Consumer unit upgrades & fuse box replacement

The consumer unit distributes electricity to circuits around your home and houses protective devices. Circuit breakers, RCDs and RCBOs perform different protective functions; the appropriate arrangement depends on the installation and current requirements.

RCDs detect certain earth-leakage faults, while an RCBO combines residual-current and overcurrent protection for an individual circuit. Surge protection may also need consideration as part of the proposed installation.

An older fuse box, insufficient room for additional circuits or inspection findings can prompt a discussion about upgrading. A board's appearance or age alone does not prove it is unsafe, and a consumer unit replacement is not automatically required after every EICR.

New work such as an EV charger, a rewire or additional circuits may change the protection needed. The decision should take account of the existing installation and the planned work, rather than simply choosing a replacement unit.

Before an upgrade, existing circuits and earthing arrangements need assessment. Faults on older circuits may become apparent during testing or when new protective devices are introduced. Any additional repairs should be explained and agreed.

Replacement involves planned isolation of the electrical supply, installation and connection of the agreed unit, followed by relevant inspection, testing and documentation. Clear circuit identification helps you understand what each protective device supplies.