Understanding your Control Panel
Are you still scared of that big box in your home? It's time to face your fear - and here's why you should get to know this mystery box.
Back to basics - this control panel receives and distributes electricity throughout your home (or building) and is simply a big switch that is filled with other smaller switches. For example, your living room light, flick them one way and you've got power, flick them the other and it's lights out.
As an added bonus, these switches, called circuit breakers, perform an array of safety services, protecting your wiring from overload - and your home from fire and shock.
So, go on, open the control panel and have a look! Below is a breakdown which we have "borrowed" from another site, but we had a chuckle at the names because it's so relatable - maybe you will too!
The ‘Big’ One - The Main Circuit Breaker
This switch is serves as the on/off for electricity in your entire home. In the case of an emergency, you can turn off power to your entire home by flipping this switch.
Two ‘Thingies’ – Double-Pole Breaker
Double-pole breakers come in different amperages, which are typically noted on the switch. Why? Small appliances only require a small amp breaker, while larger appliances require higher amp breakers.
One ‘Thingy’ – Single-Pole Breaker
These all-purpose breakers are capable of running lots of stuff in your home, from lights to garage door openers.
RCBO-What?
These handy little all-in-one devices (Residual Current circuit Breaker with Overcurrent protection) are to ensure the safe operation of electrical circuits, triggering disconnection whenever an imbalance is detected.
Huh? Empty Slots
These allow for additional circuits for today’s homeowners to add increasingly more ‘stuff’.
Why Do I Have Two?
Additional, smaller control panels are often used when there is no more "space" on the main control panel for example, additional circuits may be required when a building has been renovated or an extension has been added.
What now? It's a good idea for you to find out what each of these switches does as fumbling around in the dark is rarely a good thing. Find out just what each switch does by flicking them off, identifying which lights/rooms/appliances don't work, and then flick them back on; now label your switches!
