Warning signs such as a tripping fuseboard is actually your board doing what it's supposed to do, protecting individuals from electrical shocks or fire hazards.
Fuseboards have circuit breakers which are designed to switch off power or “trip” if too much load is detected on one current, or during an earth fault if water has made contact with live parts. While it is safe to reset the breakers carefully, Norfolk Current Ltd recommend you don’t make any attempt to bypass circuits or do any rewiring work yourself such as replacing a breaker. The safest option is to have one of the team inspect the fuseboard to see what next steps are.
What are other warning signs if my fuseboard is tripping?
As well as frequently tripping fuses, you might notice burning smells, a buzzing sound or even notice visible damage to the fuseboard. This might look like discoloration or cracks on the unit itself.
Norfolk Current Ltd recently worked with a customer on Lynch Green who installed an electfic shower as part of a DIY project. As the electric shower was drawing way more power than the existing fuse board could manage, nuisance tripping kept plunging the home in Hethersett into darkness. High power appliances such as an electric shower do require their own dedicated circuit. We recommended a fuseboard upgrade to ensure individual RCBO as well as compliance with modern regulations.
How long does a fusaboard upgrade take?
Norfolk Current Ltd have years of experience installing fuse boards or more commonly known “consumer units” so a standard installation takes between 5-8 hours. We want our customers to understand that no fuseboard upgrade is the same and various factors can influence installation time. If the customer wants a consumer unit with more boards to futureproof their home, adding more circuits will take more time. The age of wiring can also be an issue especially if we need to run new safety earthing cables. Your best bet is get one of the team to your home in Hethersett for an initial site survey, we can give you a breakdown of upgrade work you might need.
How much will it cost to upgrade my fuseboard?
For an average three bedroom house in Hethersett, a standard and straightforward consumer unit upgrade can cost between £700- £900. The cost can vary depending on the type of consumer unit but a recommendation we suggest is a metal RCBO consumer unit with SPD, providing individual protection against all circuits at your home from falling.
The team likes to inform our customers of all options so another factor to consider in a populated vs empty consumer unit. Pre-populated boards come with factory installed RCBOs so tend to be cheaper than purchasing the RCBO’s separately.
Who can fit a new fuseboard?
A fuseboard upgrade is classed as major, notifiable work which falls under Part P of the Building Regulations. As Norfolk Current Ltd are NAPIT approved, we are skilled and qualified to safely carry out upgrade work and self certify.
Once the installation is complete, we run a series of compulsory tests to make sure safety standards are met. Customers will receive an EIC or Electrical Installation Certificate to confirm work has been conducted in a safe and compliant manner.
Contact Norfolk Current Ltd if your frequent tripping fuse board is in need of an upgrade.
