Protect Your Home With the Highest Standard of Electrical Safety
Your consumer unit — often called a fuse box, fuse board or distribution unit — is the central safety system of your home’s electrical installation. It constantly monitors and protects every circuit in your property, shutting the power off instantly if a fault is detected to prevent electric shock, fire risk, or damage to appliances.
Many older consumer units were installed decades ago and were never designed for today’s electrical demands. Modern homes now run EV chargers, home offices, electric showers, induction hobs, heat pumps, garden buildings, and high-powered appliances — all of which place far greater demands on your electrical system.
Upgrading to a modern, fully RCBO-protected consumer unit is one of the most important electrical safety improvements you can make to your home.
Why Upgrade Your Consumer Unit?
- Superior Electrical Safety - Modern consumer units react instantly to faults, dramatically reducing the risk of electrical fires and electric shock.
- Individual Circuit Protection - Unlike older split-load boards, fully RCBO-protected units isolate only the circuit with the fault — meaning a single issue won’t shut down half your home.
- Compliance With Modern Regulations - Upgrading ensures your electrical system meets the latest UK safety standards and wiring regulations.
- Future-Ready for Modern Homes -A new consumer unit provides the capacity and protection required for EV chargers, electric heating, smart home technology, and future upgrades.
- Improved Reliability - Higher-quality components and modern protection devices reduce nuisance tripping and improve the long-term reliability of your electrical installation.
Not all Consumer units or Electricians are equal
The quality of a consumer unit installation depends on two things: the equipment used and the skill of the electrician installing it. Some installers still fit basic split-load boards or budget consumer units from DIY stores. While they may appear similar externally, the internal components, protection devices, and build quality can vary significantly.
At Regal Electrical, we install only premium-quality consumer units with full RCBO protection on every circuit. This provides the highest level of safety, reliability, and fault protection available in modern domestic installations. Your consumer unit is the primary electrical safety device in your home. It’s not an area where corners should ever be cut.
How much does a Consumer unit upgrade cost?
The cost of replacing a consumer unit depends on several factors including:
• Size of the property
• Number of circuits
• Condition of existing wiring
• Earthing and bonding upgrades required
• Whether surge protection is installed
For most homes, a professional consumer unit upgrade typically ranges between £750 – £1,400 depending on the specification and testing required.
At Regal Electrical, every installation includes:
• RCBO protection on every circuit
• Surge protection
• Full inspection and testing
• Certification and Building Control notification
We provide clear, fixed quotations before any work begins.
Signs your Consumer unit may need replacing
Many homes in the UK still have electrical consumer units that are 20–40 years old or more. While they may still function, older units often lack the safety features required to properly protect modern homes.
Here are some common signs your consumer unit may need upgrading:
- Your Fuse Box Has Rewireable Fuses - If your fuse box contains rewireable fuses with fuse wire, it is considered outdated. These systems provide far less protection than modern circuit breakers and RCBOs.
- You Have an Old Plastic Consumer Unit - Older plastic fuse boards do not provide the same level of fire containment as modern metal consumer units required under current regulations.
- Frequent Tripping - If your electrics trip regularly or multiple circuits lose power together, it may indicate the board is outdated or incorrectly configured, especially with older split-load designs.
- Limited Capacity for Modern Electrical Demand - Homes today use far more electricity than when many consumer units were originally installed. EV chargers, electric showers, hot tubs, home offices, and garden buildings can all require additional capacity and modern protection devices.
- No RCD Protection - If your consumer unit does not have RCD protection, or only protects part of the installation, your property may not have adequate protection against electric shock.
- Your Consumer Unit Is Over 25 Years Old - Even if it appears to be working normally, older consumer units may not meet modern safety standards and often benefit from an upgrade.
Unsure If Your Consumer Unit Needs Replacing?
Regal Electrical can carry out a professional inspection of your electrical installation and advise whether your consumer unit is safe, compliant, and suitable for your home’s electrical demands.
If an upgrade is recommended, we will explain your options clearly and install a high-quality, fully RCBO-protected consumer unit designed for long-term safety and reliability.
Why Many Consumer Unit Upgrades Are Installed Incorrectly
A consumer unit replacement is not simply a case of swapping one box for another. It requires careful inspection, testing, and correct design of the entire electrical installation to ensure the system is safe and compliant.
Unfortunately, some installations are completed too quickly or without the level of attention a critical safety device deserves.
Common issues we often see include:
- Insufficient Testing of the Existing Installation - Before installing a new consumer unit, the existing circuits must be properly tested and verified as safe. Simply connecting old wiring to a new board without thorough testing can leave hidden faults unresolved.
- Poor Cable Management and Terminations - Untidy wiring, poorly secured cables, or badly terminated conductors can lead to overheating, unreliable connections, and future faults.
- Incorrect Protection Devices - Using the wrong type or rating of protective devices can compromise the safety of the installation and lead to unnecessary tripping or reduced fault protection.
- Lack of Individual RCBO Protection - Some installers still fit split-load boards instead of fully RCBO-protected consumer units, meaning a single fault can disconnect multiple circuits and leave large parts of the home without power.
- Incomplete Certification or Building Control Notification - A consumer unit replacement must be fully tested, certified, and notified under Building Regulations Part P. Homeowners should always receive the correct documentation after the work is completed.
The Regal Electrical Approach
At Regal Electrical, a consumer unit upgrade is treated as a precision safety installation, not just a quick replacement. We take the time to:
• Fully inspect and test the existing installation
• Design the board layout for maximum safety and reliability
• Install premium-quality RCBO protection on every circuit
• Ensure neat, organised wiring and professional workmanship
• Provide complete certification and Building Regulations compliance
The result is a clean, reliable, and professionally installed electrical system that protects your home for years to come. Every consumer unit installation by Regal Electrical is completed to the highest professional standards. We take pride in delivering clean, organised, and meticulously installed electrical systems that reflect the quality of our work.
All installations include:
• Fully RCBO & SPD protected consumer unit
• Metal enclosure for fire safety
• Complete testing and certification
• Electrical Installation Certificate
• Building Regulations Part P notification
• Clear circuit labelling and documentation
The result is a safer, more reliable electrical system built to last for decades.