Fuse Board Upgrades in Coventry
Swapping a board is a half-day job. Doing it responsibly means testing the circuits it is about to protect first, because a new board on faulty wiring simply trips and tells you so.
- Coventry-wide
- Fully insured
- Free fixed quotes
A consumer unit upgrade in Coventry replaces an old fuse board with a modern unit in a non-combustible enclosure, giving each circuit its own RCBO or RCD protection so a single fault no longer kills half the house. The existing circuits and main and supplementary bonding are tested first, because a new board will immediately reveal faults an old rewireable board tolerated. You receive certification on completion.
- The circuits get tested before the board is changed, not after - otherwise you are buying a surprise.
- RCBOs per circuit are better than a shared RCD: one fault takes out one circuit, not half the house.
- Modern domestic boards go in a non-combustible enclosure, which is why metal units replaced plastic ones.
- Main and supplementary bonding often needs upgrading at the same time, and that is part of a proper job.
- An old board with no RCD protection is the single most common serious finding on an EICR.
The work itself, in plain terms
Consumer unit replacement
A new board with RCBO or RCD protection appropriate to the installation, in a non-combustible enclosure, properly labelled circuit by circuit.
Pre-change testing
Insulation resistance and continuity on the existing circuits first, so faults are found and priced before the board goes on rather than after.
Bonding & earthing
Main protective bonding to gas and water, and supplementary bonding where required, checked and upgraded - the part that is quietly skipped on a cheap swap.
Surge protection
An SPD fitted where it is appropriate, protecting connected equipment from transients.
Certification & labelling
Test results and the certificate for the work, plus a clear schedule on the board so the next person knows what feeds what.
Additional circuits
A new circuit for a shower, cooker, garage or EV charger added at the same time, which is far cheaper than a separate visit later.
Built around how you own the property
Homeowners
An old board brought up to date, with the faults it reveals found beforehand instead of on the day.
Landlords
The most common EICR failure resolved properly, with certification for the file.
Anyone adding load
Showers, EV chargers, garden supplies and extensions - all of which need a board with capacity and the right protection.
The jobs that start with a phone call
- 01
A rewireable fuse board with porcelain carriers and no RCD anywhere in the installation.
- 02
One RCD covering the whole house, so a faulty kettle plunges every room into darkness.
- 03
A plastic consumer unit under a wooden staircase - the exact arrangement the non-combustible requirement addressed.
- 04
A board with circuits unlabelled or wrongly labelled, so nobody knows what to isolate.
- 05
A new board fitted cheaply by somebody else that trips constantly, because the circuits were never tested first.
- 06
No main bonding to the gas or water, which a board swap should never leave in place.
Trusted across Coventry
Fuse Board Upgrades in Coventry — your questions answered
Still have a question? Our local team is happy to help — no pressure, no jargon.
Speak to us today0786 5778332How long does a fuse board change take?
The board itself is usually half a day to a day, and the power is off for much of it. Add time if testing beforehand finds circuit faults that need putting right first, which is why we test before we quote the final figure rather than after.
Why did my new board start tripping when the old one never did?
Because the old one could not detect what the new one can. Rewireable fuses do not respond to earth leakage, so a circuit with deteriorating insulation or a damp outside light ran for years unnoticed. The new board is not faulty - it is telling you something the old one could not.
Do I need the circuits tested first?
Yes, and anyone who quotes a board swap without it is quoting for a different job. Insulation resistance and continuity testing shows what the new protection is about to be connected to. Finding a fault beforehand is a repair; finding it on the day is a crisis.
Will you need to upgrade my bonding too?
Often. Main protective bonding to the incoming gas and water needs to be present and of adequate size, and older installations frequently fall short. It is a small cost within a board change and a significant one as a separate visit, so we check and include it.
Can you add a circuit for an EV charger or shower at the same time?
Yes, and it is much cheaper done together - the board is already off and open. We will also check the main supply has the capacity for what you are adding, which matters more than people expect.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes - test results and the certificate for the work, with the board labelled circuit by circuit. Keep it with the house paperwork; it is what an EICR, a solicitor or a future electrician will want to see.
Get your fuse board priced in Coventry
Send a photo of your existing board if you can - it tells us the age, the protection and usually the circuit count in one go. We will quote the change and any testing it needs up front.
- No obligation, no pressure, no hidden costs
- Qualified, insured Coventry tradespeople
- Fast response — within 24 hours on urgent jobs