Do I need a new fuse board?Wirrelec advice / NAPIT registered electricians
Plenty of older fuse boards are still safe. But some are not, and the signs are usually easy to spot once you know what to look for.
Signs it is time
- It has rewireable fuses - fuse wire in pull-out carriers - rather than switches
- There are no RCDs, the switches with a test button that protect against electric shock
- It is in a wooden box or has a cracked or scorched plastic case
- Breakers trip often with no obvious cause
- You are adding a new circuit, such as an electric shower or car charger, and there is no room or no suitable protection
- An EICR has recommended it
What a modern consumer unit has
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| RCD protection | Cuts the power in a fraction of a second if current leaks to earth, for example through a person |
| Circuit breakers | Switches that trip instead of fuses that blow, and can simply be reset |
| A non-combustible case | Required for new consumer units in homes since January 2016, usually metal, to contain a fire |
| Surge protection | Often included now, to protect against voltage spikes |
What happens when one is replaced
The power is off while the old board comes out and the new one goes in. Each circuit is then tested before it is switched back on. Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, so a registered contractor will notify it and give you an Electrical Installation Certificate. Keep it: you will be asked for it when you sell the house.
Testing sometimes turns up faults in the existing wiring that the old board was hiding. A good electrician tells you what they found and why before doing anything more.