Miniature Circuit Breakers: Your Questions Answered

As one of Ireland’s most experienced fuse board replacement and upgrading companies, we often replace older fuse boards with miniature circuit breakers. While most clients are familiar with fuse boards, miniature circuit breakers often inspire questions. To make this information more accessible to our clients, we’ve compiled some of the most common questions we get asked. Please keep in mind that this isn’t a complete list. If you have any additional inquiries, please get in contact with our experts today.

What are miniature circuit breakers?

An MCB is an electrical protection device that functions as a switch to automatically interrupt the electrical flow in the event of an overload or short circuit.

MCBs are commonly used in residential, commercial, and industrial electrical installations to protect circuits and electrical appliances from damage due to excessive current.

They come in various sizes and ratings, and they can be reset manually after tripping.

How is a circuit breaker different from a fuse board?

On the other hand, a fuse board is a distribution board that houses electrical fuses or circuit breakers. It is also known as a consumer unit or fuse box.

The fuse board is the central point where electrical power is distributed to various circuits within a building.

In older installations, you might find fuseboards with fuses, which are thin wires that melt when exposed to excessive current, breaking the circuit and protecting it from damage.

Should I update my old fuse board to a Miniature Circuit Breaker?

Upgrading an old fuse board to a modern miniature circuit breaker (MCB) consumer unit is generally considered a good idea for several reasons:

Improved Safety:

MCBs provide better protection against overloads and short circuits compared to traditional fuses. They respond more quickly to faults, reducing the risk of electrical fires.

Ease of Reset:

Unlike fuses, which need to be replaced, MCBs can be easily reset after they trip. This makes troubleshooting and restoring power more convenient.

Selective Tripping:

MCBs are designed to trip only the faulty circuit, allowing other circuits to remain operational. This selective tripping feature enhances the overall safety of the electrical system.

Additional Features

Modern consumer units often come with additional features, such as residual current devices (RCDs) or ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), providing extra protection against electric shocks.

Future-Proofing

Upgrading to MCBs is a step towards modernizing your electrical system. This can be beneficial if you plan to make further improvements or renovations.

Do you still have questions regarding miniature circuit breakers? Please get in touch with us today. We can replace your old fuse board with a modern miniature circuit breaker.