Consumer unit replacement in Stevenage & Hertfordshire

When to upgrade

If your board still uses rewireable fuses, has no RCD, feels warm to the touch, or trips often, it is time to upgrade. Landlords and home sellers also frequently need an up-to-date board to pass an EICR.

We carry common consumer units in stock, so most upgrades are completed in a single visit with the power off for the shortest time possible.

RCBOs, RCDs and why your board matters

An RCD, or residual current device, cuts the power in a fraction of a second when it detects current leaking to earth, which is what protects people from electric shock. In older split-load boards one RCD covers several circuits, so a single fault can switch off half the house at once.

An RCBO combines that shock protection with an overload breaker in one device, fitted to each circuit individually. A fault in the kitchen no longer takes out the lights upstairs, and tracing the faulty circuit is far quicker. That is why we fit boards with individual RCBOs as standard.

The 18th Edition of BS 7671 also brought surge protection devices, or SPDs, into everyday domestic work. An SPD absorbs voltage spikes from the grid or nearby lightning activity before they can damage televisions, computers and appliances. Arc fault detection devices, or AFDDs, can be added where circuits deserve that extra layer of fire protection.

What happens on the day

A consumer unit swap is normally a one-day job. We start by testing the existing circuits, because a new board must protect wiring that is sound. We then isolate the supply, remove the old fuse box, fit and wire the new unit, and check the main earthing and bonding while everything is accessible.

Every circuit is tested and clearly labelled before we hand back, so you know exactly what each breaker controls. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and the work is notified to Building Control through NAPIT under Part P of the Building Regulations. Power stays off for the shortest time we can manage, and we tidy up before we leave.

We fit consumer units every week around our Stevenage base, and an upgrade is a compact enough job that distance is rarely a problem: we cover the whole of Hertfordshire plus Luton, Bedfordshire and London. Established in 2011, NAPIT approved and fully insured, we also run a 24/7 emergency electrician service for boards that have failed outright.

Do I need to replace my fuse board?

If your board still has rewireable fuses, no RCD protection, signs of overheating or it trips often, an upgrade is recommended, and it is often needed to pass an EICR.

What is the difference between an RCD and an RCBO?

An RCD protects against electric shock by cutting the power when current leaks to earth, but one device often covers several circuits at once. An RCBO does the same job plus overload protection for a single circuit, so a fault only switches off the circuit affected. We fit boards with individual RCBOs as standard.

How long does a consumer unit replacement take?

Most replacements are completed in a single day, with the power off for the shortest time possible.

Will a new consumer unit pass an EICR?

A modern unit with individual RCBOs brings protection up to current standards, but the existing wiring must also be sound, so we test before fitting.

Is a consumer unit upgrade notifiable work?

Yes. Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. As NAPIT-approved electricians we self-certify the work, notify Building Control for you and issue an Electrical Installation Certificate on completion.

Do you replace consumer units near me?

Yes. We fit replacement consumer units across Stevenage, Knebworth, Hitchin, Letchworth and the rest of Hertfordshire.