Replacing a consumer unit, rough cost?
Discussion
Just wondering what the likely cost of replacing a consumer unit is going to be.
House is a smidgen over 20 years old, and the consumer unit is knackered, well not knackered, but there is a fault on it (nothing too serious) and, well basically it needs replacing.
What's it likely to cost to get a sparky in and replace it? Also, is there anything I should know about, like are there good and bad consumer units etc?
House is a smidgen over 20 years old, and the consumer unit is knackered, well not knackered, but there is a fault on it (nothing too serious) and, well basically it needs replacing.
What's it likely to cost to get a sparky in and replace it? Also, is there anything I should know about, like are there good and bad consumer units etc?
Stu R said:
Just wondering what the likely cost of replacing a consumer unit is going to be.
House is a smidgen over 20 years old, and the consumer unit is knackered, well not knackered, but there is a fault on it (nothing too serious) and, well basically it needs replacing.
What's it likely to cost to get a sparky in and replace it? Also, is there anything I should know about, like are there good and bad consumer units etc?
Most of the circuits in your house will probably require protection by an "RCD" (earth leakage) breaker. These differ from the normal (overload) MCB's that you may have for each circuit.House is a smidgen over 20 years old, and the consumer unit is knackered, well not knackered, but there is a fault on it (nothing too serious) and, well basically it needs replacing.
What's it likely to cost to get a sparky in and replace it? Also, is there anything I should know about, like are there good and bad consumer units etc?
The bog standard way of doing it is to fit a consumer unit containing two RCD breakers each of which feed half of the individual MCB's. The problem with this is most faults are more likely to trip the RCD than the MCB, so any single fault will knock out half the house. The good way of doing it is to fit a board where every circuit has an "RCBO", a combined RCD/MCB breaker. This is much better, and IME most people are happy to pay the extra when the benefits are explained to them, but sadly most electricians prefer not to offer it.
Other than that you want a decent brand board- wylex, hagar, crabtree, MK, mostly so that when you want an extra circuit in 5 years or a part fails it can be bought/replaced with ease.
When the jobs done you should have an electrical installation certificate from the contractor and notification from the local building authority that the works have been notified to them.
Prices depend on a number of factors, Strictly ball-park & central london I'd charge around £700 for a 10 circuits RCBO board & main earth bond upgrade which'll prob be necessary, a dual-RCD board would be about £570, be aware that with more sensitive protection equipment on old wiring, sometimes existent undetected faults may need to be traced & rectified at extra cost (another case for RCBO's, which are also less susceptible to several circuits having low earth faults that add up to trip an RCD)
If the wiring in your house was done by elecricians the chances are it'll be okay. If you've had a DIY hero, kitchen fitters, or a spec developer anywhere near the electrics it could end up needing a rewire.
Edited by hairyben on Sunday 27th December 18:51
B17NNS said:
Total cost in Staffs for new board and supply, fit. commission and test £450
That's top end IMHO. How many circuits and how awkward to fit will have a bearing on things, but you could pay as little as half that. I recently paid £175 but that was mates rates. I'd suggest £300 - 350 is a likely figure, less if existing breakers can be reused (depending on what original fault is).Just checked your profile - probably knock another £50-75 of those prices, I was adding the South East tax to mine.
Take a look here: http://www.whatprice.co.uk/prices/electrician/cons...
That said, my neighbour just paid £750!!!
hairyben said:
Prices depend on a number of factors, Strictly ball-park & central london I'd charge around £700 for a 10 circuits RCBO board & main earth bond upgrade which'll prob be necessary, a dual-RCD board would be about £570
How does that work out? I recently had a sparky mate change mine, was told to buy a Wylex dual RCD board from Screwfix for circa £80 as the wholesalers were more expensive and took him about 2-3 hours to fit (including a sub board in the garage) so half a day at mates rates.
Admittedly he's still to test it after doing second fix in the kitchen, but even then I'm told it'll be a day tops for 2nd fix and full test.
Thanks a lot for the info chaps, doesn't sound too wallet shattering.
I think there's around 10 circuits on it, and it's a hagar one that's failed. Also, will need to slap at least 2 more circuits on later in the year when the house is extended.
Most of the house has been rewired to some extent already, so fingers crossed it should be reasonably straight forward!
Thanks again for the help
I think there's around 10 circuits on it, and it's a hagar one that's failed. Also, will need to slap at least 2 more circuits on later in the year when the house is extended.
Most of the house has been rewired to some extent already, so fingers crossed it should be reasonably straight forward!
Thanks again for the help
B17NNS said:
Total cost in Staffs for new board and supply, fit. commission and test £450
That sounds very steep. I had a 10-way one fitted a couple of years ago. Sparkie friend of mine did the job, which involved him looking at what was there, us both tripping off to local screwfix and selecting a good replacement, bringing it home and him fitting and testing it. Unit was around £80, his time would have been about £180 (although I paid him in good whisky.) Oli.
Personally i had a go at it myself using this guide: http://electricalhelper.co.uk/electrical-help/inst...
kev54 said:
Personally i had a go at it myself using this guide: http://electricalhelper.co.uk/electrical-help/inst...
God help you then.Ganglandboss said:
kev54 said:
Personally i had a go at it myself using this guide: http://electricalhelper.co.uk/electrical-help/inst...
God help you then.
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