Electrical service
Consumer unit replacement and fuse board upgrades
Whether you call it a consumer unit, a fuse board or an old fuse box, it is the part of your installation that protects everything else. I replace, upgrade, install and repair them, and test and certificate the work on completion.
- I’ll talk you through your options first
- Tested and certificated on completion
- NAPIT registeredRegistered competent electrician
- Fully insuredInsured on every job
- 15+ years' experiencePeter has been doing this a while
- Free, no-obligation quotesA clear price before I start
Fuse board, consumer unit, fuse box — the same thing
People ask for this work under a lot of different names. They all refer to the same piece of equipment: the board that takes the incoming supply and splits it into the circuits around the property, and that holds the protective devices which disconnect a circuit when something goes wrong.
“Fuse box” usually means an older rewireable board using fuse wire. “Consumer unit” is the modern equivalent using circuit breakers with RCD or RCBO protection. Replacement, upgrade, installation and repair are all the same conversation.
When a board may need replacing
- An old rewireable fuse box with fuse wire rather than breakers
- No RCD protection on circuits that should have it
- A board that trips repeatedly, or will not reset
- Signs of overheating, scorching or physical damage
- An EICR that has recorded a fault code against the board
- Adding a significant new load — a shower, an extension, or an EV charge point
What RCBOs change
An older split-load board typically protects a whole bank of circuits with a single RCD. If one circuit develops a fault, everything on that side of the board goes off — often including the lights, at the least convenient moment.
An RCBO combines overload and earth-fault protection in one device per circuit. A fault then disconnects only the affected circuit. It costs more, and on most properties it is worth it.
Testing before the new board goes in
The supply has to be off for a good part of the day. The existing circuits are tested before the new board goes in, because a new consumer unit will expose faults that an old one tolerated — that is rather the point of it. Occasionally that testing turns up something that needs putting right first, which is why I would rather look before quoting a firm price on an older installation.
Had an unsatisfactory EICR?
The consumer unit is one of the most common reasons a report comes back unsatisfactory. I can carry out the remedial work and sort the paperwork.
How it works
What replacement involves
Tell me about your board
A few quick questions is all it takes — no need to know what you have.
I’ll give you a price
Including anything that needs putting right first. Older installations may need a look before I can be firm.
Fit and test
Your supply will be off for a good part of the day. I’ll tell you roughly how long beforehand.
Certification
I test the installation and give you the appropriate certificate.
Areas
Consumer unit replacement in your area
Questions
Consumer unit questions
What is the difference between a fuse box and a consumer unit?
They do the same job. “Fuse box” usually refers to an older rewireable board using fuse wire; “consumer unit” is the modern equivalent using circuit breakers and RCD or RCBO protection. People use the terms interchangeably and I know what you mean either way.
What is an RCBO consumer unit?
An RCBO combines overload and earth-fault protection in a single device per circuit. It means a fault on one circuit disconnects only that circuit, rather than taking out half the property. It costs more than a split-load board and on most properties it is worth it.
How long does a replacement take?
It depends on the property and the condition of the existing circuits. I’ll give you a realistic timeframe with the quote rather than a generic estimate.
Why does a new board sometimes find faults?
Because modern protective devices are more sensitive than what they replace. A fault that an old board tolerated will show up on a new one — which is the point of fitting it. It is also why I would rather test an older installation before committing to a firm price.
Will I get certification?
Yes. I test the work on completion and you get the appropriate certificate.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the board, the number of circuits and the condition of the existing installation, so I price each job individually rather than publishing one headline figure. The quote is free and there is no obligation.
Get a consumer unit quote
Tell me about your board and I’ll talk you through your options.