If your home is still running an old fuse box with rewireable fuses, it's time for an upgrade. A modern consumer unit doesn't just look better — it's safer, regulation-compliant, and built for the electrical demands of a 21st-century home.
Why an old fuse box is a real problem
Old-style fuse boxes rely on rewireable fuses — thin wires that melt when a circuit is overloaded. They offer no protection against earth faults or current leakage, which are two of the most common causes of electrical fires and electrocution. They also can't detect the kind of slow, sustained faults that modern RCDs catch in milliseconds.
Beyond the safety risk, an outdated consumer unit can affect your home insurance, complicate property sales, and fail an EICR inspection. Landlords in particular face legal obligations — and an old board is one of the first things an electrical inspector flags.
Worth knowing
A consumer unit is sometimes called a fuse box, breaker box, or distribution board. They all refer to the same thing: the central hub that splits your incoming power supply into individual protected circuits.
A correctly wired consumer unit gives every circuit its own dedicated MCB. Each one trips independently, so a fault on your kitchen ring doesn't knock out your lighting — and resetting it is a switch flip, not a wire-change.
What a modern consumer unit actually gives you
Think of a modern consumer unit as the brain of your home's electrical system. Today's units are designed around three layers of protection:
RCDs (Residual Current Devices) — detect current leakage to earth and cut the circuit in under 40 milliseconds, protecting against electrocution and earth faults
MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) — one per circuit, protecting against overloads and short circuits without needing a wire replaced
SPDs (Surge Protective Devices) — guard sensitive electronics against voltage spikes from lightning or grid events
Modern units also come with clear labelling, dual RCD protection (so a fault on one side doesn't kill the whole board), and configurations ready for EV chargers, solar panels, and battery storage systems.
BS 7671 compliance
All Volt consumer unit installations are carried out to BS 7671 18th edition wiring regulations and signed off with a Part P Building Regulations certificate. Your local authority is notified automatically — no extra steps needed from you.
How Volt handles the installation
Every consumer unit upgrade starts with a full inspection of your existing installation. We test each circuit, identify any deterioration or non-compliant wiring, and design a board configuration based on your actual usage — not a generic template.
We've installed consumer units for:
Homeowners adding new appliances or planning a rewire
Landlords preparing for EICR inspection or compliance renewal
Families running high-demand kitchens, home offices, or EV chargers
Businesses upgrading commercial boards to current standards
After installation, we carry out full load testing, label every circuit clearly, and hand over a signed BS 7671 test certificate. The job is only done when every circuit is verified.
For commercial and high-demand residential installations, a larger distribution board with dedicated RCDs per zone gives granular fault isolation. If one zone trips, the rest of the building stays live.
Pros and cons — the honest version
Upgrading: the advantages
The honest drawbacks
RCD and MCB protection on every circuit
Complies with BS 7671 18th edition
Adds demonstrable value at point of sale
Future-ready for EV chargers and solar
Upfront cost — but cheaper than fire damage
Must be installed by a qualified electrician
The upfront cost is real, but it's outweighed by what you're protecting: your home, your family, and your insurance policy. A consumer unit upgrade is one of the few electrical jobs with a clear, measurable return on safety.
A modern consumer unit is a prerequisite for a home EV charger. The charger needs a dedicated circuit with correct protection — something an old fuse box simply can't provide safely. Upgrading the board and adding EV charging in a single visit is the most efficient approach.
Ready to upgrade? Book a free inspection.
Volt Electrical Solutions installs consumer units across London and Essex. NICEIC approved, Part P certified, 12-month workmanship guarantee. If you're unsure whether your current board needs replacing, book an EICR first — we'll show you exactly what you're working with.
Call 07984 919 757 or book online — same-day slots available.
