Glossary
Consumer unit or fuse board (cuadro eléctrico)
The box in your home, officially the cuadro general de mando y protección, that houses the main switch (IGA), the RCDs, an MCB for each circuit and, if fitted, the surge protector. Most expats call it the fuse box; in the US it is the breaker panel.
What the consumer unit is
It is the control and protection centre of your installation. It is usually next to the front door and receives the individual riser cable from the meter. Every circuit in the home starts here. It is governed by ITC-BT-17 of the REBT.
What is inside
- IGA. The main switch, which protects the whole installation and lets you cut power to the entire home.
- RCDs (diferenciales). They protect people against leaks to earth, with 30 mA sensitivity in homes.
- PIA. One MCB per circuit: lighting, sockets, kitchen, washing machine, bathrooms, air conditioning, EV charging.
- Surge protector. Required by ITC-BT-23 in the cases set by the regulations and highly advisable in Seville because of storms.
- Terminals and busbars that distribute the current between the devices.
How to reset it
If a device trips, switch off all the PIA, switch the RCD on and then switch the PIA on one at a time. The one that trips the RCD again is the problem circuit. Leave it off and call an electrician.
When to replace it
- If it has fuses or no RCD.
- If it smells of burning, buzzes or has blackened terminals.
- If you are increasing your power, adding circuits or installing a charger.
- If it trips often with no clear cause.
Guide price
A basic board costs around 300 euros, 300 to 800 euros with its components and 450 to 1,200 euros in an older home, plus VAT. See fuse board replacement in Seville, Spain.
Related services
Fuse board replacement
A consumer unit replacement in Seville, Spain is the upgrade that adds the most safety without building work: main switch, several RCDs, one breaker per circuit and surge protection. We replace your old fuse box, or a board with a single RCD, with a new fuse board (breaker panel) sized for your power and your circuits.
Fuse board fault
A burnt fuse board (consumer unit, breaker panel in the US) with blackened terminals, circuit breakers that will not reset or a constant buzzing needs an electrician as soon as possible. In Seville, Spain we repair the fuse box of your home or business, replace the damaged parts and, if it has reached the end of its life, propose a new one.
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.