Your Local Electrician - Small Job Specialist, Consumer Unit Upgrades & Bespoke EV
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Consumer Unit Replacement & Upgrades in Somerset
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I'm Rich from Speller's Sparks, a qualified local electrician based in Chilcompton. I install and upgrade consumer units in homes across Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Wells and the surrounding Somerset villages.
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I'll assess your existing installation, explain what I recommend and make sure you understand what's involved before any work goes ahead.
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Is your consumer unit old, outdated or lacking modern protection?​
Do I Need a New Consumer Unit?
Not every older consumer unit needs replacing simply because of its age. The important question is whether your electrical installation provides appropriate protection and remains safe for continued use.
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There are several reasons you might consider upgrading your consumer unit, including:
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An older fuse box with rewireable fuses
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Limited or no RCD protection
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Regular electrical problems or tripping
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Planned alterations or additions to your electrics
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An unsatisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
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Wanting the additional protection available from a modern consumer unit​If you're unsure
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I'm happy to take a look and explain your options without automatically assuming that replacement is necessary.
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What does a modern Consumer Unit do?
The consumer unit – sometimes still referred to as the fuse box – is at the heart of your home's electrical installation. It distributes electricity around the property and contains protective devices designed to disconnect the supply when a fault occurs.
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Modern consumer units can provide significantly improved protection compared with many older installations, including individual circuit protection using RCBOs and surge protection where required.
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​When recommending a replacement, I'll explain the options in straightforward language so you know what you're paying for and why it's being installed.
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The Main Switch is what will isolate or turn off all the circuits - this allows the electrical supply to the installation to be isolated when required.
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The SPD stands for Surge Protection Device - quite simply, if there's a power surge from a lightning strike or similar it will protect the most sensitive devices in your home, including your new Electric Car!
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RCBO stands for Residual Current Circuit Breaker with Overload Protection - this is an RCD and Circuit Breaker in one! The best thing about these are that if there's a problem on that circuit, it's only that circuit that loses power! Watch the video below where you will see and hear me explaining what an RCBO is and does!
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An AFDD - Arc Fault Detection Device – An AFDD is designed to detect certain types of electrical arcing that conventional protective devices may not detect. Where appropriate, it can provide an additional level of protection against fires caused by electrical arc faults.
What happens before I replace your Consumer Unit?
Replacing a consumer unit isn't simply a case of taking the old one off the wall and fitting a new one.
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Your existing electrical installation needs to be properly assessed and tested so that any issues can be identified before the new consumer unit is installed.
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I'll discuss the condition of your existing installation with you and explain anything that needs attention. That way there shouldn't be any unpleasant surprises once the work has started.
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Once we're both happy with what's involved, I'll arrange a convenient date for the replacement.
What happens on the day?
1. Your power is safely isolated (on the day)
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The electrical supply will need to be switched off while the existing consumer unit is removed and the new one installed.
2. The old consumer unit is removed
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I'll carefully disconnect and remove the existing unit and label the circuits for identification when putting in the new consumer unit.
3. Your new consumer unit is installed
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The new consumer unit and appropriate protective devices are fitted and the existing circuits are connected.
4. Your installation is tested
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I'll carry out a second round of testing to confirm that the protective devices and circuits operate correctly, and this will conclude the results needed for the Electrical Installation Certificate (see the video below).
5. Everything is clearly labelled
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Your new consumer unit will be properly identified so it's easy to understand which protective device controls each circuit.
6. Certification is completed
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You'll receive the appropriate electrical certification for the work, and where required I'll deal with the relevant Building Regulations notification (video below).
Recent Consumer Unit Upgrades
A consumer unit that was upgraded in Oakshill, Somerset. This wasn't straight forward and needed to be mounted on a new fire resistant board, and the solar and EV also needed to be incorporated.
When your older consumer unit cannot be used for your new EV charger it is sometimes necessary to install a newer consumer unit with the appropriate RCBO and SPD. This work was carried out in Coleford, Somerset.
A new Consumer Unit installed in Holcombe, Somerset. This had to be removed from it's original position as there wasn't enough space! A new Zappi Glo was installed at the same time!
