Upgrading Your Consumer Unit: What You Need to Know

Your consumer unit (sometimes called a fuse box) is the heart of your home’s electrical system. It distributes power to every room and protects your family and devices by breaking the circuit if something goes wrong. Over time, consumer units can become outdated, either because they are wearing out or because modern homes demand more from their electrical systems than the original setup was designed to handle. Upgrading your consumer unit isn’t just about safety — it’s about improving reliability, efficiency, and giving your home the flexibility to meet today’s lifestyle needs.

Why Upgrade?

Consumer units have evolved significantly over the decades, and understanding this progression helps explain why upgrading can be beneficial:



1950s–1960s: Rewireable Fuses
Early consumer units relied on simple rewireable fuses. These devices protected the wiring against overloads but offered no protection for people, and replacing a blown fuse required manual intervention.


1970s–1980s: Mains Overcurrent Breakers (MCB / “Automatic Disconnection”)
These units replaced fuses with miniature circuit breakers, providing automatic disconnection if the circuit became overloaded. While more convenient than fuses, they still only protected the system, not the people in the house.


1990s–2000s: RCD Split-Load Consumer Units
The introduction of RCDs (Residual Current Devices) marked a big leap in safety. These units protect life by detecting leakage currents and disconnecting the supply quickly. However, split-load designs usually control half the house on a single RCD, so if the RCD trips, you lose power to multiple circuits, which can be inconvenient.


2010s–Present: RCBO and Modern Modular Units
Today’s consumer units are typically modular, using RCBOs (Residual Current Breaker with Overload protection) for individual circuits. This gives both overload and life protection per circuit, so a fault only affects the specific circuit, not half the house. Many units also include SPD (Surge Protection Devices) to guard against voltage spikes, and some high-end units can incorporate AFDD (Arc Fault Detection Devices) for even greater protection against wiring faults and fire risks.

Upgrading to a modern modular unit means your home benefits from the latest safety technology, greater reliability, and the flexibility to handle today’s electrical demands — from EV chargers to smart appliances — without compromising convenience or peace of mind.

CALL US EMAIL US

How an Upgrade Works?

Upgrading a consumer unit is a job for a qualified electrician. The process typically involves:



1. Assessment: Checking your current unit, cable sizes, earthing and bonding, and overall electrical load.


2. Planning: Designing a new setup that meets your household needs, including extra circuits if necessary, and ensuring compliance with BS7671 wiring regulations.


3. Installation: Replacing the old unit with a modern consumer unit, installing RCD or RCBO protection, connecting all circuits properly, and testing everything to ensure safety and reliability.


4. Certification: Providing full documentation so your upgrade is fully compliant with regulations and accepted by insurers.

What to Look For?

When considering an upgrade, keep these points in mind:



Type of Protection: Modern consumer units typically use RCBOs, which provide both overload and fault protection for each circuit, rather than relying on a single RCD.


Capacity: Make sure the unit has enough ways (slots) for current and future circuits — including potential new additions like EV chargers, additional sockets, or smart-home systems.


Brand and Build Quality: Choose a reputable manufacturer with quality components, as this affects longevity and reliability.


Professional Installation: Never attempt to replace a consumer unit yourself. Proper installation is crucial for safety, compliance, and insurance validity.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading your consumer unit is about more than just ticking a safety box — it’s an investment in the future of your home. A modern unit offers peace of mind, reliability, and the flexibility to accommodate the technology and devices that make life easier today. Whether you’re looking to improve safety, add capacity for new appliances, or simply modernise an old installation, a professional upgrade ensures your home’s electrical system is robust, compliant, and ready for the demands of modern living.

Upgrading Your Consumer Unit: What You Need to Know

Why Upgrade?

1950s–1960s: Rewireable Fuses
Early consumer units relied on simple rewireable fuses. These devices protected the wiring against overloads but offered no protection for people, and replacing a blown fuse required manual intervention.

How an Upgrade Works?

1. Assessment: Checking your current unit, cable sizes, earthing and bonding, and overall electrical load.

2. Planning: Designing a new setup that meets your household needs, including extra circuits if necessary, and ensuring compliance with BS7671 wiring regulations.

3. Installation: Replacing the old unit with a modern consumer unit, installing RCD or RCBO protection, connecting all circuits properly, and testing everything to ensure safety and reliability.

4. Certification: Providing full documentation so your upgrade is fully compliant with regulations and accepted by insurers.

What to Look For?

Type of Protection: Modern consumer units typically use RCBOs, which provide both overload and fault protection for each circuit, rather than relying on a single RCD.

Capacity: Make sure the unit has enough ways (slots) for current and future circuits — including potential new additions like EV chargers, additional sockets, or smart-home systems.

Brand and Build Quality: Choose a reputable manufacturer with quality components, as this affects longevity and reliability.

Professional Installation: Never attempt to replace a consumer unit yourself. Proper installation is crucial for safety, compliance, and insurance validity.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading Your Consumer Unit: What You Need to Know

Why Upgrade?

1950s–1960s: Rewireable FusesEarly consumer units relied on simple rewireable fuses. These devices protected the wiring against overloads but offered no protection for people, and replacing a blown fuse required manual intervention.

How an Upgrade Works?

1. Assessment: Checking your current unit, cable sizes, earthing and bonding, and overall electrical load.

2. Planning: Designing a new setup that meets your household needs, including extra circuits if necessary, and ensuring compliance with BS7671 wiring regulations.

3. Installation: Replacing the old unit with a modern consumer unit, installing RCD or RCBO protection, connecting all circuits properly, and testing everything to ensure safety and reliability.

4. Certification: Providing full documentation so your upgrade is fully compliant with regulations and accepted by insurers.

What to Look For?

Type of Protection: Modern consumer units typically use RCBOs, which provide both overload and fault protection for each circuit, rather than relying on a single RCD.

Capacity: Make sure the unit has enough ways (slots) for current and future circuits — including potential new additions like EV chargers, additional sockets, or smart-home systems.

Brand and Build Quality: Choose a reputable manufacturer with quality components, as this affects longevity and reliability.

Professional Installation: Never attempt to replace a consumer unit yourself. Proper installation is crucial for safety, compliance, and insurance validity.

Final Thoughts

1950s–1960s: Rewireable Fuses
Early consumer units relied on simple rewireable fuses. These devices protected the wiring against overloads but offered no protection for people, and replacing a blown fuse required manual intervention.