When you need a new fuse box
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Your fuses are the old screw-in type you have to replace and tighten yourself.
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This usually means the consumer unit is outdated and should be replaced for safety and modern protection.
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Your power trips when you touch an appliance or plug something in.
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This often indicates missing or faulty RCD protection that should be fitted or repaired.
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Your RCD or breaker trips for no obvious reason, even when nothing seems wrong.
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That usually points to a failing RCD or overloaded/needing-updated protection in the board.
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Your lights flicker or dim when you switch the kettle, heater or other high-power device on.
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This commonly means the consumer unit may not have the capacity or correct protection for high-load appliances.
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You want to install a new shower, electric car charger or are having a full rewire.
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These upgrades usually require a consumer unit with higher capacity and appropriate protection fitted.
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Your electrician flagged a C1 or C2 issue on the report (they said “danger” or “urgent” problems) at the board.
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That generally means the consumer unit has a serious or potentially dangerous fault and should be assessed and replaced by a qualified electrician.
Your fuse box has rewireable fuses or no RCD
If your Swanley home still has rewireable fuses or a consumer unit without RCD protection, it’s time to arrange an assessment. Older fuse carriers can be less convenient and may not provide the level of additional shock protection expected in modern domestic installations. We’ll inspect the consumer unit, earthing and bonding, circuit condition, and signs of age-related deterioration before recommending replacement.
This is particularly important in Victorian properties with rubber insulation or post-war homes where aluminium wiring may be present. A new consumer unit can't make unsafe cables safe, so we check that existing circuits are suitable before connecting them to modern protective devices. As NICEIC-approved, Part P-registered electricians, we issue the appropriate electrical installation certificate and notify applicable work through Building Control. You’ll receive a fixed written price before work begins.
The RCD trips and you cannot find out why
Repeated RCD tripping needs prompt investigation, especially when you can’t identify a particular appliance or circuit causing the fault. Don’t keep resetting it or assume it’s simply inconvenient: an RCD may be responding to earth leakage, moisture, damaged cable insulation or a developing fault.
We carry out a structured tripping diagnosis, testing circuits and protective devices to establish whether the issue lies with wiring, connected equipment or the consumer unit itself. Older units can cause nuisance trips where several circuits share one RCD, leaving much of the property without power.
If testing confirms the installation is otherwise sound but the existing arrangement offers poor discrimination, a modern consumer unit with individual RCBO protection may be appropriate. We’ll explain the findings, provide a fixed written price where replacement is needed, and issue the correct electrical certification after compliant work.
You are having a rewire, a shower or an EV charger fitted
Planned electrical upgrades can also make consumer unit replacement necessary. During a rewire, we install a modern unit that matches the new circuits, protective devices and earthing arrangements, then test and certify the installation.
A new electric shower often needs a dedicated high-current circuit and suitable RCD protection. We assess Shower compatibility before installation, including cable size, circuit capacity and the consumer unit’s available ways.
An EV chargepoint can add substantial demand to your supply. We check the existing installation, main fuse rating, earthing and capacity before recommending a unit upgrade. Where appropriate, Charger loadmanagement can limit charging demand and help protect the installation from overload. We complete notifiable work in line with Part P requirements and provide the relevant electrical certification once testing confirms the work is safe.
An EICR came back with a C1 or C2 on the board
When an EICR identifies a C1 or C2 observation at the consumer unit, we’ll explain the risk and the remedial work required. A C1 indicates immediate danger, so we’ll make the installation safe and treat it as an urgent repair. A C2 means potentially dangerous conditions require priority action, such as missing RCD protection, damaged enclosures, overheating signs or unsuitable circuit protection.
We’ll carry out a thorough board inspection to confirm whether targeted repairs are suitable or replacement is the safer option. Where the existing consumer unit can't meet current safety requirements reliably, we’ll recommend an upgraded unit with appropriate RCD or RCBO protection.
As NICEIC-approved, Part P registered electricians, we test the completed work, issue the relevant electrical certificate and provide a fixed written price before work starts.
What a consumer unit replacement costs in Swanley
A consumer unit replacement in Swanley costs between £500 and £700, including VAT, parts, labour, testing and certification, and we provide a fixed written price so your bill won’t exceed the quote. Below are typical prices for common electrical jobs.
| Job | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer unit replacement | £500–£700 | Parts, labour, testing, certificate, VAT |
| EICR, up to 3-bed | £150–£250 | Inspection and report |
| Fault finding | £80/hr | Diagnosis; most faults take 1–2 hours |
| Emergency attendance | £120/hr | First hour minimum |
| Full 3-bed rewire | £4,500–£8,000 | Parts, labour, testing, certificate, VAT |
Prices exclude plaster decoration, asbestos removal, DNO supply‑upgrade charges, and scaffold or access equipment.
Pre-Installation Circuit Assessment
Before replacement, we assess every circuit, isolate the supply safely and confirm that disconnection won’t create hidden risks.
We then fit the new consumer unit and correctly selected protective devices, before testing every circuit to verify safe operation.
As NICEIC-approved, Part P-registered electricians, we issue certification and complete the required Building Control notification.
Isolation and safe disconnection
Safe isolation comes first: we identify the supply, assess each circuit and prove the installation dead with suitable test equipment before replacing a consumer unit. We follow recognised isolation procedures, not assumptions. This includes identifying the correct main switch and supply arrangement, informing you of the interruption, isolating safely, securing the point of isolation where appropriate, and confirming absence of voltage with approved test instruments.
We check our tester before and after use against a known source, so the result is reliable. Safe disconnection also means considering any alternative supplies, such as solar PV, battery storage, generators or shared arrangements, which may keep conductors live. We label circuits where needed and maintain control of the work area throughout. These steps protect you, your property and our electricians before any alteration begins.
