18th Edition metal-cased consumer units
Modern non-combustible metal-cased boards, compliant with the current amendment of BS 7671, from manufacturers we know and trust for warranty and parts availability.
Consumer unit upgrades
Consumer Unit Upgradesin Leicester, Hinckley& Leicestershire.
Turn an old plastic fuse board, a shared-RCD board that trips the whole house, or a rewireable-fuse relic into an 18th Edition metal-cased consumer unit with individual RCBOs on every circuit. Free written quote within 48 hours.
18th Edition · 12-month guarantee
C&G 2391 · 18th Edition
Formally qualified in inspection, testing and current wiring regs.
12-Month Workmanship Guarantee
Every job carries a full year of written workmanship cover.
Family-run since 1995
Three generations in the trade, one accountable team of two.
OverviewA clear, honest
A clear, honest
explanation.
What the service is, who it's for, when it's needed, and why professional work matters.
What it is
A consumer unit (fuse board) upgrade replaces your existing distribution board with a modern 18th Edition compliant metal-cased unit, usually with individual RCBOs on every circuit, so a fault on one circuit doesn't trip the whole house. All existing circuits are terminated correctly, tested and certified.
Who it's for
Homeowners with old plastic fuse boards, shared-RCD split-load boards that trip the whole house on one fault, rewireable-fuse or MCB-only boards from the 1980s–90s, landlords needing modern compliant boards for tenanted properties, and anyone whose EICR has flagged the board.
When you need it
When the board is plastic, when an RCD trip takes half the house out, when there are still rewireable fuses, when an EICR reports the board as a C2 or C3, when adding an EV charger or major new circuit, or when insurance or a mortgage valuer has flagged it.
Why it matters
Fires that start in consumer units are one of the reasons the 18th Edition mandates metal-cased boards. Individual RCBOs mean a single circuit fault doesn't kill the whole house; it kills just that circuit. It's a materially safer and materially more livable installation.
The risk
Why old fuse boards are a real problem
Old boards weren't built for modern loads or modern fault detection. What was acceptable in 1985 is neither acceptable nor safe today.
What can go wrong
- Board fires, old plastic boards can catch fire from loose or hot connections, hence the metal-cased mandate.
- Whole-house blackouts, shared-RCD boards trip every downstream circuit on one fault.
- No fault protection, rewireable-fuse and MCB-only boards give no earth-leakage protection.
- Insurance refusal, insurers can refuse claims where the board is clearly out of regs and flagged.
- Failed EICRs, old boards routinely code C2 (potentially dangerous) or worse.
Common mistakes
- Booking the cheapest board changeout without confirming it's 18th Edition metal-cased with RCBOs.
- Accepting a like-for-like plastic board replacement in a house that's had additions and needs re-testing.
- Not re-testing all circuits during the changeover, the certificate is meaningless without it.
- Adding an EV charger to an old board without upgrading it first.
Our processA clear, step-by-step
A clear, step-by-step
system, start to finish.
- 01
Site survey & load review
Inspect the existing board, walk the circuits, understand the loads and any planned additions (EV, shower, hob, extension).
- 02
Written quote in 48 hours
Itemised quote covering board, RCBOs, terminations, testing, certification and any pre-existing faults that need addressing before changeover.
- 03
Pre-changeover testing
Insulation resistance and continuity checks on every circuit before disconnecting the old board, so we know what we're inheriting.
- 04
Changeover
Isolation agreed, mains isolated (with DNO liaison where required), old board removed, new metal-cased board installed with individual RCBOs, every circuit re-terminated cleanly.
- 05
Full 18th Edition testing
Continuity, insulation, polarity, earth-loop impedance, RCD trip time tests on every circuit.
- 06
Certificate + NAPIT notification + 12-month guarantee
Electrical Installation Certificate issued, NAPIT Part P notification submitted, and 12-month workmanship guarantee in writing.
The benefits
What you actually get.
