Whats an ICP I hear you cry. ICP stands for Interruptor de Control de Potencia. It basically limits the amount of power coming into your home. If you use more power than you are contracted for it will trip.
The ICP if you like can be thought of as a security mechanism. And it is a compulsory requirement. These days they are within the smart meters that the electrical supply company fit.
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| ICP |
Houses that don't have a smart meter will often have a separate breaker near the consumer unit. This will also have at least one if not two security tags in diagonally opposite corners, this is to prevent tampering.
Picture on the left showing an old fashioned style ICP. Notice the security tags. Some older properties may have this and a smart meter. So its worth checking if you have a smart meter.
So what do you do if the ICP trips. Smart meter version.
1. Check that neighbours have power and nothing has tripped in the house.
2a. If neighbours have power and nothing has tripped. If you can access your smart meter, then there is normally a green button located on the front which you press, and that's it.
2b If you do not have access to your smart meter, this is mainly in apartments or rental villas, then you will need to switch off all the breakers in the consumer unit.
3. Once you have switched off all the breakers, you will need to wait about 20 seconds.
4. After 20 seconds switch the breakers back on.
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| Photo Copyright Sogecam |
Picture showing a Sogecam smart meter notice the green button to the left of the display, this is the ICP reset button.
Non smart meter version.
1. Check that neighbours have power and nothing has tripped in the house.
2. If neighbours have power and nothing has tripped. Then you will need to switch off all the breakers in the consumer unit.
3. Wait 15 to 20 seconds, and turn the breakers back on, and don't forget to switch the ICP back on.
If the ICP trips on a regular basis it maybe time to upgrade your electricity.
