What changes the price of a consumer unit replacement
Why fuse board replacement quotes differ: board type, circuit count, earthing and bonding upgrades, asbestos-era backboards and remedial work.
A board change looks like a fixed-price product swap and mostly is — until the pre-installation tests come back. You cannot legally fit a new board onto an installation you have not verified, and what verification finds is what moves the price.
We test before quoting so that the number we give you is the number you pay.
- Circuit count and whether you want RCBOs or split-load RCDs
- Main protective bonding to gas and water — frequently missing
- Condition of existing circuits found by pre-installation testing
- Meter tails, main switch position and available space at the board
Bonding and earthing upgrades
Main protective bonding to incoming gas and water services is required, and in older properties it is frequently absent or undersized. Adding it is usually straightforward but does add labour and cable, particularly where the services enter at opposite ends of the property.
What pre-installation testing can find
Poor insulation resistance on one or two circuits is common in older properties. A new board with RCD protection will trip on those circuits immediately, so they must be repaired first. Knowing before we start is the difference between a fixed price and a day of bad news.
Board choice
A full RCBO board costs more in devices than split-load and gives you per-circuit fault isolation. We quote both where it is a genuine choice rather than deciding for you.
Common questions
How long will the power be off?
Typically four to six hours, scheduled around your day.
Is it notifiable work?
Yes. We self-certify and notify building control, and you receive the certificate.
Will my old circuits still work?
Sound circuits will. Any that fail pre-installation testing are identified and priced before we start.
Get a fixed price
Send a photo of your existing board — we can give an accurate estimate from that and confirm it after testing.