Individual RCBOs
One fault on one circuit doesn't trip the whole house, just that circuit.
Metal-cased & 18th Edition compliant
The current standard, safer, cleaner and mortgage/insurance-friendly.
Ready for EV & modern loads
Proper board headroom for future EV chargers, hobs and heat pumps without a second changeover.
Full re-test of every circuit
You get proper 18th Edition testing across the whole installation, not just a swap-and-hope.
NAPIT notified & certified
Electrical Installation Certificate plus NAPIT Part P notification, the paperwork insurers and buyers actually want.
12-month workmanship guarantee
Full year of workmanship cover in writing on the installation.
In detail
Consumer unit upgrade work in detail
A consumer unit upgrade is one of the most misunderstood jobs on the domestic market, most people don't realise what's actually involved, or why individual RCBOs are so much better than the split-load boards they replace.
Individual RCBOs vs shared RCDs
RCBOs combine MCB and RCD in a single-circuit device, so a fault on one circuit only trips that circuit. Older split-load boards share RCDs across banks of circuits, meaning one fault trips several rooms at once.
Surge protection (SPDs)
18th Edition brought surge protection into scope for many installations; we specify SPDs at the board where required, protecting sensitive electronics from transient voltages.
Board size & circuit headroom
Boards specified with headroom for future circuits, EV charger, hot tub, home office feed, hob upgrades, avoiding a second changeout later.
Pre-changeover testing
Insulation resistance and continuity tests on every existing circuit before disconnection, so we know what's coming across.
Existing faults
Where testing finds pre-existing faults (typically old shared neutrals, borrowed neutrals across circuits, or damaged cables), we quote the remedial before completing the changeover.
Landlord & tenanted properties
Board changeovers programmed around tenants, with minimal outage time and full EICR-friendly certification.
EV & renewable-ready boards
Boards specified with headroom and SPD provision for EV chargers, solar/battery inverter tie-ins and heat pumps.
Residential
Domestic consumer units are single-phase, typically 10–16 way. Notifiable under Part P; every installation is registered through NAPIT.
Commercial
Commercial distribution boards can be single- or three-phase, larger way-counts, and often installed with sub-boards. Coordination with existing supply and RAMS on request.
How much does a consumer unit upgrade cost?+
It depends on circuit count, RCBO count, pre-existing faults and access. Every quote is free, written and returned within 48 hours, no 'from' prices.
How long does the changeover take?+
A typical domestic changeover with full testing runs a full working day. More circuits, faults found on pre-test, or larger installations can extend.
Will I be without power for long?+
Power is off only during the changeover itself, typically several hours during the day. We agree the window with you in advance.
Do I really need individual RCBOs?+
You don't legally have to, but it's the standard we default to, because one fault on one circuit doesn't trip the whole house. It's a materially better installation.
Is my old plastic board dangerous?+
Plastic boards were compliant when installed but are no longer 18th Edition compliant, and a small number have caught fire from loose connections. Metal-cased boards are the current standard for good reason.
Do I get a certificate?+
Yes, Electrical Installation Certificate issued, plus NAPIT Part P notification. Full paperwork for insurance, mortgage and future sale.
What if you find a fault on an existing circuit during testing?+
We quote the remedial before completing the changeover, no surprise extras, no bodges.
Will it help me pass a landlord EICR?+
Yes, a modern 18th Edition consumer unit resolves the most common EICR observations relating to boards, RCD protection and cable identification.
Do I need to upgrade before fitting an EV charger?+
Often yes, an old board without RCD protection or with no spare way needs upgrading before adding a 32 A EV circuit. We'll confirm at the site survey.
Related services
Other work we cover
Where we work
Serving Leicestershire
Based in Barlestone, working across Leicester, Hinckley and the surrounding towns.
Book your free 48-hour quote today.
Tell Jacob what you need. He'll come out, look at the job properly, and send a clear written quote, no obligation, no chasing, no call-centre nonsense.
12-month guarantee