the RCD fully to the ‘off’ position first, then switch it back to ‘on’. • Some RCDs require this full cycle to reset properly.

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1. Turn MCBs Back On One by One

• Turn each MCB on individually, allowing a few seconds between each. • If the RCD trips again when you switch on a specific circuit, that circuit likely has a fault.

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1. Unplug Appliances on the Faulty Circuit

• If a particular MCB causes a trip, unplug all appliances on that circuit. • Plug them back in one at a time and test — the faulty appliance will usually cause an immediate trip.

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1. Still No Power? Call a Professional

• If the RCD or MCB won’t reset, or power keeps tripping without any appliances connected, it’s time to call a qualified electrician. • Avoid attempting further resets — this could indicate a wiring issue or a damaged component.

Frequently Asked Questions (North East UK)

When should I upgrade my consumer unit (fuse box)? If your current fuse board has wooden backing, cast iron switches, or lacks RCD (Residual Current Device) protection, it is severely outdated and non-compliant with modern BS 7671 safety standards. Switch Electrical & Mechanical Services highly recommends upgrading to a modern, metal-clad RCBO consumer unit to dramatically improve the safety of your home in Newcastle.

Do I need a full house rewire? If your home has old rubber-coated wiring, fabric cables, or if you regularly experience blown fuses, flickering lights, and inadequate sockets, it may be time for a rewire. Properties in the North East built before 1990 often require partial or full rewires to safely handle modern electrical loads. Contact us for a full diagnostic inspection.

Are EV chargers legally required to have Open PEN fault protection? Yes. For safety reasons, especially for properties with PME (Protective Multiple Earthing) supplies common in the UK, EV chargers installed outside must have Open PEN fault protection. Switch Electrical & Mechanical Services only installs premium, fully compliant EV charge points for homeowners across the North East.