Make sure you know where the fuse box or consumer unit lies in your house. It may be under the stairs, in a hall cupboard or in a lobby. Keep the area around it clear of clutter and keep a working torch and spare fuse wire or cartridges handy.
The fuse box will be equipped with a mains disconnect switch that will take one of two forms, depending on the type of panel:
Miniature circuit breaker (MCB) This has no fuse. It can be shut off by flipping the mains disconnect switch. If it trips due to an overload, it can simply be reset by pushing a button. But try to rectify the cause first, or it will simply trip again.
Plug-in fuse box This type can be switched off without opening the cover. It contains a row of plugs, one for each circuit, colour-coded for rating: 5 amp (white) for lighting; 15amp (blue) and 20amp (yellow) for special circuits, such as the immersion heater; 30amp (red) for ring (socket) circuits; 45amp (green) for cookers. This fuse box may contain a wire or a cartridge. Always replace a cartridge with a cartridge, never with wire, and always with one of the correct rating.
Learn which fuses control which circuits and label them, or pin up a diagram.
