How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?
21 Answers
Answered by SNC Electrical
30th January 2023
SNC Electrical answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Changing a consumer unit usually takes between 4-6 hours. What I usually recommend is an EICR is carried out beforehand to identify any possible issues that may arise. I usually arrange to do this beforehand, so if any problems are present that will need to be rectified, the customer as the opportunity to decide if it’s within their budget etc. I believe this is the fairest way for the customer. If an electrician was to swap the consumer unit before doing any checks, and problems that need to be rectified are present, then the customer is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Answered by Hampton Electrical Systems Ltd
3rd July 2020
Hampton Electrical Systems Ltd answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Replacing a consumer unit or fuseboard in most domestic settings will take between 4 to 8 hours. We normally carry out a brief visual inspection at quoting stage to see if an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) needs to be carried out first. The EICR will identify the existing arrangements in place for circuit protection, earthing arrangements, number and type of circuits and testing for condition of circuits. Often a consumer unit replacement will need an upgrading of the earthing arrangements to incoming services such as water, gas or oil plus the main earth. We provide free quotations for consumer unit replacements so feel free to get in touch.
Answered by Martin Kaine
22nd May 2020
Martin Kaine answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
to change a consumer unit would normally take 4-6 hours,I would normally have to do an eicr before hand to make sure alm circuits are ok or even safe to connect to new consumer unit,without a test there could be a fault which would trip the rcd out,so to avoid this a eicr would have to he done
Answered by MRBE Ltd T/A MRB Electrical
1st May 2020
MRBE Ltd T/A MRB Electrical answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Typically it takes 4-8hrs. We allow a full day, as more often than not there are faults that need to be fixed during the replacement. We recommend carrying out an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) prior to booking in a Consumer Unit replacement. This allows us to confirm the electrical installation is safe for continued use and also that installing a new Consumer Unit (that will include RCDs or RCBOs) will not cause nuisance tripping.
Answered by NY ELECTRICAL
7th April 2020
NY ELECTRICAL answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Duration of a board change is dependant on a number of factors, the size of a house, numbers of circuits within the house, faults on system, inadequate bonding, any additional items.thats are required to meet regulations, on average with no faults an engineer can be in and out in 5 hours, longer should be allowed should the factors above apply
Answered by Watson Electrical Services
2nd April 2020
Watson Electrical Services answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
We usually allow a day to carry out a consumer unit change for an average property. This will obviously vary between installations, depending on factors such as the age and condition of the installation, number of circuits, ease of access. At the initial survey visit we would briefly assess the existing installation, and in some cases recommend carrying out a periodic inspection first so that any issues can be found and rectified prior to carrying out the replacement.
Answered by Evans Electrical South Wales
27th March 2020
Evans Electrical South Wales answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Average with testing for myself is around 4 hours that’s without having to install upgrades to bonding. If you need upgraded bonding could it could last up to 6 hours but the biggest thing is to make sure the trades man carrying out the work is registered and you receive a certificate for the work carried out.
Answered by WGG Services
17th March 2020
WGG Services answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
To make sure a consumer unit is replaced correctly a full replacement should take 1 day. This will including preliminary testing/fault finding, labelling and certification. Allowing a full day for this work enables me to provide the highest possible standards of safety and quality.
Answered by TR Electrical Contractors Ltd
22nd May 2019
TR Electrical Contractors Ltd answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Generally a replacement consumer unit will take a full day including all the necessary testing & certificating that is legally required. This may vary depending on each installation, the location of the consumer unit within the property, if existing cables require extending & a few other factors. A qualified electrician will be able to tell you exactly when they visit your property for a site visit/quote.
Answered by Riverside Electrical & Property Services
21st May 2019
Riverside Electrical & Property Services answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
I allow a full day for a consumer unit upgrade, which should allow enough time for the board swap, testing and clean up. But the time it takes can vary depending on the location of the fusebox, whether the new unit will fit in the same place as the existing fusebox, lengthening existing circuits, whether the existing bonding need upgrading and how difficult it is to route etc.
