18th Edition Fuseboard Upgrades
The fuseboard is the single most important piece of electrical equipment within a property, and is also the part most frequently overlooked until a fault occurs. A board with a wooden or bakelite case, rewireable fuses in place of switches, or no RCD protection, is likely to be several decades behind current standards. Older boards were not designed for the number of appliances, chargers and electronics a modern household operates, and a fault on one circuit can bring down the whole board, or in some cases, fail to trip when required.
An 18th Edition SPD RCBO upgrade replaces the existing board with a modern consumer unit built to current wiring regulations. Each circuit is fitted with its own RCBO, a combined circuit breaker and RCD, so a fault on one circuit does not remove power from the entire property, and every circuit is protected individually rather than sharing a single safety device. Surge protection (SPD) is also incorporated, guarding sensitive electronics against voltage spikes. This is a genuine safety upgrade rather than a cosmetic one, and is increasingly a requirement for any property being sold, let, or extended.
On the day, the supply is isolated, the existing board removed, the new unit installed and wired, and every circuit tested prior to handover. The period without power is kept to a minimum, with a clear explanation provided in advance of what to expect. Most straightforward upgrades are completed within a day. As the price depends on the number of circuits within the property, fuseboard upgrades start from £430 and are confirmed exactly once the existing board has been assessed, either in person or from photographs.
This service is available across the whole of Essex and East/North London. Whether the board is original to a 1970s property or simply overloaded in a newer home, an assessment is provided of whether an upgrade is genuinely required and what it involves.
Frequently Asked Questions, Fuseboard Upgrades
An 18th Edition SPD RCBO fuseboard upgrade starts from £430, depending on how many circuits the property has. The exact price is always confirmed after the existing board has been seen.
Common signs include a wooden or plastic-cased fuseboard with rewireable fuses rather than switches, an older board with no RCD protection, or a board that trips frequently for no obvious reason. If in doubt, an inspection and honest advice can be arranged.
It's a modern consumer unit built to the current wiring regulations, fitted with individual RCBOs (combined circuit breakers and RCDs) for each circuit plus surge protection (SPD), so a fault on one circuit doesn't take out the whole board.
Most straightforward fuseboard upgrades are completed in a day, with your power off for as short a time as possible. Larger or more complex properties may take a little longer.
There will be a period without power while the old board is removed and the new one connected, but this is kept as brief as possible, with a clear explanation of what to expect before starting.
