The short answer
A fuse board, fuse box and consumer unit are the same thing — the central panel that takes your incoming supply and splits it into the separate circuits around your home, with protection on each one. 'Fuse box' is the older term from the days of rewireable fuses; 'consumer unit' is the modern name for a board fitted with circuit breakers. The key difference is what's inside: an old fuse box uses rewireable fuse wire with no residual-current protection, while a modern consumer unit uses MCBs (which switch off on overload), RCDs (which cut the power fast if they detect a leakage that could cause a shock), and increasingly RCBOs (a combined device that does both, per circuit). The job a board does hasn't changed; the safety devices inside it have.
People use 'fuse board', 'fuse box' and 'consumer unit' interchangeably, and that's fine — they refer to the same panel. What matters is what's inside it, because that's what determines the protection your home has.
The terms and parts
- Fuse boxolder term; rewireable fuses
- Consumer unitmodern term; circuit breakers
- MCBtrips on overload / short
- RCDcuts power on earth leakage
- RCBOMCB + RCD in one, per circuit
Same job, different generations
- Fuse box (older): uses rewireable fuse wire that melts on overload. It protects against fire from overload but offers no fast protection against the kind of earth leakage that causes electric shock.
- Consumer unit (modern): uses resettable circuit breakers and residual-current protection, meeting current wiring standards (BS 7671).
- The names: 'consumer unit' is simply the term the wiring regulations use; in everyday speech a fuse board or fuse box means the same panel.
What the devices inside do
The difference that matters is the protective devices. An MCB (miniature circuit breaker) switches a circuit off on overload or short circuit and can be reset. An RCD (residual current device) monitors for current leaking to earth — the situation behind most electric shocks — and disconnects in a fraction of a second. An RCBO combines both functions in a single device fitted per circuit, so one fault isolates just that circuit. A modern board uses a mix of these; an old rewireable fuse box has none of them.
Not sure what you've got?
We'll match you with a vetted, registered electrician who can look at your board, tell you whether it's a modern consumer unit or an older fuse box, and explain honestly what's protected.
Frequently asked questions
Is a fuse board the same as a consumer unit?
Yes. Fuse board, fuse box and consumer unit all refer to the same central panel that splits your supply into circuits. 'Consumer unit' is the modern term used in the wiring regulations; 'fuse box' is the older name.
What's the difference between an RCD and an RCBO?
An RCD cuts the power if it detects current leaking to earth, protecting against shocks, and typically covers several circuits. An RCBO combines that protection with an overload breaker (MCB) in one device per circuit, so a fault isolates just that circuit.
Do I still have a fuse box if I have rewireable fuses?
If your board uses rewireable fuse wire rather than switch-like circuit breakers, it is an older-style fuse box. That usually means it lacks the residual-current protection a modern consumer unit provides.
Sources & further reading
- Electrical Safety First — replacing a consumer unit (best practice guide)
- Checkatrade — cost of replacing a fuse box / consumer unit
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific property and installation. They are guidance, not a quotation.