The old fuse box, replaced with a board that protects every circuit.
Consumer unit upgrades in Swindon
If your home still has a fuse box with rewireable fuses, a plastic consumer unit, or a board with no RCD protection, it's due an upgrade. We replace it with a metal-clad unit built to the current wiring regulations, test every circuit it feeds, and hand you the certificate that goes with it.
What this includes.
Every job is quoted before we start, signed off when it's done, and certified where the regs demand it. The list below is the everyday — out-of-the-ordinary asks welcome.
- Old fuse box replacement
- Plastic to metal-clad consumer units
- RCBO boards: one device per circuit
- Surge protection (SPD)
- Spare ways for EV chargers and solar
- Earthing and bonding brought up to standard
- Circuit testing before and after
- Building Regulations notification
The process,
step by step.
Test first
We look at the existing board and test the circuits before we quote. Hidden faults on older wiring are what make a new RCD trip, so we find them now rather than on the day.
Written quote
A fixed written quote covering the board, any earthing or bonding work, and anything the tests turned up. Agreed before we start.
Change-over
The power is off while we swap the board, usually for several hours. Every circuit is labelled as it goes back on.
Certify & notify
Every circuit tested, an Electrical Installation Certificate issued, and the work notified to building control so you receive a compliance certificate.
Priced on what's behind the board.
We don't publish a single price for a consumer unit, because the board is rarely the part that varies. What changes the figure is what sits behind it: how many circuits you have, whether the main earthing and the bonding to your gas and water pipes meet current standards, and whether testing turns up faults that have to be put right before a modern RCD will stay on.
That's why we test before we quote. You get a written figure covering the board, the certification and any work the tests showed up, agreed before we start. If you're thinking about an EV charger, solar panels or a battery later, tell us now. Leaving room on the board costs little today and saves changing it twice.
Where we service.
Wiltshire-based, with regular work across the surrounding postcodes. Outside the area? Phone us — we'll be straight about whether we're the right team.
You might also need.
Asked
often.
How much does a consumer unit upgrade cost?+
It depends on the number of circuits, the state of your earthing and bonding, and whether testing finds faults on the existing wiring. We test first and give you a fixed written quote before any work starts.
How long does a consumer unit upgrade take?+
The change-over itself is usually done within a day, and your power will be off for part of it. If testing shows faults that must be fixed first, we tell you in advance and the time is included in the quote.
My RCD keeps tripping. Do I need a new consumer unit?+
Not always. Repeated tripping usually points to a fault on a circuit or an appliance rather than the board itself. We find the cause first, and sometimes fixing that is all that's needed.
Why are new consumer units made of metal?+
Since 2016 the wiring regulations have required consumer units in homes to be made of non-combustible material, which in practice means metal. It contains a fire if a connection inside the board ever overheats.
Is changing a consumer unit notifiable?+
Yes. In England a consumer unit replacement is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. As a NICEIC approved contractor we notify it for you, and you receive a Building Regulations compliance certificate.
Are you qualified and insured?+
Yes. We're a NICEIC approved contractor, BPEC certified and City & Guilds registered, and we carry £5m public liability insurance. Copies of our policies come with any quote on request.
Ready when
you are. Let's talk.
Quote inside 24 hours. The electrician who picks up the phone is the one walking your job.