Fuse box, fuse board, consumer unit: three names for the same thing, the box where your electricity supply splits into circuits. It is also the part of an installation where age shows first, because protection standards have improved enormously over the last couple of decades.
Clear signs yours is due for replacement
- Rewirable wire fuses. If a fault means fitting new fuse wire by hand, the box long pre-dates modern protection. Wire fuses react slowly and offer no protection against electric shock.
- No RCD protection. An RCD (residual current device) disconnects the supply in a fraction of a second when current leaks to earth, for example through a person. Boards without RCD protection do not meet current standards for new work.
- Buzzing, crackling or heat. A consumer unit should be silent and cool. Noise or warmth means loose connections or failing components. Treat this as urgent.
- Scorch marks or a fishy burning smell. Overheating plastic gives off a distinctive smell. Do not wait on this one; see our emergency guide.
- Frequent nuisance tripping. Sometimes the cause is a faulty appliance, but a board that cannot hold its circuits reliably needs investigating either way.
- No spare ways. If every slot is full and you are planning an extension, EV charger or garden supply, an upgrade is usually the moment to sort protection properly too.
What a modern consumer unit gives you
Current 18th Edition boards are metal-cased for fire containment and typically protect every circuit individually with RCBOs, so a fault in the kitchen no longer blacks out the whole house. Surge protection guards electronics against spikes. The whole installation is tested during the changeover, which often catches hidden problems elsewhere.
How disruptive is the swap?
Less than most people expect. A straightforward domestic upgrade is usually done in a day, with the power off for most of it. Details, timings and answers to the common questions are on our consumer unit upgrades page.
Ready to get it sorted?
Read about the service itself, or get in touch for a free, no-obligation estimate: Consumer Unit Upgrades in Essex.