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Fuse box and RCD at home: how to prepare for a power cut

Your fuse box: get ready in advance: a practical guide

⏱ 2 min read

Labelled circuits, RCD test, torch. A guide based on official advice. The same text is in the free SurvivalZone.app and works without internet.

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When only your home loses power, it is usually a tripped breaker or RCD. In the dark and under stress, finding the right switch is hard.

Fifteen minutes of preparation lets you sort it out safely in a minute.

Know your fuse box

  1. Check where the fuse box (consumer unit) is and how to open it. In flats it may be in the hallway or stairwell.
  2. Find the main switch, the RCD with its TEST button and the breakers for each circuit.
  3. Label which breaker controls which rooms and appliances: cooker, washing machine, bathroom, sockets.

Test the RCD

  1. The RCD protects you from electric shock. Every few months, press its TEST button as the manufacturer recommends. It should switch off at once. Then switch it back on.
  2. If nothing happens when you press TEST, call an electrician. The RCD may not work when you need it.

Avoid overloads

  1. Do not plug several powerful appliances, such as a kettle, heater and oven, into one socket or extension lead at once.
  2. Do not daisy-chain extension leads. Replace cables and sockets that are warm, discoloured or loose.

Just in case

  1. Keep a torch in a fixed place near the fuse box or the front door.
  2. Save your electricity network's emergency number and a trusted electrician's number.
  3. If you have old screw-in fuses, keep spares with the right amp rating.

Checklist

  1. I know where the fuse box and main switch are
  2. Circuits labelled
  3. RCD tested with the TEST button
  4. Torch in a fixed place
  5. Outage line and electrician saved
  6. No overloaded extension leads

See also

Frequently asked questions

How often should I test my RCD?

Every few months, as the manufacturer recommends, using the TEST button. It should switch off immediately.

What is the difference between a breaker and an RCD?

A breaker protects the wiring from overload and short circuits. An RCD protects people from electric shock.

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Sources

Official sources are checked automatically every day. Last check: 2026-11-04.

General guidance only; it does not replace the emergency services. If a life is in danger, call 112.