If you’re planning a fuse box upgrade in Blackpool, you might be wondering what the process actually involves. At West Coast Electrical & Renewables, we carry out these upgrades regularly for homeowners, landlords, and businesses across the Fylde Coast.
A fuse box, also known as a consumer unit, is a vital part of your electrical system. It controls the flow of electricity around your home and provides safety features to protect you in the event of a fault. Modern fuse boxes are much safer and more efficient than older models, which is why upgrading is often recommended.
We’ll walk you through exactly what our electricians do during a typical fuse box upgrade and why each step matters.
Why Might You Need a Fuse Box Upgrade?
There are a few common reasons customers choose to upgrade their fuse box:
• You’ve recently moved into an older property
• You’re renovating or extending your home
• You’re planning to install solar panels, battery storage or an EV charger
• Your current board doesn’t meet current safety regulations
• You’ve experienced regular tripping or faults
Whatever the reason, it’s important that the job is carried out professionally, to the latest wiring regulations (currently BS7671 18th Edition), and with attention to detail.
Every job starts with a conversation. Here’s how we approach the process from start to finish.
Our Process for Upgrading Your Fuse Box
1. Assessing Your Electrical Needs
Firstly, we speak with you about your electrical demand and how you use energy day to day. We also look at whether you plan to install any renewable technologies in the future – such as solar panels, EV chargers, or battery storage. This helps us recommend the correct size of consumer unit and ensure it’s suitable for any additions later on.
Planning ahead means you won’t need another upgrade down the line when adding new technologies.
2. Testing Existing Wiring
Before we touch the fuse box, we carry out testing on the existing wiring to check for any faults or safety concerns. If we find any issues that would make the upgrade unsafe, we’ll advise you before proceeding.
We won’t fit a new board onto wiring that doesn’t meet current safety standards.
3. Labelling the Circuits
Once everything is safe to proceed, we label the existing circuits so we know exactly which cable serves each part of your home. This helps us reconnect everything correctly and efficiently after we install the new board.
4. Removing the Old Board
We then safely isolate the electricity supply, remove the old consumer unit, and prepare the wall space for the new board. This includes cleaning the area and ensuring there’s a solid mounting surface.
5. Installing the New Consumer Unit
Next, we fit the new board and start terminating the labelled cables into the correct MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers) or RCBOs (Residual Current Breakers with Overcurrent Protection) depending on your setup.
We carefully terminate each circuit and make all connections in line with the current wiring regulations.
6. Energising and Testing
After everything is connected, we energise the board and carry out live testing on all circuits. This ensures everything is working as it should and that no faults are present.
We confirm that each circuit is protected correctly and that safety features like RCDs operate as they should during our tests.
7. Certification and Handover
Once testing is complete, we issue you with a full electrical installation certificate. This includes test results, details of the new board, and confirmation that the work meets current regulations.
This certificate is important for your records and may be needed if you ever sell your property or carry out future electrical work.
8. Clean and Tidy Finish
Before we leave, we always hoover up any mess and leave the area clean and tidy. We know it’s your home, not a building site, and we treat it with respect throughout the job.
What Kind of Consumer Unit Will You Get?
We only install quality consumer units from trusted manufacturers that meet UK standards. Your new board will include circuit breakers that are faster, safer, and more reliable than the old rewireable fuses found in many older properties.
Most modern units also offer extra protection in the form of RCBOs, which monitor each circuit individually and isolate any faults quickly.
We’ll advise you on the best option based on your setup, your future plans, and your budget.
Fuse Box Upgrade Blackpool: Why Choose Us?
At West Coast Electrical & Renewables, we’re fully NICEIC registered, TrustMark approved, and experienced in both general electrical work and futureproof renewable installations. That means we understand how to prepare your home not only for today’s energy use, but for tomorrow’s too.
We install consumer units across Blackpool, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lytham St Annes, Thornton-Cleveleys, and the wider North West.
If you’re planning a rewire, extension, or are getting ready for solar, now is the perfect time to make sure your electrical system is safe and compliant.
A Quick Word on What’s Coming…
We’ve also got some exciting news coming later this week. If you’ve been thinking about ways to make your home more energy efficient, you’ll want to keep an eye out on Friday for a new announcement.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook where we’ll be teasing more details throughout the week.
