Why upgrade your consumer unit?
The consumer unit (often called the fuse box) is what protects the circuits in your home. Older boards often have rewireable fuses and no RCD protection, which means they won’t cut the power quickly enough if someone touches a live part.
A modern consumer unit gives you:
- RCD or RCBO protection on your circuits, designed to protect people from electric shock
- A non-combustible (metal) enclosure, as required for homes under current regulations
- Surge protection where the regulations call for it
- Clearly labelled circuits, so it’s easy to see what’s what
What’s involved
Most consumer unit replacements are done in a day, with the power off for part of it. Before connecting the new board we test the existing circuits: an RCD will trip if there are hidden faults, so any problems we find are explained to you before we go any further.
When the job is finished you get an Electrical Installation Certificate and notifiable work is signed off with Building Control.
Good times to upgrade
- Before or during a renovation, extension or kitchen refit
- When an EICR has recommended it
- When you’re adding new circuits, such as an extension, garden office or outdoor lighting
- When you’ve bought an older property and don’t know the history of the electrics