Consumer Unit Replacement in Tunbridge Wells
Fuse box and consumer unit upgrades across Tunbridge Wells and Kent. Metal units with RCBO and surge protection, tested, certified and notified under Part P.
Fuse Box & Consumer Unit Upgrades in Tunbridge Wells & Kent
The consumer unit, still called the fuse box or fuse board in most homes, is what protects every circuit in your property. If yours still has rewirable fuses, a single RCD covering half the house, or a plastic case under the stairs, Select Mechanical and Electrical Contractors can replace it with a modern metal unit that has an RCBO on each circuit and surge protection built in. Every replacement is carried out by our qualified team, tested to the current edition of BS 7671, and notified to building control through NAPIT (the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers), so you get an Electrical Installation Certificate and a Building Regulations compliance certificate for your records.
This page is for homeowners and landlords with a consumer unit in a house or flat. If you need a distribution board changed in a shop, office or workshop, get in touch and we will quote for that separately.
Do I need a new consumer unit?
These are the most common reasons people in Tunbridge Wells call us to replace a fuse box:
- It still has rewirable or cartridge fuses rather than circuit breakers
- There is no RCD protection, or one RCD trips and takes out half the house
- An EICR has coded it C2 or C3, for example a plastic unit under a wooden staircase
- You are adding an EV charger, an electric shower, a heat source or a garden room and there is no spare way
- It feels warm, smells of burning, crackles, or shows scorch marks (switch it off at the main switch and call us straight away)
If your board has no RCD protection at all, Electrical Safety First advises using plug-in RCDs on the sockets until it is upgraded. If your current board keeps tripping, our tripping fault finder helps narrow down the cause first.
A plastic consumer unit on its own is not a reason to panic. Plastic units have not been allowed in new home installations since 2016, but an existing one is not illegal and often only earns a C3 on an EICR. We will tell you honestly whether yours needs replacing now or can wait.
What we fit
We fit metal consumer units with an RCBO on each circuit wherever the budget allows. An RCBO combines RCD protection and an overload breaker for a single circuit, so a fault on one circuit switches off that circuit only, instead of the lights and sockets across half the house. We also fit a surge protection device (SPD), which the current wiring regulations expect on new boards in most homes, and spare ways so a future EV charger or outbuilding supply does not mean another board change. The unit in the photo on this page shows the setup: a metal enclosure, a 100A main switch, a red SPD module and RCBOs labelled by circuit, with space left for additions.
What happens on the day
Most consumer unit replacements in a typical home are done in a day, with the power off while the old board comes out. Before the swap we test each circuit, because modern RCBOs catch small leaks to earth that old fuses never noticed. If a circuit has an existing fault, such as damp in an outside light or a damaged cable, we explain what we found and fix it so the new board does not trip as soon as it goes on. Once everything is connected, we test the whole installation again, label every circuit clearly and show you how the new board works.
How much does a consumer unit replacement cost?
The price depends on the number of circuits, whether every circuit gets its own RCBO, any extra ways you need for future work, and what the testing finds on the existing wiring. We look at your board first and then give you a fixed price that includes the unit, all testing, the Electrical Installation Certificate and Part P notification. There are no hidden extras on the final invoice. If you are planning a rewire, the new consumer unit is included in that quote. To get a figure for your property, contact us for a free quote.
Certificates and Part P
Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, as set out in Approved Document P. Because we are registered with NAPIT, we notify the work for you, and you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate from us plus a Building Regulations compliance certificate. Keep both safe, as buyers' solicitors and insurers ask for them. Our guide to electrical certificates explained covers what each one is for.
Which areas do you cover?
Based in Tunbridge Wells, we replace consumer units across Kent and East Sussex, including Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Crowborough, Uckfield, Maidstone and East Grinstead. If you are not sure whether we cover your postcode, get in touch by phone or WhatsApp and we will come back to you quickly.
Recent Project
Metal Consumer Unit
Upgrade
A recent board change from our team. The new metal consumer unit has a 100A main switch, a surge protection device to guard the home's electronics against voltage spikes, and RCBOs so each circuit is protected on its own.
Every circuit was tested before and after the swap, labelled on the board, and covered by an Electrical Installation Certificate, with the work notified to building control through NAPIT. Spare ways were left in the unit so future additions, such as an EV charger, can be connected without another board change.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Everything you need to know about consumer unit replacement. If you have a question we have not answered, just get in touch with the team.
-
It depends on how many circuits you have, whether you want an RCBO on every circuit, whether surge protection or extra ways for an EV charger or garden room are needed, and what the testing finds on your existing wiring. We look at your board first and then give you a fixed price that includes the new unit, all testing, the Electrical Installation Certificate and Part P notification, so the figure we quote is the figure you pay.
-
Most consumer unit replacements in a typical home are done in a day. The power is off while the old board comes out and the new one goes in, and we test every circuit before and after the swap. Larger homes, or wiring faults found during testing, can add time, and we will tell you before we start if that is likely.
-
Not automatically. Plastic units have not been allowed in new home installations since 2016, but an existing plastic unit is not illegal. On an EICR it is usually only coded C3 (improvement recommended) when it sits under a wooden staircase or on the only escape route. Replacing it makes sense when it is in one of those places, when it has no RCD protection, or when you need more circuits.
-
An RCD watches for current leaking to earth and cuts the power in a fraction of a second, but on older split-load boards one RCD covers several circuits, so a single fault switches off half the house. An RCBO combines that RCD protection with an overload breaker for one circuit only, so a fault on the kitchen sockets only switches off the kitchen sockets. Our guide to why an RCD keeps tripping explains how to tell which one you have.
-
The current wiring regulations expect surge protection (an SPD) to be fitted on new consumer units in most homes. It protects electronics such as TVs, boilers, routers and EV chargers from voltage spikes caused by lightning or switching on the network. We include an SPD as standard unless there is a good reason not to.
-
Old rewirable fuses only blow on a heavy overload, so they ignore small leaks to earth from damp, damaged cable or a faulty appliance. Modern RCD and RCBO protection is designed to catch exactly those faults. If testing before the swap shows a circuit with a fault, we tell you and fix it so the new board does not trip as soon as it goes on.
What Our Customers Say
-
"Very professional and efficient whilst working in my home. Felix was polite, helpful, left everywhere tidy and done a great job at a reasonable price. Would definitely recommend and use again."
-
"Felix has done a number of jobs at my home. Always professional, always on time, always explains everything clearly. Great work at a fair price."
-
"Had several jobs that needed doing around the house over the years. Felix has always been professional, prompt and thorough. Highly recommended."
Ready to book your consumer unit replacement?
Message us on WhatsApp and get a response fast, usually within the hour.
Message on WhatsApp