Consumer Unit Replacement Guide for Eltham Homes

A consumer unit — also called a fuse board or distribution board — is the central hub of your home's electrical system. It contains the main switch, RCDs (Residual Current Devices) and MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) that protect every circuit in the property. If yours is old, has been flagged in an EICR, or you're planning significant electrical work, you'll need to know what a replacement involves.

Do I Need a New Consumer Unit?

You probably need a consumer unit replacement if:

Your current unit still has rewirable fuses (a fusebox) rather than MCBs
Your EICR flagged the consumer unit as C2 due to lack of RCD protection
The unit is a plastic-cased older model that doesn't meet current BS EN 61439-3 standards requiring non-combustible enclosures
You're adding significant new circuits (EV charger, extension, new circuits)
Circuits are tripping repeatedly and the unit is at the end of its service life

What Does a Consumer Unit Replacement Involve?

A consumer unit replacement is a notifiable electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations. This means the work must be carried out by a competent person registered with an approved scheme, and a Building Regulations completion certificate must be issued. We are fully registered and provide all required documentation.

The process typically involves:

Isolating the supply from the DNO cutout (the main supply from the street)
Removing the existing consumer unit and all circuit connections
Installing the new metal-clad consumer unit and connecting all circuits
Testing all circuits for insulation resistance, polarity and earth continuity
Issuing an Electrical Installation Certificate and notifying Building Control

How Long Does It Take?

For a typical two or three-bedroom Eltham property, a consumer unit replacement takes between half a day and a full day. During this time the property will be without power while the unit is changed. We agree a time and date in advance and aim to have power restored well before the end of the working day.

What Type of Consumer Unit Is Fitted?

Since 2016, all new consumer units installed in domestic properties must have a metal casing to comply with BS EN 61439-3. We install dual-RCD metal-clad consumer units as standard, which provide RCD protection to all circuits in two groups. For properties with specific requirements (EV chargers, solar, separate meters), we specify the appropriate unit before work begins.

Do I Need an EICR Alongside?

When a new consumer unit is fitted, we carry out the required testing and issue an Electrical Installation Certificate covering the consumer unit and all circuits. This is not the same as a full periodic EICR, but it does certify that the installation is safe at the time of the work. If you're a landlord and your 5-year EICR is due, it makes sense to do both at the same time.

Get a Consumer Unit Quote in Eltham

Fixed-price quotes for consumer unit replacements across Eltham SE9, Greenwich and surrounding areas. Call or WhatsApp for a quote.

0800 820 2088 Get a Quote ›

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