New Consumer Units
Need a fuse board replacement in Basingstoke? We install modern consumer units with full RCD/RCBO protection, improved safety and full compliance with the 18th Edition regulations. Free quotes.
Fuse Board Replacement in Basingstoke
A modern fuse board—known today as a consumer unit—is essential for keeping your home and family safe. If your property still has an old-style fuse box, ceramic fuses, or no RCD protection, an upgrade is strongly recommended to meet today’s UK wiring regulations and significantly reduce electrical risk.
Across Basingstoke, thousands of homes still have consumer units with rewirable fuses, old MCBs without RCD protection, or boards that simply lack the capacity for the demands of a modern household. The original new town housing across Brighton Hill and South Ham commonly has boards from the 1960s and 1970s. Even the later housing across Kempshott, Hatch Warren, and Chineham often has units that predate the RCD protection requirements introduced in later editions of the wiring regulations.
We replace outdated consumer units across Basingstoke with modern boards that protect every circuit to current standards. Most upgrades complete within a single day with minimal disruption. Contact us for a free assessment of your current board.
Why Upgrade Your Fuse Board?
Improved Electrical Safety
A modern consumer unit protects your home in two distinct ways. Miniature circuit breakers — MCBs — protect against overcurrent and short circuits, tripping in milliseconds when a fault is detected rather than relying on a fuse wire to heat up and eventually melt. Residual current devices — RCDs or RCBOs — protect against earth faults, detecting tiny imbalances in the electrical current that indicate electricity is leaking to earth through something it should not be, such as a person or a faulty appliance. This earth fault protection is what prevents electric shock and reduces fire risk from wiring faults. If your current board has rewirable fuses or MCBs without any RCD protection, your home lacks the earth fault protection that modern regulations require and that could save a life.
Split-Load vs RCBO Boards
There are two main configurations for modern consumer units, and understanding the difference helps you make the right choice. A split-load board divides your circuits into two groups, each protected by a shared RCD. If a fault occurs on any circuit in that group, the RCD trips and every circuit in that group loses power simultaneously — potentially half your house. An RCBO board gives every individual circuit its own combined MCB and RCD protection in a single device. A fault on one circuit trips only that RCBO — the rest of the house stays on. The RCBO option typically costs £200 to £400 more than a split-load board but delivers a noticeably better daily experience. We recommend RCBO boards for most Basingstoke homeowners because losing a single circuit is an inconvenience while losing half the house is a genuine disruption.
What the Upgrade Involves
A consumer unit upgrade is one of the more straightforward electrical projects, typically completing within four to six hours. We isolate the existing board, disconnect every circuit, remove the old unit, and install the new board in the same location. Each circuit is reconnected to its own protective device, labelled clearly, and tested individually. The entire installation is then tested comprehensively — continuity, insulation resistance, earth fault loop impedance, and RCD or RCBO trip times on every circuit. We check the earthing and bonding throughout the property and upgrade these if they do not meet current standards. Once testing is complete, you receive an Electrical Installation Certificate confirming the work complies with BS 7671. Most Basingstoke homeowners have full power restored by mid-afternoon on the same day.
When You Need an Upgrade
Several situations indicate your consumer unit needs replacing. If your board has rewirable fuses — the type where a thin wire wraps between two screws inside a ceramic or plastic carrier — it predates modern safety standards by decades. If your board has MCBs but no RCD protection, it lacks earth fault detection. If your board does not have enough spare ways to add circuits for an EV charger, home office, or electric shower, it cannot support your current needs. If an EICR has returned C1 or C2 defects related to the consumer unit, the report is telling you the board needs replacing. If you are buying a property and the surveyor flags the electrical installation, the consumer unit is typically the first thing to address.
Our Consumer Unit Upgrade Service Includes
Full inspection of existing wiring
Safe removal of your old fuse box
Installation of a new 18th Edition consumer unit
RCD/RCBO protection on all circuits
Labelling & circuit identification
Testing and certification (EIC)
Notification to Building Control (Part P compliant)
You receive full documentation confirming the installation meets the latest standards.
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Perfect for buyers, homeowners planning renovations or anyone wanting to ensure their electrics are safe and reliable.
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Upgrade your old fuse box to a modern, 18th-Edition compliant consumer unit with full RCD/RCBO protection.
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Get a Free Quote for a Fuse Board Replacement
Modernising your consumer unit is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your home. We offer straightforward pricing, expert installation and fast turnaround.