Consumer Unit UpgradeModern Protection for Your Home

Your consumer unit (commonly called a fuse box or fuseboard) is the central distribution point for your home's electrical supply. It divides incoming power into individual circuits and provides protection against overload and earth faults.

Modern consumer units include:

• MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers): Protect individual circuits against overload and short circuits. Unlike old fuses, they can be simply reset — no fuse wire replacement needed.
• RCDs (Residual Current Devices): Detect earth faults and cut power in milliseconds. This protects against electric shock from damaged appliances, faulty wiring, or accidents.
• Split-load configuration: Circuits divided across multiple RCDs so a fault on one circuit doesn't black out your entire home.
• Metal enclosure: Required by current regulations, metal units contain any fire within the unit rather than allowing it to spread.

Who needs a consumer unit upgrade? Homeowners in Croydon, Bromley, Sutton, and across London with old fuse boxes, particularly those with rewirable fuses, no RCD protection, or units over 20 years old. Also essential when adding new circuits for EV chargers or extensions.

Old fuse boxes with rewirable fuses were standard decades ago, but they lack the life-saving protection that modern units provide. If your home still has one, you and your family are at increased risk.

Problems with old fuse boxes:

• Slow overload response: Rewirable fuses heat up and melt to break the circuit — a slow process that allows wiring to overheat and potentially start fires.
• No earth fault protection: Without RCDs, faults that could deliver lethal shocks go undetected until someone is injured.
• Wrong fuse ratings: Over years, previous occupants may have fitted incorrect fuse wire ratings, eliminating the protection fuses are meant to provide.
• Degraded condition: Old units suffer from corroded connections, loose terminals, and deteriorating components that create their own hazards.
• Insurance implications: Insurers may refuse claims or increase premiums for properties with outdated electrical protection.

The consequences of inaction: Approximately 14,000 UK house fires annually have electrical causes. Many could be prevented by modern protection devices that detect faults before they become fires. A consumer unit upgrade is a modest investment against potentially devastating outcomes.

Standard Domestic Consumer Unit

Suitable for most homes, a standard split-load consumer unit provides RCD protection for all circuits with division into two or more groups. If one RCD trips, you don't lose power to your entire home. Units typically have 6-12 ways for individual circuit MCBs.

High Integrity Consumer Unit

For properties requiring maximum uptime, high integrity configurations provide three separate RCD groups. Critical circuits (like freezers and medical equipment) have independent protection, minimising the chance of nuisance trips affecting essential services.

RCBO Consumer Unit

The premium option: every circuit has its own RCBO (combined RCD/MCB). A fault on any circuit trips only that circuit — no other circuits are affected. Ideal for larger properties or those with sensitive equipment.

Consumer Unit with Surge Protection

Integrated surge protection devices (SPDs) guard against voltage spikes from lightning or grid disturbances. Particularly valuable for properties with expensive electronics or sensitive equipment.

Amendment 3 Compliance

Current regulations (BS 7671:2018+A2:2022) require specific RCD protection configurations. All our installations meet current amendment requirements, ensuring your consumer unit meets the latest safety standards.