Answered by Aurora Building and Maintenance
20th May 2019
Aurora Building and Maintenance answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
It’s around half a day. For me it takes longer to take the old one off the wall and mount the new one than it does to wire the new one up. The testing will take longer usually than the swap itself. If there’s problems with the wiring then it’s usually the full day but half a day is the norm
Answered by Karl Chamberlain Electrical Services
17th April 2019
Karl Chamberlain Electrical Services answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Generally to replace a fuse board could take up to half a day. This is to remove existing fuse board, trying to keep cables as long as possible, installing new fuse board, and reconnecting existing cables , making a note of previous circuits. Testing of each circuit and checking at various points around the house to verify continuity of wires allows you to check correct MCB are then fitted to that circuit. Testing allows for certification to be completed, including part P registration.
Answered by TB electrical
12th April 2019
TB electrical answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
When replacing a consumer unit the first thing that should be done is an installation condition report to ensure that there are no faults/issues on the current installation. Once the condition report is completed this will show all items which must be rectified to comply with the current regulations. Changing the consumer unit times can be as little as an hour, it depends on the amount of circuits and the access some are in awkward tight locations to how long it would take. Once completed the installation would require testing to issue an electrical installation certificate and notify building control.
Answered by Electrical Innovations (Derby) Ltd
21st March 2019
Electrical Innovations (Derby) Ltd answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
We usually allow a full day for a consumer unit change. This lets us make sure the job is carried out correctly, we have time to test all the work and we have plenty of time to look into any other issues that may arise from the upgrade. Thats not to say it can't be done quicker. Fuseboards come in all shapes and sizes and a small 5 way unit is obviously going to be a faster job that a 20 way.
Answered by GES Electrical
27th February 2019
GES Electrical answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
It’s like a piece of string. Every board is different and every home/business. I would allow a day for installation and testing. I’ve done it in a couple of hours to more than a day so it is really dependant on the current quality of the wiring. It’s normally beneficial to get an EICR prior to a board change.
Answered by M.E.T Electrical Ltd
27th February 2019
M.E.T Electrical Ltd answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
We usually allow a day for a consumer unit upgrade. This would include fully testing all the circuits in the house and inspecting the accessories (sockets/lights) to ensure there is no damage or signs of age. It usually takes around 3-4hours to replace the consumer unit and inspect the accessories, and then 3-4 hours to fully test the wiring and tidy and clean all the work areas. You will then be issued with an Electrical Installation Certificate and a certificate to prove that Building Control has been notified that the work has been completed.
Answered by RJ Electricians Ltd
26th February 2019
RJ Electricians Ltd answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
I allow a day to replace a consumer unit as It usually takes me 3-4 hrs to replace a consumer unit with an additional 3-4 hrs of testing then around 1hr clearing up tools mess with a final hoover around, I then explain to the customer how everything works and the testing process of the rcds etc and how to check for tripping etc
Answered by Oak Tree Electrical
24th February 2019
Oak Tree Electrical answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
I usually takes me a day to change a consumer unit, sometimes a long day if it is a large unit. A problem that can arise is that it is not permitted to connect a faulty circuit to the new unit so if a circuit is found to be faulty the job could take a considerable amount more time and money. It is therefore often a good idea to have an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) done first. This will identify any problems and therefore avoid any surprises. Also, because a large part of the consumer unit change is testing all the circuits, as long as you have the unit changed soon after the EICR is carried out the testing done for the EICR can be reused reducing the time and cost of the change.
Answered by AEI Electrical
12th February 2019
AEI Electrical answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Always allow a day to change/upgrade your average domestic household consumer unit. This will include testing of all the circuits once completed and providing a certificate for the work. Some larger households may require two days. Installing a new consumer unit the RCD may pick up existing problems that your previous consumer unit wouldn’t have noticed and therefore you may need more time to diagnose and rectify the issues.
Answered by East Kent Electrical Ltd
10th February 2019
East Kent Electrical Ltd answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
To change the consumer unit the average time is a day as a full test will be done to confirm the condition of the installation first to make sure there aren't any issues with the fixed wiring. As a new board would need to meet all current regulations for safety any existing issue in the wiring would properly trip the new safety devices. So will need sorting out first.
Answered by Mojo Electrical Limited
9th February 2019
Mojo Electrical Limited answered the question "How long does it take to replace a consumer unit / fuse board?"
Depending on size, the average consumer unit will take around a day to change including all testing. However we like to do a full EICR (inspection) prior to a consumer unit change to fully inform the client of any underlying issues with the installation before undertaking the swap.