Advice
Fuse Board Upgrades: Cost and When You Need One
TL;DR
A consumer unit upgrade in Ireland starts around €450. You need one if your board lacks RCD protection, uses old rewireable fuses, or keeps tripping. It is one of the cheapest safety upgrades you can make.
What a fuse board upgrade costs
A straightforward consumer unit upgrade starts around €450. If the earthing or bonding needs work to bring it up to standard, that is included in the fixed quote before we start, so there are no surprises.
The board is the safety heart of the house, so it is money well spent, and the job is usually done in a few hours with the power off only briefly.
Why RCD protection matters
An RCD, or residual current device, cuts the power in a fraction of a second if it detects a fault, which is what protects you from a serious shock. Older boards with just rewireable fuses do not offer this.
Modern consumer units use RCBOs, which combine that protection with individual circuit protection, so a fault on one circuit does not black out the whole house.
Signs your board is due an upgrade
- Old rewireable fuses instead of switches
- No RCD or RCBO protection
- The board trips often, or will not reset
- Not enough ways for the circuits you have
- You are adding an EV charger, solar, or an extension
Fuse board and EV chargers
Adding an EV charger or solar often prompts a board upgrade, because the new circuit needs a spare way and proper protection. We check this on the survey and, where an upgrade is needed, quote it upfront so you can plan.
Doing the board and the charger together is usually tidier and cheaper than doing them months apart.
Would you rather we handled it?
Fuse Board Upgrades, quoted before work starts.
Advice
Questions, answered
How much is a new fuse board?
A consumer unit upgrade starts around €450. Any earthing or bonding work needed is included in the fixed quote before we begin.
How long does it take?
Most upgrades are a few hours, with the power off only for short, planned periods while we swap the board and test every circuit.
Do I legally need RCD protection?
Modern wiring standards require RCD protection, and it is one of the cheapest, most worthwhile safety upgrades. If your board has none, an upgrade is well worth it.
Will an upgrade stop my board tripping?
If the tripping is caused by an old board that cannot isolate faults, a modern unit with RCBOs will help. If a specific appliance or circuit is faulty, we find and fix the cause too.