Existing circuit defects
A new board does not repair defective wiring. Testing may identify faults that need separate attention before the installation can be left in an appropriate condition.
Bristol & surrounding areas · Consumer unit upgrades
Consumer unit upgrades
in Bristol.
Replacing a consumer unit starts with the installation it protects. We assess the existing circuits, explain the proposed protection and agree the work, testing and documentation before the change is planned.
Assess the existing circuits before agreeing a board change.
Choose your starting point
Why are you considering a change?
The condition of the circuits and the work you are planning matter as much as the age of the board.
Your next step
An EICR has identified issues
Send the full report, including observations and circuit details. That helps separate board-related work from defects elsewhere in the property.
Get a quoteYou can add more details before sending your request.Your next step
You are renovating or adding circuits
New kitchen equipment, extensions or wider alterations can change what the distribution and protection need to support.
Get a quoteYou can add more details before sending your request.Your next step
Your existing board needs assessment
A photograph of the closed board can help the first discussion. Its appearance alone cannot establish the condition of the wiring or confirm the full scope.
Get a quoteYou can add more details before sending your request.Your next step
Something else / I’m not sure
Tell us what you need in your own words. You do not need to know the technical name or have a finished plan. Max can discuss the right next step for your property.
Get a quoteYou can add more details before sending your request.What the work includesScope, access and what to agree before the job.
What the job involves
What is included in a consumer unit replacement?
The assessment identifies which existing circuits remain, which defects need attention and what protection is proposed. Testing, associated work and the notification route belong in the agreed scope.
The scope, access and basis of the price are discussed before work is agreed.
Get a quoteStart with the details you know. Max can clarify the rest.
Review the existing consumer unit, circuits and proposed additions.
Share the reason for considering a change and any future circuits. A board replacement does not replace the wiring throughout the property.
Assess relevant earthing, bonding and installation condition.
The existing installation is assessed alongside the proposed board. Associated work may form part of the quotation.
Specify the board and protective devices appropriate to the design.
The specification should identify the protective arrangements appropriate to the installation rather than start with a product alone.
Identify existing defects that may affect the change.
Existing faults can affect the work and the final scope. Ask how findings and additional costs will be discussed.
Plan isolation, testing, circuit identification, certification and notification.
Plan the power interruption and handover. In an English dwelling, a consumer-unit replacement is notifiable work; agree the notification route.
Before the appointmentUseful decisions to discuss with Max.
Before the appointment
Three things to clarify before booking.
Mention any EICR findings, new circuits or renovation plans. Photos can be taken with the board covers left in place.
How the job worksFrom your first enquiry to the final handover.
From first contact to handover
Know what happens next.
Review the current installation
Share the existing report, board photograph and plans for additional electrical work.
Confirm the specification
The assessment informs the protection, board size and any necessary associated work.
Plan the shutdown and change
A suitable power-off period is agreed so the work can be completed safely.
Test and hand over
Circuits are identified, the work is tested and the relevant documentation is provided.
See relevant PB Electrical workCompleted electrical work and what was involved.
Electrical work by PB Electrical
A new board is part of the installation, not the whole story.
You should know what each circuit serves.
The completed work should be tested and the circuit schedule should be clear. Keep the Electrical Installation Certificate and relevant Building Regulations compliance documentation with your property records. We also explain any agreed exclusions or further recommendations.
See more of our workPlanning the workAccess, equipment and installation choices to consider.
Plan your particular job
Make room for the circuits you actually need.
Tell Max what you want to power now and what may come later. The consumer unit and existing installation need to be considered together.
Before your quote
Adding circuits for future equipment
Share the equipment you plan to add, with model details if known. A shower, induction hob or workshop machine may have different supply requirements. Separate confirmed work from possible future additions.
Spare spaces in a board do not establish available electrical capacity. The existing demand, incoming supply, earthing, protection and circuit routes need assessing. Ask for the board change, associated defects and new circuits to be priced separately.
Discuss my upgradeWhat affects the quoteEquipment, access and the details Max needs.
Understand the quote
What affects the scope and price?
Compare quotes on the complete scope. A board-only price can omit associated defects, earthing or bonding work, testing and notification. The initial assessment should make those dependencies visible.
The quote takes account of:
circuit count and chosen protection; existing faults needing attention; earthing and bonding condition; access, shutdown and notification route.
Plan for the power interruption.
Mention any EICR findings, new circuits or renovation plans. Photos can be taken with the board covers left in place.
- Tell us about critical equipment and any systems that cannot lose power unexpectedly.
- Keep the board area accessible without removing covers.
- Have previous reports and certificates available.
- Discuss planned future circuits before the specification is agreed.
Practical answers
Questions before you book.
Will a new consumer unit stop my circuits tripping?
Only if the relevant cause is addressed. A trip can be caused by a fault on a circuit or an appliance, so a replacement board is not automatically the solution.
Ask Max about thisDoes an old fuse box mean the whole home needs rewiring?
No. The condition of the existing wiring must be assessed. A board upgrade and a rewire are different scopes of work.
Ask Max about thisCan you quote for a fuse box replacement from a photo?
A photograph of the closed board helps identify the starting point. The connected circuits, earthing, bonding and any existing defects still need assessment before the complete scope is confirmed. Include an existing EICR if you have one, without removing any covers.
Ask Max about thisWill I receive a certificate?
Consumer-unit replacement should include the relevant installation certificate and the applicable Building Regulations notification. Confirm both in the agreed scope.
Ask Max about thisHow much does a consumer unit replacement cost?
The complete price depends on circuit count, protective devices, existing faults, earthing and bonding, and installation access. Compare what is included in testing, certification and notification as well as the board itself. Share any EICR and planned additions so the proposed scope covers the installation.
Ask Max about thisHow long will the electricity be off during a fuse box replacement?
A shutdown is needed, but the working period depends on the installation and any associated defects. Ask for the planned power-off arrangements after assessment. Mention medical equipment, alarms, refrigeration and home working before booking so their interruption can be considered in the plan.
Ask Max about thisShould I leave spare space in a new consumer unit?
Tell Max about realistic future plans such as a new kitchen, garden room or additional equipment before the board is specified. Spare ways may be useful, but physical space does not establish that the supply or circuits can support every future addition. The design needs assessment.
Ask Max about thisUseful advice before you decideExplore the guide or a different electrical job.
Related guides and projectsRead more if you are planning connected work.
Coverage & your quoteArrange the work at your Bristol property or premises.
Bristol & surrounding areas
Consumer unit upgrades across Bristol.
Considering a consumer unit change at your Bristol property? Start with the postcode, the reason for the upgrade and any inspection report or planned new equipment. Max can discuss the existing installation and the assessment needed for a quote.
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