Looking for a Fuse Board Upgrade Electrician?

1) Consumer Unit & Fuseboard Upgrades in Banbury and Brackley

I recently carried out a fuseboard upgrade for a customer who still had an old Wylex fuseboard fitted with rewireable fuses and no RCD protection in place. Although the electrics were still “working”, the installation did not provide the level of protection expected under current regulations. We upgraded the installation to a modern consumer unit with 30mA Type A RCBO protection and surge protection, giving the customer a much safer electrical installation.

A lot of homeowners only realise their fuseboard is outdated after buying a property, having an EICR carried out, or experiencing faults. Older fuseboards often lack modern safety devices designed to disconnect power quickly in the event of a fault, helping reduce the risk of electric shock or fire.

At L J Mullan Electrical, we carry out consumer unit upgrades throughout Banbury, Brackley and surrounding areas. We provide a professional, friendly service and we will ensure to communicate well with you if you have any queries. We also aim to respond quickly, with same day or next day replies wherever possible.

2) Why Upgrade Your Fuseboard?

Your fuseboard is the main safety hub of your electrical installation. If it is outdated or lacking modern protection devices, the installation may not meet current standards and may not provide adequate protection in the event of a fault.

Modern consumer units include important safety features such as:

• 30mA Type A RCD/RCBO protection
• Surge Protection Devices (SPD Type 2)
• Improved circuit separation
• Faster automatic disconnection during faults
• Better protection against electric shock

We regularly come across older installations with:

• No RCD protection
• Incorrect RCDs installed
• Unsafe electrical alterations
• Loose connections causing overheating
• High resistance readings
• Poorly labelled circuits
• Outdated rewireable fuseboards

In some cases, the safety devices fitted may not even operate correctly under fault conditions due to loose or damaged connections elsewhere in the installation.

3) What Is Included in a Consumer Unit Upgrade?

Our fuseboard upgrades are carried out to current 18th Edition regulations and include:

• Removal of the old fuseboard
• Installation of a modern consumer unit
• 30mA Type A RCBO protection
• Type 2 surge protection
• Full testing of the installation
• Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)
• Notification to Building Control

Most consumer unit upgrades are completed within 3–6 hours depending on the size and condition of the installation.

We regularly use trusted brands such as Hager and Fusebox, as we have found them to be reliable products with a strong reputation within the electrical industry.

4) Why We Carry Out an EICR First

Before changing a fuseboard, we would always need to carry out an EICR first to ensure the rest of the installation is suitable for a new consumer unit.

Changing a fuseboard is notifiable work to Building Control, so it is important to ensure all circuits within the property are up to a suitable safety standard before carrying out the upgrade properly.

An EICR helps us identify issues such as:

• Unsafe wiring alterations
• Faulty earthing or bonding
• Poor insulation resistance
• Loose connections
• Circuits without CPCs
• Existing faults that may prevent certification

This ensures the installation is safe and compliant before the new consumer unit is energised.

5) A Recent Real-World Upgrade

One recent customer contacted us after concerns were raised during other electrical work in their property. The existing fuseboard was an older Wylex unit with rewireable fuses and no RCD protection at all.

Although the system had “worked fine” for years, there was very little protection in place should somebody accidentally damage a cable or come into contact with a fault.

After carrying out the EICR and confirming the circuits were suitable, we installed a modern consumer unit complete with RCBO protection and surge protection. The customer received full certification, Building Control notification and significantly improved electrical safety throughout the property.

6) Why Customers Choose Us for Fuseboard Upgrades

A lot of customers searching for a “consumer unit upgrade near me” or a “Banbury electrician” want somebody who communicates properly and turns up when they say they will.

We aim to make the process straightforward from start to finish by offering:

• Fixed upfront pricing
• Same day or next day response
• Clear communication throughout
• Honest advice without pressure
• NAPIT registered work
• Full certification provided
• Building Control notification included
• 12-month workmanship guarantee
• Manufacturer warranties

We also have over 180 five-star reviews from customers across Banbury, Brackley and surrounding villages.

7) Common Problems We See After Poor Electrical Work

Unfortunately, we are often called out to installations where shortcuts have previously been taken.

Some of the common issues we find include:

• Incorrect RCDs installed
• No surge protection fitted
• Loose terminations inside fuseboards
• Unsafe DIY additions
• High resistance readings
• Circuits not tested correctly before energising

A fuseboard change should never just be treated as a “box swap”. Proper inspection, testing and certification are essential to ensure the installation is genuinely safe.

8) Consumer Unit Upgrade Pricing

Our consumer unit upgrades are typically priced between:

£650–£1,000 + VAT

Pricing depends on the size of the installation, number of circuits and any remedial works identified during testing.

Our pricing includes:

• Supply and installation of the new consumer unit
• Full testing of the installation
• Electrical Installation Certificate
• Building Control notification
• RCBO and surge protection
• Fixed upfront pricing with no surprises

9) FAQ SECTION

9.0.1) Do I need an EICR before changing my fuseboard?

Yes. We always recommend carrying out an EICR before replacing a consumer unit. This helps identify any faults or issues within the installation that could prevent safe certification of the new fuseboard.

9.0.2) How long does a consumer unit upgrade take?

Most fuseboard upgrades take between 3–6 hours depending on the size and condition of the installation. Larger properties or installations requiring remedial work can take longer.

9.0.3) How much does a fuseboard upgrade cost?

Most consumer unit upgrades are priced between £650–£1,000 + VAT. We provide fixed upfront pricing after assessing the installation.

9.0.4) Will I receive certification after the work?

Yes. We issue an Electrical Installation Certificate after testing is completed, and we also notify Building Control as required for notifiable work.

9.0.5) What brands of consumer units do you install?

We regularly install Hager and Fusebox consumer units as we have found them to be reliable products with a strong reputation within the industry.

9.0.6) Why is RCD protection important?

RCD protection is designed to automatically disconnect power during certain fault conditions to help reduce the risk of electric shock or fatal injury. Many older fuseboards do not have this level of protection fitted.

9.0.7) Do you cover Brackley and surrounding areas?

Yes. Alongside Banbury, we also carry out fuseboard and consumer unit upgrades in Brackley and nearby villages.

If you need a fuseboard upgrade, get in touch with us today.