Every fuse box has a limited lifespan and you have to accept it. if your fuse box has already been serving you for years together then you should better get prepared to replace it any time sooner. Replacing a smoothly functioning fuse box with a circuit breaker is not uncommon either. In fact this trend is currently picking up and there is a reason behind it. Electrical circuit breakers are way more reliable and efficient in handling the steadily growing demand for electricity across both modern homes and offices compared to fuse boxes. Moreover circuit breakers also last much longer that fuse boxes to ensure you with value for money.
Replacing a fuse box comes with a cost and as far as the UK is concerned. This cost varies widely from case to case. The cost that you pay for the job is determined by the electrician you hire and is guided by several factors. Some of the crucial factors relevant to the matter and that that affect the overall cost of the job include the following –
- The amperage of the fuse box or consumer unit you choose
- The location within your property you choose for the placement of the consumer unit or fuse box
- Whether there is any requirement to install any additional electrical outlet or subpanel
Standard cost of fuse box replacement
Let us now quickly go through the standard cost of fuse box replacement across the UK.
The standard cost of an electrical fuse box replacement in the UK is around £1,100 although the maximum price that one may has to pay for the service should not go beyond £2,000. On the other hand the lowest cost that you may expect to pay to get this sort of jobs done should range from £350 to £400.
It is important to note that the costs mentioned above cover both – the labour charge and the cost of the parts or hardware. When you want to get a new subpanel installed the cost is likely to inflate. Because that demands additional labour and time. Usually people prefer installing new subpanels while replacing their fuse box or consumer unit in order to accommodate the newly installed electrical connections. The additional cost is determined by two factors – the number of subpanels you want installed and amperage you choose for the newly installed subpanels. The more number of subpanels and the higher the amperage you choose the higher is the overall cost. As far the current trends are concerned, usually this additional cost goes up within the range from £400 to £1,800. The total project cost thus goes by significantly and includes the cost of replacing the consumer unit or fuse box as well as the cost of installing the new subpanels.
Why a fuse box is necessary
Basically a fuse box is an electrical panel which houses fuses. Electricity or power is distributed across your premise or property through these fuses. These days, people usually use the term fuse box to refer to an electric circuit breaker. As laymen and women use the terms fuse box and consumer unit interchangeably it is important to note that the two are not the same. As the name implies, a fuse box comprises of fuses whereas a circuit breaker contains only switches and has no fuse. The two terms are used interchangeably without giving much thought because both the devices perform the same task although in a somewhat different ways. Whenever a fault crops up in your electrical system these safety devices snap the flow of electricity to the disturbed circuit. This is how untoward incidents like electrical fires, injuries and even deaths are prevented in cases of short circuits or sudden surge of power in a circuit. A licensed electrician who changes fuse boards in London over the years both these devices play a crucial role in smooth distribution of electricity across your homes, factories and offices.
A fuse box is an electrical safety device from the previous era whereas a circuit breaker is a safety device of the contemporary times. Fuse boxes are actually obsolete in the present times and you will not see this electrical safety device in modern homes and commercial spaces. Modern buildings and commercial facilities require much higher amount of electricity than that in the past. Fuse boxes prove incapable to handle such vast quantities of electricity smoothly and this is why fuse boxes are steadily replaced with electrical consumer units or CUs across both residential and commercial spaces. This replacement ensures the electrical system in a building or premise runs smoothly and safely without any risk.
Factors determining the cost of the electrical job
As far as the cost of a fuse board replacement is concerned, there are several factors that determine it. Some of these factors include type, location, amperage, permits, installation of additional electrical outlets, rewiring, relocation, replacing an existing electric metre and installation of a new subpanel, etc.
Out of all these factors mentioned above amperage is a major factor and usually you are required to pay more for the higher amperage that you choose. Smaller homes can easily manage within a 100 amperage capacity but for a home of standard size the capacity should range from 150 to 200 amps. For a large property that minimum amperage capacity goes up to 400 amps to ensure all the electrical needs are met smoothly explain registered electricians working at the renowned Electric Works London.
Safety is the first and foremost factor to consider while replacing a fuse box and this is why licensed electricians are the best bet to carry out these jobs. A qualified electrician is also accustomed with your local electrical codes and is also aware about the existing regulations. DIY approach to fuse box replacement should better be avoided under every circumstance. There are usually massive chances of electrical shocks and fires in circumstances where electrical panels are improperly installed or replaced. On the other hand when you hire a trained and qualified electrician to carry out the job, the job is executed perfectly with any hazard looming down at you from unsuspected corners. For competent tradesmen the job is quite easy; they simply remove the existing fuse box from your electrical system and installs a new device, in most probable case a consumer unit or CU, at its place.
