Familiarising yourself with your HDB electrical components can help you immensely. Once you are able to fully understand how your circuit breaker, power sockets, and other electrical installations work, you can easily resolve any electrical issues that you might face. However, it is always recommended that you either contact a HDB electrician or emergency electrician for assistance as they would be equipped with the relevant technical skills and tools.

In order for you to understand your HDB electrical components more easily, here is some helpful information on various HDB electrical hardware and their parts.

Consumer Unit

The consumer unit refers to one of the primary units installed in any home by a licensed electrician. In fact, it is actually an electrical distribution board with a metal enclosure that consists of one or more double pole Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB), single pole MCBs, and a Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB), and some terminals. The double pole MCB is linked to the main power supply while the single-pole MCB is connected to different circuits in the home. On the other hand, the RCCB is meant to detect earth leakage current and induce a power trip when said current overflows.

 

MCB and RCCB Differences

The MCB is meant to safeguard the circuit against high amounts of current. When the current exceeds its threshold, the MCB induces a power trip and opens the circuit to disrupt the flow of current. This prevents damage to electrical wires and appliances and stops possible overheating and fires.  The MCB also works on thermal principal and usually has a rated current of 100 amps.

Meanwhile, the RCCB measures the level of current which goes in and out of a device. Any difference between the two levels may be an indication of an earth leakage current. When the RCCB detects this difference, it induces a circuit breaker trip to prevent electrical shocks. Normally, the rating of an RCCB is between 10 mA and 30 mA.

 

Power Trip Causes and Possible Solutions

 

MCB Trip Cause

Potential Solution

There is overloading in the circuit which is causing an oversupply of power and possibly a short circuit.

1.     Disable all home appliance products connected to the circuit. 2.     Turn on the tripped MCB. 3.     If the MCB trip recurs, check if you need an electrical wiring repair or replacement. 4.     If the MCB does not trip, you might have an electrical issue with your appliances. In that case, turn each of them on and see which one causes a sudden power trip. Once you have identified the defective appliance, have it repaired or replaced.

 

RCCB Trip Cause	Potential Solution
There is a disparity in the amount of current going in and out of your light switch or electrical socket.	1.     Turn off all appliances connected to the electrical circuit. 2.     Try to reset the RCCB. 3.     If you are able to reset your RCCB, you may simply have a burnt or loose wiring issue. 4.     If the RCCB trips once more, it is possible that your appliances and wiring are not earthed properly. You might need to ask for help from a reliable electrical contractor in that case.

 

Make sure to follow general electrical safety tips when doing electrical troubleshooting on your own. That way, you can protect yourself and your appliances from any damage in case another power trip occurs.

 

Plugs And Power Sockets

As those in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and many other countries, power socket installations in Singapore use plugs in accordance with the BS 1363 standard. Their corresponding plugs are also made to be much safer than other electrical outlets. Furthermore, their insulated pins are supposed to prevent electrical shocks in case any contact is made with them. The plugs also consist of a fuse to avoid any electrical damage in the event of a current overflow or sudden power failure.

 

How To Maintain Your Electrical Plugs

An electrical plug typically consists of the following parts:

• Terminals to connect the plug’s cables. Normally, these cables have a brown wire for line, green or yellow for earth, and blue for neutral.
• A 13-ampere fuse to protect appliances from damage in case a power failure or power trip takes place.
• White plastic case with a hole for cables.
• Screws to accommodate the plug’s cover.

Before an electrical plug is used, ensure that the cable is properly installed. To do this, remove the cover, insulation, and cable sheath. After that, insert the cables into their corresponding terminals. In case you have difficulty doing this alone, contact a professional electrician for assistance.

 

Electrical Maintenance Tips

The following are some electrical maintenance tips you should follow to make your appliances and electrical wiring last longer:

• Only plug your electrical appliances after you have checked the ratings of your electrical outlets.
• See to it that your electrical cables are free from damage. Otherwise, you might need to upgrade your electrical wiring.
• Unplug your appliances that are not being used.

 

Common Electrical Issues And Potential Solutions

Electrical Issue	Potential Solution
Blown Fuse	●        Call an electrician to change the blown fuse with a new fuse that has the proper rating.
Loose Electrical Wiring	●        Make sure that the wires are properly connected or installed.
Faulty Electrical Appliance	●        Repair the defective appliance or change it entirely.
Circuit Overload	●        Only plug in appliances that you need to use to reduce the load on your distribution board and circuit breaker.
Short Circuit	●        Make sure that your appliances are properly plugged into your power socket installations. ●        Examine your electrical wires to make sure that no loose strands are present.

 

Electrical Wiring

Like power sockets, your installed electrical wiring should last for approximately more than two decades. However, this depends on many factors such as how many appliances you often use, the tendency of your electrical system to overload, and how frequently your electrical wires need to be maintained. Thus, be sure to have a professional examine your electrical wiring before you plan electrical works in your home.

It is also recommended that you have your wires inspected by a licensed electrician. Once this process is done, the electrician shall submit a form to the HDB before any electrical works. After your electrical wires have been repaired or replaced, they shall be inspected before being approved.

 

Conclusion

If you are residing in an HDB flat and are in need of electrical works, make sure to only engage licensed HDB electricians to do them for you. By doing so, you will be able to have your electrical components troubleshot and installed properly. For experienced HDB electricians, contact Everyworks Singapore. Our team can assist you with any electrical services you require. See our price list for more information.

 

Everyworks Singapore provides the best home maintenance solutions available in Singapore. Moreover, we ensure quick customer response, prompt booking, and reasonable and affordable prices for whatever services you acquire. Our highly experienced and skilled plumber, electrician, aircon servicing technicians and handyman teams can also guarantee that the work performed is completed professionally and efficiently as illustrated by our highly-rated Google and Facebook reviews. See our past home maintenance works and articles  to learn more about our home services in Singapore. To set an appointment promptly and have your issues resolved immediately, simply contact our attentive customer support team by sending a quick text or picture through Whatsapp at +65 82410032 or by calling us at +65 6909 0990. You can also email enquiry@everyworks.com for any email enquiries you might have.

 

This article is reproduced from Daylight Electrician Singapore.