Fitting the new board and protective devices
Next, we assess each existing circuit to confirm it’s suitable for the new consumer unit and its protective devices. Before fitting begins, we identify circuits, trace their routes where practical, and review the wiring layout for signs of age, alterations or unsuitable cable types. This lets us select correctly rated protective devices and plan a compliant, orderly installation.
- Check cable condition, terminations and circuit identification
- Identify shared neutrals, borrowed connections and legacy alterations
- Confirm appropriate device ratings for lighting, sockets and fixed equipment
- Record any remedial work needed before the upgrade proceeds
Older Swanley properties can contain VIR, rubber or aluminium wiring, which may require further attention rather than direct connection to a modern board. As NICEIC-approved electricians, we explain any findings clearly, provide fixed pricing in writing, and only proceed when the installation can be completed safely and compliantly.
Testing every circuit
We test every accessible circuit before a consumer unit replacement to confirm the installation can support modern protection safely. Our NICEIC-approved electricians inspect cable condition, earthing and bonding, polarity, insulation resistance, continuity and fault-loop readings. This identifies issues that could cause nuisance tripping or make an RCD or RCBO unsuitable without remedial work.
We also check for older VIR, rubber or aluminium wiring, particularly in Swanley’s Victorian terraces and post-war homes. Where safe access allows, we trace circuits to improve circuit labelling and verify that sockets, lighting, cookers and fixed equipment are correctly identified. We assess likely demand and load balancing across the proposed board, including electric showers, ovens and chargepoints. If testing reveals defects, concealed damage or unsuitable wiring, we explain the options and agree any required repairs before proceeding.
Certification and Building Control notification
Once the pre-installation circuit assessment confirms the installation is suitable, we issue the correct electrical certification for your new consumer unit and notify Building Control under Part P where required. As an NICEIC approved, Part P registered contractor, we manage building notification and council liaison, so you receive clear evidence that the work meets current safety standards.
- Electrical Installation Certificate covering the consumer unit replacement
- Schedule of test results for every circuit tested
- Building Regulations compliance certificate following notification
- Copies retained for your records, insurers, and future property sale
We complete certification only after testing verifies safe operation, protective-device performance, earthing and bonding. If assessment identifies defects needing remedial work, we explain them before proceeding. Your fixed written price confirms the agreed scope, including certification, with no surprise additions.
Do you need AFDDs?
AFDDs (arc fault detection devices) aren't legally required for most typical owner-occupied homes in Swanley, though they may be recommended where the wiring, occupancy or assessed fire risk indicates additional protection could be beneficial. AFDDs monitor circuits for dangerous arc faults that some conventional protective devices may not detect, which can help reduce the risk of ignition.
BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations) requires AFDDs in certain higher‑risk residential situations such as houses in multiple occupation, purpose‑built student accommodation and care homes; for standard owner‑occupied dwellings the regulation currently recommends AFDDs in specified circumstances rather than mandating them for every consumer unit. If you have heard they're compulsory for all homes, that isn't correct — the actual duty depends on the building type and the applicable edition and amendments of BS 7671 at the time of installation.
We will assess your property’s use, circuit layout and risk profile and advise whether AFDD protection is a sensible measure for your installation; where a regulation or design option leads to a legitimate exemption or an alternative protective strategy, we'll record the rationale in the installation documentation. We also consider surge protection, which is commonly expected for most new consumer units unless a documented risk assessment justifies omitting it.
Old wiring we still find in Swanley
- Rubber‑insulated cable installed in 1920s–1950s semi‑detached and terraced houses in parts of Swanley Village and on the outskirts of Swanley Junction may perish where runs pass close to older fireplaces, loft spaces or period light fittings.
We’ll assess installations in these named neighbourhoods using appropriate local testing procedures and identify whether the circuits in the specific property remain safe for continued service.
Where we find defects affecting safety in a Swanley property, we’ll explain the options clearly for that house or flat and provide a fixed written quotation. As NICEIC‑approved, Part P‑registered electricians working in Swanley, we issue the relevant certification for completed notifiable work in the town.
How long it takes and whether you lose power
After we’ve confirmed that the existing circuits are suitable, most like-for-like consumer unit replacements in Swanley take around one working day.
We isolate the supply while we remove the old fuse box, install the new consumer unit, test each circuit and complete the required safety checks.
You should expect a planned power outage for much of the working day, although the exact duration depends on the condition and complexity of your installation.
We’ll explain the likely interruption before work begins so you can arrange downtime planning for home working, refrigeration, medical equipment and security systems.
Keep phones charged and avoid relying on electric heating or cooking during the appointment.
If testing identifies faults, damaged cables or unsuitable circuit arrangements, additional investigation may extend the work.
We won’t re-energise circuits until testing confirms they’re safe.
Certificates you will receive
Once we’ve replaced your consumer unit, we’ll issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) confirming the installation has been inspected and tested. As NICEIC-approved, Part P-registered electricians, we’ll also notify Building Control through our competent person scheme, so you receive the relevant compliance confirmation without arranging an inspection yourself.
Your documentation provides a clear record for future electrical work, property records, warranty details and insurance implications.
- EIC showing test results, circuit details and installer certification
- Part P Building Regulations compliance notification for the replacement
- Consumer-unit schedule identifying protective devices and circuits
- Our 12-month workmanship guarantee, with written warranty details
Keep these documents with your property paperwork. They demonstrate that qualified electricians completed and verified the notifiable work, supporting safety, traceability and compliance. We’ll explain the certificates before we leave.