Consumer Unit Upgrade in York Modern RCD Protection

Count the switches in your consumer unit or fuse box that actually feed something. Each MCB, RCBO or old-style fuse that feeds a circuit counts as one. The main switch is not a circuit, and neither is an RCD sitting at the head of a group in a split-load board. Empty or blanked-off ways do not count either. Not sure? Send me a WhatsApp photo and I'll tell you.

Yes, same physical thing, different technology inside. You will hear it called a fuse box, a fuse board or a fuseboard, and they all mean the board your circuits run from. Old fuse boxes have rewirable fuses. Modern consumer units have MCBs and RCBOs, safer, and they reset with a switch rather than needing manual repair. A fuseboard upgrade and a consumer unit upgrade are the same job.

Usually one day. Power off for approximately 4–6 hours. I'll agree a specific start time, complete the work, test every circuit, and restore power before I leave.

Not a requirement, but useful. An EICR confirms the wiring condition before the new board goes in, so if there are any underlying issues, they're identified before rather than after. I can carry out both on the same visit.

Yes, and doing them together is often the right call. Solar and EV chargers each need dedicated circuits. If your existing board is full or outdated, the upgrade can be sized to accommodate current and future needs in one job.

A shared RCD protects multiple circuits. If one circuit has a fault, the RCD trips and takes out every circuit it covers, potentially half your house. An RCBO is an individual circuit breaker with built-in earth fault protection. One fault affects only that circuit. Everything else stays on. I fit individual RCBOs on every circuit as standard, it's safer and far less disruptive.

Absolutely. Solar and EV chargers each need dedicated circuits. If your existing board is full or outdated, sizing the upgrade to accommodate both current and future needs often makes sense in one job. I can discuss this at the estimate stage and confirm the board size needed for your plans.

A full rewire is only needed if the wiring itself is unsafe or past its useful life. A consumer unit upgrade addresses the protection and distribution, it's the right solution if the existing wiring is sound. An EICR tells you definitively whether the wiring is the issue. If you've been quoted for a full rewire, getting a second opinion via EICR before committing makes sense.

Not a legal requirement, but useful. An EICR identifies the condition of the existing wiring before the new board goes in. If there are underlying issues, they're identified before rather than after. I can carry out both EICR and consumer unit upgrade on the same visit if you'd like, and it often makes sense to do so.

Consumer unit replacement is notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. I'm registered to self-certify notifiable work, so you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate and I submit the Part P notification. You don't need to contact building control separately.

I scope every consumer unit upgrade by circuit count. The price includes a Hager consumer unit with RCBO-per-circuit protection, integrated Type 2 surge protection, full circuit testing, the Electrical Installation Certificate, and the Part P notification. Count the switches in your existing board that actually feed something, leaving out the main switch, any RCDs and any empty or blanked-off ways, and I'll confirm the rate on the phone before I book.

Yes. Power is off for approximately 4 to 6 hours during the upgrade. I agree a specific start time with you, complete the work, test every circuit individually, and restore power before I leave. Most jobs happen during working hours and don't require you to be out of the property, though some people prefer to be away during the power-off period for convenience.