🔌 Upgrading Your Consumer Unit (Fuse Box)
- Richard Speller (Speller's Sparks LTD Director)
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
A friendly guide from Rich – your local electrician
Hello! If you’ve been told your consumer unit (fuse box) needs upgrading, or you’re just wondering what’s involved – here’s a simple guide to help you understand what’s what, why it matters, and what happens on the day.
✅ Why upgrading your consumer unit may be on the cards?
Your consumer unit is the heart of your home’s electrical system. It controls and protects all the wiring and circuits around your house. An upgrade might be needed if:
Your current unit is old or outdated (fuses instead of modern breakers)
You’ve had electrical work done and need to meet current safety standards
You want improved protection with modern RCDs (they trip when there’s a fault – potentially life-saving)
You’re experiencing nuisance tripping or issues with your electrics
You’re planning an extension, kitchen refit, or EV charger install
Modern consumer units offer better fire protection, faster fault detection, and are built to current wiring regulations.
🔧 What’s involved in the upgrade?
Here’s a rough breakdown of what I’ll be doing:
Initial Safety Checks I’ll start with a full test of your existing wiring (called an EICR if not recently done). This tells us if the existing circuits are safe to reconnect to the new unit.
Power Off I’ll need to turn off your electricity during the swap – usually for 4–8 hours depending on the size of your home and how many circuits there are.
Removing the Old Unit The old fuse box comes out, safely and carefully. I’ll also tidy up any messy wiring.
Installing the New Consumer Unit I fit the new unit with RCBOs or a split-load board (depending on your setup), all neatly labelled and tested.
Testing Everything Once installed, I test every circuit to make sure it’s safe and up to standard. I’ll also give you a full certificate for your records.
Notification to Building Control As a Part P registered electrician, I’ll notify the local authority for you – this keeps everything above board and documented.
🧼 What do you need to do?
Not much! But here’s how you can help me out on the day:
Clear access to the fuse box and sockets (especially under stairs or in cupboards)
Let me know about any sensitive equipment (aquariums, fridge-freezers, alarms)
I’ll bring dust sheets and tidy up after myself – no need to worry about mess!
🛠️ How long does it take?
Usually a day’s work for most homes. I’ll keep you updated if anything unexpected pops up.
📜 What do you get afterwards?
A brand new consumer unit with proper labelling
A full Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
Registration with Building Control
Peace of mind knowing your electrics are safe and up to date
💬 Questions? Concerns?
I’m always happy to chat through any worries or explain anything in plain English. No pressure, no upselling – just honest advice about upgrading your consumer unit.
Rich, Your Local Electrician - based in Chilcompton, fully qualified, and always tidy!
📞 01761 325 007
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