Need Advice, Replacing Old Fuse Box

[supershauny]

See Attached Photos

Sorry if this is posted in wrong place.

Obviously just showing you guys a photo will never give a complete overview but any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also we do have an electrician due to visit by beginning of next week. We've lived in the house for 6 years (2 bedroom house, reasonable size) and never had an electrical problem. Some of the plug sockets needed modernising and I've done this. Obviously this fuse box needs replacing. I know an electrician will check all plugs when its replaced, but is this as simple of swapping for a modern consumer unit?

I generally worry a lot anyway but I'm paranoid an electrician will come in and say I need to rewire your entire house before ill replace the fuse box. Obviously I want to keep my family safe but you cant get blood from a stone and there's no way I'll ever be able to afford that. It's took forever (literally saving whenever I financially could) just to save £800 to put towards replacing it. (Also wife has been given reduced hours and furloughed)

Again any advice would be greatly appreciated on what needs to be done.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

It might be a simple replacement, but in order to replace the consumer unit, the circuits it supplies and the earthing and bonding on which it relies must be up to scratch in order to sign the work off as safe. What often happens is that systems that have not been tested for a long time have gathered faults over the years, which all need to be rectified at once. They were always faults and always needed fixing, but only come to your attention during the change and appear to be inflated costs for that job.

You have only three circuits, which is unusual these days. It is well worth thinking about whether the installation meets your needs, because now would be the time to add anything (e.g. extra sockets) to save money in the long run.

 

[pc1966]

The good news is if you have PVC wiring in good condition (not chewed by rodents, overheated, etc) then it is normally perfectly serviceable 50+ years after it is installed. So there is a good chance you don't need a rewire as such.

However, as Lucien points out you may well need or want additional circuits in the future, and now would be the time to plan for that. Typically the smallest consumer unit (CU = fuse box) available these days has space for 6 circuits, so you would have some margin for adding stuff later if needed.

The down-side is they are much larger than the old Wylex rewirable fuse boards like yours. Typically the minimum space needed to fit one is around 25cm x 25cm or so, which is not completely obvious in your photo if that is easily available without moving anything like the meter.

Your best plan is to get a couple of quots for doing this work, the ball-park figure for a small CU change is around £500 but that can vary a lot depending on your region and any other complications in doing the work (such as putting right any other faults discovered when testing). Some sparkys will insist on doing an EICR (electrical installation condition report) before quoting to have a better idea of what is involved, others will do just a couple of quick inspection/tests to make sure nothing major is going to be uncovered when the work is finally tested for the electrical installation certificate & notification to building control.

 

[pc1966]

Your details say Birmingham. There might be professionals on here nearby who can quote you, that is a good starting point.

 

[Deleted account]

I would advice getting an electrical installation condition report done before getting any works done. This will flag up any electrical issues.

a fuse board change cannot go ahead unless any existing dangerous or potentially dangerous issues have been rectified.

so a board change is not straight forward I’m afraid.

shop around as £800 for a board change isn’t a bad price but in my opinion I would be charging no more than £600. You may get it cheaper than £600, but i Would question how a fully insured, registered electrically skilled electrician can justify doing it for less than £500.

Obviously there could be extra costs if other issues need rectifying.

 

[pc1966]

Actually I stand corrected, Wylex do still make a 3-way board (with surge protection these days):

Wylex NM306FLEXS 100a Main switch+Type 2 SPD 3 Way Consumer Unit

Buy Online Wylex NM306FLEXS 100a Main switch+Type 2 SPD 3 Way Consumer Unit from Edwardes Brothers, 24 Hour UK next day delivery

www.edwardes.co.uk

However, I would not advise using that is it gives you no option for any future additions like an electric shower or cooker point, I would suggest at least a 6-way for a bit of future-proofing. Also that board cost does not include the RCBOs for each circuit (or obviously the installation & test cost).

 

[supershauny]

Actually I stand corrected, Wylex do still make a 3-way board (with surge protection these days):

Wylex NM306FLEXS 100a Main switch+Type 2 SPD 3 Way Consumer Unit

Buy Online Wylex NM306FLEXS 100a Main switch+Type 2 SPD 3 Way Consumer Unit from Edwardes Brothers, 24 Hour UK next day delivery

www.edwardes.co.uk

However, I would not advise using that is it gives you no option for any future additions like an electric shower or cooker point, I would suggest at least a 6-way for a bit of future-proofing. Also that board cost does not include the RCBOs for each circuit (or obviously the installation & test cost).

Thanks for advice. I know a few people have mentioned that this would be the time to add any additional sockets but to be honest that isn't a concern. We don't have a shower or want one and the oven is gas. the sockets upstairs (while not many) meet our needs.

 

[pc1966]

Thanks for advice. I know a few people have mentioned that this would be the time to add any additional sockets but to be honest that isn't a concern. We don't have a shower or want one and the oven is gas. the sockets upstairs (while not many) meet our needs.

The difference in cost and size for 6 versus 3 way for the CU is trivial, only adding circuits makes any real difference. But not allowing for anything now could prove expensive in the long run.

As you mention "upstairs" you might want to look at splitting the lights between floors as well. If anything goes wrong you have at least half the place with lights!

But I am only guessing. Find someone local who can take a look and if in any doubt come back with the resulting quotes/suggestions (just blank out any personal details of yourself and the person making the offer).