A DIY Guide to Distribution Boards for Men: Safely Managing Your Electrical Supply

Being a man comes with an array of tasks and responsibilities. It is in our nature to build things or fix them, especially when they are risky, like electrical jobs. While changing light bulbs or taking care of simple sockets is one thing, the distribution board is another topic.

Still, you might be eager to use your tool kit and fix things or at least run an inspection. So, here’s a quick DIY guide to help you handle the distribution board safely: 

Step One - Check The Tools And Gear 

If you already maintain a tool box, this will be a piece of cake for you. But make sure that you have:

• A screwdriver set.

• A wire cutter and a wire stripper.

• Insulation tape. If you have multiple colours, that’s even better.

• Cable connector.

As for safety gear, try wearing rubber globes or a PPE kit with rubber boats or at least well-insulated layers and footwear for the task. 

Let’s Start With The Power 

Before you start poking around the distribution board, make sure you have the main power line cut off. You can turn it off and ensure that there’s no electricity running on the board. This is to ensure that when you check the distribution board, you won’t end up in shock.

Hopefully, you have a new-age distribution board with proper fixtures to get the job done easily. 

Distribution Board Manual - Learning The Components 

We are assuming that you’re doing this for your home or an apartment. If it is a large-scale building, there will be a bigger distribution board. And it is better to call a qualified professional for that.

Either way, your distribution board will have the following:

• A main switch to control the complete flow of power.

• Circuit breaker and/or fuses to control and break off the electricity.

• Earth leakage units or grounding units to safeguard your box from static and other electricity.

• Busbars that connect to the majority of electrical systems.

The Inspection For The Circuits 

If you have the latest distribution box, it should have proper labels to comply with the safety regulations. If you fail to find such, it is better to call an expert. However, you can also turn down each MCB to see which part do they control. Then you can label them yourself.

Changing The Fuse 

Changing the fuse will be easy. Just use the main switch to turn off the power supply. Then remove and check each fuse. If the wire is broken, then it is useless; replace the fuse with a new one with an intact wire.

Similarly, if you don’t see any fuse breakage but notice an MCB (Circuit Breaker) down or switched off, then turn it on and turn on the main power supply.

In case you encounter another fuse or the MCB shuts down after turning on the power, it means that there’s some short circuit of issue in the wiring or socket of your house. 

Contact A Professional 

If you’re unable to figure out the issue, you need to replace the entire circuit breaker or a fuse board, then leave that to a qualified expert. Contact a professional to get the job done. 

Photo by Elena Rouame on Unsplash