A circuit breaker is a device inside an electrical panel or consumer unit that prevents an overloaded circuit from occurring. The circuit breaker keeps the flow of electricity (or electrical current flow) to a limited level and will disconnect the power supply if there is too much current. They are small devices and have a switch on the front of them along with some printed text to allow us to see what type they are, their rating and other useful additional information.

Under normal circumstances, the sink, taps and pipework in our homes should be completely safe to use without any concerns. What happens though, when things start to go wrong and we receive ELECTRIC SHOCKS FROM SINK or pipework around the home?

If you have recently had a gas smart meter installed or any work done on the gas system by an engineer. You may have been told about something called bonding. Bonding is a safety electrical connection to pipework which ensure that the risk of electric shock and explosion is greatly reduced.

Electrical wires carry the electrical current around our home to the plug sockets, light switches, junction boxes and other electrical accessories. These cables are safely protected by a PVC outer jacket or ‘sheath’ that prevents access to dangerous live wires. This layer of insulation also offers some abrasion resistance.

Electrical systems in our home are installed and then generally left unchecked until something goes wrong. This is the time that many different electrical faults can be discovered. You see, just because an electrical system appears to function normally to the untrained eye, does not mean that there are not hidden dangers with the wiring or electrical equipment.

The consumer unit is a vital part of the electrical system. It carries out many vital functions and protects the electrical wiring and appliances from overload and damage. Consumer units are designed to have a well-fitting cover preventing access to live parts and therefore minimising electric shock risk.

Electrical outlets can be installed almost anywhere so long as the installation does not compromise the safety of those using the electrical system. They should be installed such that no damage could come to them during the normal use of the property or electrical system.

There are numerous possible causes for a FUSEBOX BUZZING NOISE. Sometimes a buzzing noise is not a big issue and there is no reason for alarm but under some circumstances there could be a serious problem that required professional intervention.

The consumer unit is the brains of our electrical system and contains a variety of parts that require upgrading and replacing over time. In the event of a fault, it is the job of the fuse box or consumer unit to turn the power off to prevent fatal electric shock, earth fault, risk of fire and much more.

There is an unmistakeable smell that electricians know well. The smell is a fishy, plastic, pungent odour. If you can smell anything like this from your airing cupboard, your electric box cupboard, or anywhere else in the home then it is an early indicator of a serious electrical problem. A FISHY SMELL IN CUPBOARD should not be ignored!