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Consumer unit and fuse board upgrades
Replace an old fuse box with a modern consumer unit with RCD or RCBO protection, installed and tested to BS 7671 and notified under Building Regulations through our NAPIT registration.
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Why upgrade your fuse board?
The consumer unit, often called the fuse box or fuse board, is where every circuit in the property is protected. Many homes and rental properties across Warwickshire still have older boards with rewireable fuses, plastic enclosures or no RCD protection at all. They may have worked for years, but they do not give the protection against electric shock and fire that the current wiring regulations expect.
Common reasons to upgrade include:
- An EICR has recorded the board, or missing RCD protection, as needing attention
- Old rewireable fuses, or a mix of fuses and breakers added over the years
- One fault switches off half the house because too many circuits share one RCD
- An EV charger, new kitchen or extension that needs new circuits
- Scorch marks, buzzing or heat from the board, which should be checked straight away
What a modern consumer unit includes
For homes, we fit consumer units with non-combustible enclosures, as BS 7671 requires, with RCD or RCBO protection arranged so that a fault on one circuit does not take others with it. RCBOs combine overcurrent and RCD protection for each circuit, which makes faults easier to find and reduces nuisance tripping. Surge protection is included where the regulations call for it.
Testing first, then the changeover
Before a new board goes in, the existing circuits are tested. Modern protection can reveal faults that an old fuse box ignored, such as poor insulation or borrowed neutrals, and it is better to find these at the start. If anything needs fixing, we explain it and agree it with you before carrying on.
The power is off while the board is changed. Once it is in, every circuit is tested and labelled and you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate. Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations, so we notify the work through NAPIT and you also receive a Building Regulations compliance certificate.
For landlords and agents
A consumer unit upgrade is one of the most common remedial jobs after a landlord EICR. We can quote with the report, book the work with the tenant and provide the written confirmation you need. If the wiring itself is past its best, a rewire may make more sense, and we will tell you honestly which is the better option. Planning an EV charger as well? See EV chargers in Warwickshire.
FAQs
Consumer unit upgrades: common questions
Is a consumer unit the same as a fuse box?
Yes. Fuse box, fuse board and consumer unit all mean the board that protects the circuits in your property. Modern ones use circuit breakers and RCDs or RCBOs rather than fuses.
Does replacing a consumer unit need Building Regulations approval?
Yes. In England, replacing a consumer unit in a home is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. As a NAPIT registered contractor, we self-certify the work and notify building control, and you receive a compliance certificate.
How long will the power be off?
The power is off while the old board is removed and the new one is connected and tested. We will tell you what to expect when we quote, so you can plan around it.
What is the difference between an RCD and an RCBO?
An RCD detects current leaking to earth and switches off to protect against electric shock. An RCBO does the same job and also protects against overload and short circuit for a single circuit, so one fault only affects that circuit.
Will a new consumer unit stop my electrics tripping?
Not always. Tripping usually points to a fault on a circuit or an appliance. We find the cause first, so you are not paying for a new board when the real problem lies elsewhere.
Areas covered
Consumer Unit Upgrades across Warwickshire
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