What is a Consumer Unit?
Your consumer unit (also known as a fuse box or distribution board) is the heart of your home's electrical system. It's where the mains electricity enters your property and is distributed to different circuits throughout your home.
Modern consumer units include crucial safety features like RCDs (Residual Current Devices) that can detect electrical faults and cut power in milliseconds – potentially saving lives. If your property has an old-style fuse box, it may be missing these life-saving protections.
Signs Your Consumer Unit Needs Upgrading
Here are the key warning signs that indicate it's time to consider a consumer unit upgrade:
- Your consumer unit has old-style ceramic or rewirable fuses
- The unit is made of wood or plastic (metal is now required)
- There are scorch marks or burning smells around the unit
- Circuit breakers trip frequently without obvious cause
- Your property is over 30 years old with the original fuse box
- You're planning home improvements or an extension
- You need more circuits for new appliances or EV chargers
- Your electrical certificate recommends an upgrade
Why Upgrade Your Consumer Unit?
Safety First
Modern consumer units with RCD protection can detect dangerous electrical faults in as little as 40 milliseconds and cut the power before serious injury or fire can occur. Old fuse boxes simply don't offer this level of protection.
Building Regulations Compliance
Current regulations (18th Edition Wiring Regulations) require consumer units to be housed in metal enclosures and include specific RCD protection. If you're carrying out significant electrical work, an upgrade may be mandatory.
Future-Proofing
Modern consumer units have spare capacity for additional circuits, making it easier to add new appliances, EV chargers, or carry out home improvements without major electrical work.
How Much Does a Consumer Unit Upgrade Cost?
The cost of a consumer unit upgrade typically ranges from £400 to £800 for a standard domestic installation, depending on:
- The size of your property and number of circuits required
- Whether the existing wiring is in good condition
- Accessibility of the installation location
- Any additional work needed to bring the installation up to current standards
At Energy Path Electrical, we provide transparent, fixed-price quotes that include the new consumer unit, full installation, testing, and certification – with no hidden costs.
What to Expect During Installation
A typical consumer unit upgrade takes around 4-6 hours to complete. Here's what happens:
- Your electricity supply will be isolated (usually requiring your energy supplier to remove the main fuse)
- The old consumer unit is carefully removed
- The new unit is installed with appropriate RCD protection for all circuits
- All circuits are tested to ensure they meet current safety standards
- The system is powered up and thoroughly checked
- You receive full certification and documentation for your records
Get Your Consumer Unit Assessed
Not sure if your consumer unit needs upgrading? Energy Path Electrical offers free electrical safety assessments. We'll inspect your current installation, identify any concerns, and provide honest advice about whether an upgrade is necessary.
Don't put your family's safety at risk with outdated electrical protection. Contact us today for a free assessment and quote.