This consumer unit was installed in an outdoor office - they're not only essential for the home, but if you want extra piece of mind and you will be having more than two circuits, then a new Consumer Unit will be required - a new Earth Rod was also installed to secure the earthing.
This was part of a new rewire in Shepton Mallet - the new circuits were supported with all-round band so that in the event of a fire the cables wont collapse and restrict the movement life-saving fire fighters!
A new Consumer Unit in this garage in Paulton, BANES - two EV circuits were also incorporated into this and it was moved down from the very top of the garage so that it could be more accessible.
What do my customers say about me?
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"I've had a consumer unit and mains fire alarms installed by Richard. He is professional, flexible and honest. Always discussed the work needed. I would highly recommend him."
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Left by Claire via Google in April 2026​​
"Fantastic, professional job, I was very impressed with Rich's quality of work and level of detail making sure everything was spot on, thoroughly recommended"
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Left by Shaun via Google in June 2025
"I would heartily recommend Rich for all your electrical work.His communications are great always replying promptly to my quote request and various questions. He was on time, very clean and tidied up afterwards.I prefer to use and support local business when I can and Rich fits the bill perfectly. Thank you"
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Left by Terry via Google in May 2025
How Much Does a Consumer Unit Replacement Cost?
The cost of replacing a consumer unit depends on several factors, including the number of circuits, the type of protection required and the condition of the existing electrical installation.
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That's why I prefer to assess what's already there before providing a quotation. You'll receive a clear quote before any work goes ahead, so you know exactly what's included.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Does an old fuse box have to be replaced?
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An older fuse box doesn't automatically need replacing simply because it's old. Its condition, the protection it provides and the condition of the wider electrical installation all need to be considered.
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If you're unsure about yours, I can assess it and explain whether I'd recommend an upgrade and why.
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Will my house need rewiring?
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Not necessarily. Replacing a consumer unit doesn't automatically mean your home needs rewiring - copper is a very stable and reliable metal and lasts a long time.
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Testing the existing installation helps identify whether there are any problems that need addressing before or during the upgrade. I'll explain anything I find before additional work is carried out.
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Will my electricity be switched off?
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Yes. The electrical supply needs to be safely isolated while the consumer unit is being replaced. I'll explain beforehand approximately how long you can expect to be without power so you can plan around it.
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How long does a consumer unit replacement take?
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A consumer unit replacement will typically take between 2 and 6 hours, depending on the number of circuits, the location and accessibility of the existing consumer unit, and the condition of the electrical installation.
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I will usually visit your home as part of the quoting process, which gives me an opportunity to assess what's involved and give you a better idea of how long the work is likely to take.
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As with any work on an existing electrical installation, occasionally unexpected issues can be discovered during testing or during the process itself. If this happens, I'll explain what I've found and discuss the options with you before carrying out any additional work.
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Will I receive a certificate?
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Yes. A consumer unit replacement requires appropriate electrical certification. I'll complete the necessary testing and provide the relevant documentation when the work is finished. Where Building Regulations notification is required, I'll also arrange this as part of the work.
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What are RCBOs?
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RCBOs provide protection for individual electrical circuits. One advantage is that a fault on one circuit doesn't necessarily disconnect several unrelated circuits at the same time. I'll explain the protective devices I'm proposing before installing your new consumer unit, so you don't need to understand all the technical terminology beforehand. You will also receive a useful information pack via email explaining the different elements of your new consumer unit.
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What is surge protection?​
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A surge protection device (SPD) is designed to help protect electrical equipment from transient overvoltages. Whether surge protection is required or recommended depends on the installation and current wiring regulations. I'll assess this when specifying your new consumer unit and explain what's appropriate for your home.
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Thinking About Replacing Your Consumer Unit?
If your consumer unit is looking a little dated or you're unsure whether it still provides the protection your home needs, get in touch.
Send me a photograph of your existing consumer unit along with a brief description of any concerns you have. I'll take a look and advise you on the best next step. With Consumer Unit upgrades I will often arrange to pop out to visit you so you can ask any questions you may have.
