Can I replace a blown fuse in my consumer unit myself?
Quick answer
If you have old ceramic rewirable fuses, you can replace the wire yourself legally. If you have a modern MCB, you simply reset it — but if it keeps tripping, call an electrician.
🏠Homeowner view
The answer depends on what type of consumer unit you have. If you have a modern consumer unit with MCBs (circuit breakers — these look like small switches), there's nothing to replace. An MCB that has tripped just needs to be switched back on. If it trips again immediately, there's a fault on that circuit — don't keep resetting it. Call an electrician. If you have an older consumer unit with ceramic fuse holders (removable cartridges with fuse wire), you can legally replace the fuse wire yourself — it's one of the few electrical tasks homeowners can do without notification. Use the correct fuse wire rating for the circuit (it's usually labelled on the fuse holder: 5A for lighting, 15A for ring mains, 30A for cookers). Take the fuse holder to a hardware shop if you're unsure. Never replace fuse wire with anything other than proper fuse wire — using wire, nails, or foil is extremely dangerous.