Consumer unit upgrades
Cwmbran, Newport and South Wales
Your consumer unit, or fuse board, is what switches the power off when something goes wrong. An old one may not protect you from electric shock the way a modern board does. We replace consumer units in homes across South Wales and test every circuit before the new board goes live.
Signs it is time to upgrade
- An old fuse box with wire fuses you have to rewire by hand
- No RCD protection, the test button that cuts power to a circuit if there is an earth fault
- A wooden backboard, or an older plastic unit an inspection recommends replacing
- Breakers that trip often for no obvious reason
- An EICR that recommends replacing it
What modern regulations expect
The wiring regulations, BS 7671, now call for RCD protection on most circuits in a home, and since 2016 consumer units in homes have had to be made of non-combustible material, which in practice means metal. Surge protection is now usually required as well.
Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. It is notified to building control, and you get an Electrical Installation Certificate to keep with your house documents.
Testing comes first
A new board only works properly if the circuits behind it are sound. Every circuit is tested before it is connected. If a test finds a fault on an existing circuit, we explain it and put the repair in writing before going further, because connecting a faulty circuit to a new board would hide the problem rather than fix it.
Questions
01How long does a consumer unit change take?
Usually most of a working day, with the power off for much of it. If testing finds faults on existing circuits, those may need putting right first.
02Is a fuse board the same as a consumer unit?
Yes. People use both names for the box that holds the fuses or circuit breakers. Older boards use fuses; modern ones use circuit breakers and RCDs.
03Do I have to upgrade my consumer unit?
There is no law that forces an upgrade, but an EICR may code an old board as unsafe, and landlords in Wales must put right anything coded C1, C2 or FI. For a home you live in, it is one of the most worthwhile safety improvements an older installation can get.
Send an enquiry
Tell us about the job and we will come back to you as soon as we can.
- Phone
- 01633 741313
- Area
- Based in Cwmbran, working across South Wales and the UK
Online enquiry
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