Electrical Panel Upgrade London
In UK homes this is usually called a consumer unit, though it’s the same thing most people mean by an electrical panel or fuse board: the box where your entire electrical supply splits into individual circuits, each protected by a breaker. If yours is old, an original wire fuse board or an early plastic consumer unit with no RCD protection, it’s not automatically dangerous, but it doesn’t offer the same protection against electric shock and fire that a modern board does. First Strike Electrical Ltd has upgraded consumer units across London properties since 1999, and as an NICEIC approved contractor, every upgrade is certified correctly.
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07931 388 466Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- NICEIC Approved
- Trading Since 1999
- Part P Certified
What’s Involved in a Panel Upgrade
We isolate the incoming supply, remove the old unit, and fit a modern consumer unit with RCBOs (combined circuit breakers and residual current devices) protecting each individual circuit, so a fault on one circuit doesn’t need to trip the whole board. Before fitting the new unit, we test the existing circuits to check they’re in a suitable condition to connect to it; if we find anything else that needs attention, we’ll tell you before proceeding, not after. A straightforward domestic consumer unit replacement typically takes a working day, sometimes longer on larger properties with more circuits to test and reconnect.
Replacing a consumer unit is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations, regardless of how straightforward the job itself is. We handle this correctly, either through our competent person scheme registration or by notifying building control directly, and you’ll receive the certificate confirming the work meets current standards.
Signs Your Panel Might Need Upgrading
- A wire fuse board with actual rewireable fuses
- A plastic consumer unit with no visible RCDs (the switches that trip on an earth fault to prevent electric shock)
- Frequent nuisance tripping that isn’t linked to one obvious faulty appliance
- Visible scorching or a burning smell near the unit
- Simply a board that’s decades old and has never been assessed
Mortgage surveyors and home insurers increasingly flag older boards during property transactions, even where nothing has actually failed.
Higher Loads and Modern Demand
Consumer units designed decades ago weren’t built with today’s number of appliances, chargers and, increasingly, EV chargers in mind. If you’re planning an EV charger installation, a home extension, or you’ve simply noticed your existing board struggling, an upgrade is often the sensible first step rather than something to bolt extra circuits onto an already stretched supply.
What a Quote Depends On
The main factors are how many circuits your property has (more circuits generally means more RCBOs and a larger board), how accessible the existing installation is, and whether we find anything else, damaged cable, an outdated earthing arrangement, that needs addressing at the same time to bring the whole installation up to a safe, compliant standard rather than fitting a new board onto problems that were already there.
Why Choose First Strike Electrical
NICEIC approved since well before RCBO consumer units became the standard, we assess your existing installation honestly rather than pushing an upgrade you don’t need. Trading in London since 1999 means we’ve replaced boards in every era of housing stock, and we’ll explain clearly what your options are and why one might suit your situation better than another.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need a new consumer unit?
An old wire fuse board, a plastic unit with no visible RCDs, frequent unexplained tripping, or simply a board’s age are all reasons to have it assessed. We can tell you honestly whether an upgrade is worth doing now.
Is a consumer unit replacement notifiable work?
Yes, always, regardless of how routine the job is. We handle the certification and registration this requires.
How long does a consumer unit upgrade take?
Typically a working day for an average domestic property, sometimes longer for larger properties with more circuits.
Will my power be off during the upgrade?
Yes, for the duration of the work, since the whole incoming supply needs to be isolated to replace the unit safely. We’ll agree a time that minimises disruption where possible.
Can you upgrade my panel at the same time as another job, like an EV charger install?
Yes, and if you already know you’ll need both, doing them together is usually more efficient than two separate visits. See our EV charger installation page for more detail.
Related Electrical Services
We work across central, west, north west and south west London — see every area we cover.
Get a Quote for a Panel Upgrade
See our domestic electrician London page for related household electrical work, or get in touch to have your existing consumer unit assessed.
NICEIC approved, trading since 1999.
First Strike Electrical Ltd