AI Component ID — Identify Any Electrical Component from a Photo

AI Component Identification is a tool built into the Elec-Mate platform that uses computer vision to recognise electrical components from photographs. You point your phone camera at a component — an MCB inside a consumer unit, an RCBO on a DIN rail, a contactor in a distribution board, or any other electrical device — and the AI identifies what it is, who manufactured it, what its technical specifications are, and whether it is still in production.

This solves a problem that every electrician encounters regularly. You open a consumer unit or distribution board and find components that are decades old, with faded labels, obscured part numbers, or manufacturers that have changed names or been acquired by other companies. Identifying the exact component matters because you need to know its breaking capacity, its disconnection characteristics, and whether it is still compliant with current regulations. You also need to know what to replace it with if it has failed or is no longer suitable.

The AI Component Identifier draws on a database that covers all major UK electrical component manufacturers — Hager, Schneider Electric, Eaton (MEM), Wylex, Crabtree, ABB, Siemens, Chint, and many others — including legacy and discontinued product ranges. This means it can identify components from the 1970s-era Wylex rewireable fuse boards just as effectively as current-production Hager RCBOs.

The tool is part of Elec-Mate's broader AI toolkit, which includes the AI Board Scanner, the AI Circuit Designer, and the AI Cost Engineer. Together, these tools handle identification, design, and costing of electrical components and circuits from a single platform.

The Component Identifier uses a combination of computer vision and a specialist electrical component database. When you take a photo, the AI analyses multiple visual features simultaneously: the physical shape and form factor of the device, the colour and styling (which varies between manufacturers), any visible text including ratings, part numbers, and certification marks, the mounting arrangement (DIN rail, surface mount, panel mount), and the terminal configuration.

This multi-feature approach is important because no single visual cue is sufficient for reliable identification. A faded label might be unreadable, but the physical form factor combined with the terminal layout and colour scheme can narrow the identification to a specific manufacturer and product range. The AI then cross-references this against its database to determine the exact model.

The system handles the real-world conditions that electricians work in. Photos taken in poorly lit distribution boards, images of dust-covered components, partially obscured devices behind cables — the AI is trained on thousands of real-world installation photographs, not just clean product images from manufacturer catalogues. This means it performs well in the conditions you actually encounter on site.

For components where the AI cannot achieve a high-confidence single identification, it presents the most likely candidates ranked by probability, along with the distinguishing features to check. For example, if a device could be either a Schneider Acti9 iC60N or an older Multi 9 C60N, it will explain the visual differences to help you confirm which one you have.

The Component Identifier covers the full range of electrical components found in UK domestic, commercial, and light industrial installations. The database includes:

• Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) — Type B, Type C, and Type D from all major manufacturers. Ratings from 2A to 125A. Single pole, double pole, triple pole, and TP+N configurations.
• Residual Current Circuit Breakers with Overcurrent Protection (RCBOs) — Type A and Type B sensitivity. All standard ratings and breaking capacities.
• Residual Current Devices (RCDs) — 30mA, 100mA, and 300mA sensitivity ratings. Type AC, Type A, and Type B.
• Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) — A device category introduced by BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, Reg 421.1.7, which recommends AFDD installation on AC final circuits to mitigate fire risk from arc fault currents. AFDDs are now appearing in upgraded and new consumer units from manufacturers including Hager, Schneider, and Eaton. The AI identifies them by manufacturer and model and confirms whether the circuit context is consistent with the Reg 421.1.7 recommendation.
• Surge Protection Devices (SPDs) — Type 1, Type 2, Type 1+2 combined, and Type 3 point-of-use devices. Status indicators and replacement cartridge identification.
• Contactors and relays — Heating contactors, lighting contactors, motor starters, auxiliary relays, and time delay relays.
• Isolators and switch disconnectors — Main switches, rotary isolators, and fused switch disconnectors from 20A to 800A.
• Legacy and obsolete devices — Rewireable fuses (BS 3036), cartridge fuses (BS 88 and BS 1361), and discontinued MCB ranges from Wylex, MEM, Crabtree, and other manufacturers that are no longer in production but still found in existing installations.

The database is updated regularly as manufacturers release new products and discontinue existing ones. When a product is discontinued, the database retains the identification data but adds a discontinued flag and links to the manufacturer's recommended replacement.

One of the most valuable features of the Component Identifier is its ability to suggest compatible replacements. When you identify a component, the AI shows you current-production equivalents from all major manufacturers — not just the original manufacturer. This is particularly useful when dealing with obsolete equipment.

For example, if you identify an old MEM MCB that is no longer manufactured, the system will suggest the equivalent Eaton device (since Eaton acquired MEM), plus comparable products from Hager, Schneider, and other manufacturers. Each suggestion includes the key technical parameters — breaking capacity, disconnection characteristics, physical dimensions, and terminal compatibility — so you can verify that the replacement is a genuine like-for-like substitute.

The replacement suggestions also include current UK trade pricing from major wholesalers. This means you can provide the customer with a remedial cost on the spot — "this MCB needs replacing, a suitable replacement costs approximately X, and the labour to fit it would be Y." Combined with Elec-Mate's AI Cost Engineer, you can generate a formal quotation for component replacements directly from the identification results.

For installations where the existing board is obsolete and replacement components are not available, the system flags this clearly and recommends a full consumer unit upgrade. It explains why — for example, that the existing board uses a mounting system that is not compatible with current-production devices, or that replacement rewireable fuse carriers are no longer manufactured to the required standard.

Component to Quote in 60 Seconds

Identify a component, see replacement options with trade pricing, and generate a professional quotation for the customer — all from one photograph.

Try it free for 7 days

The Component Identifier is designed for the situations electricians encounter every working day. Here are the most common use cases:

• EICR inspections — you open a distribution board and need to record every device for the schedule of circuits. Instead of squinting at faded labels and manually looking up specifications, you photograph each device and the data populates your EICR form automatically. For domestic EICRs, the AI also flags lighting circuits that lack 30 mA RCD additional protection — a mandatory requirement under BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 Reg 411.3.4 for AC final circuits supplying luminaires in household premises. Unprotected lighting circuits represent a common C2 or C3 observation on post-A4 inspections.
• Fault finding — a device has tripped or failed and you need to identify it to determine whether it is the correct type and rating for the circuit it protects. The Component Identifier shows you the full specification instantly, so you can verify compliance without searching through manufacturer catalogues.
• Remedial work quoting — during an inspection, you identify devices that need replacing. Photograph each one, get the replacement options and pricing, and produce a remedial works quotation before you leave the site.
• Apprentice training — apprentices learning to identify components can use the tool as a learning aid. Photograph a device, see what it is, and read the technical specification. This builds component recognition skills that are essential for site work. See our guide on AI for electrical apprentices for more training applications.
• Stock management — photograph components in your van stock to quickly check what you have, verify ratings, and identify any items that have been superseded by newer models.

The tool works offline for previously cached components, so you can use it even in basements and plant rooms where mobile signal is weak. New identifications require a data connection, but the results are cached for future offline access.