Cost to replace consumer unit

[Blue Oval84]

I have the current consumer unit from 2002 shown here and need to add a couple of sockets to the cupboard it's in for my upcoming fibre broadband install. Unfortunately the sparky identified that there's no RCD on this board and advises that they are not manufactured anymore.

Because I'm in a high rise any new board needs to have AFDD as well as RCD on all socket circuits, so once he confirmed the building height he revised his guesstimate (he hasn't seen it in person yet) price from £750 up to £1210 for a full new consumer unit.

Is this about the right price for a work of this type?

ETA- forum image sharing isn't working for some reason but I've stuck a picture on Imgur...

https://imgur.com/a/V8wgrDe

Edited by Blue Oval84 on Thursday 1st May 00:07

[Belle427]

Sounds about right really, just make sure you get all the certs when done.

[Mr Pointy]

I paid £700 for a new CU in a normal terrace house a few years ago so I would have said £750 was a pretty good price but £1250 does feel a little adventurous even though you need a few extra parts. The best thing to do is to get a few quotes & you'll find out what the right price is. Don't forget that doesn't include rectifying any issues they find in the rest of the wiring when they do the testing.

Is there no way of adding extra sockets without running them back to new breakers on the CU? Upgrading yours would be nice, but is it actually necessary?

[megaphone]

Parts are £200 ish. Can be done in 4-5 hours if all goes well. So £750 tops. He probably wants to add in a bit of contingency in case he discovers any faults that need rectifying.

Get more quotes.

Just seen your op, AFDDs are relatively expensive, so will push up the parts cost.

Edited by megaphone on Thursday 1st May 08:40

[Blue Oval84]

Thanks guys - I can't see a solution to legally adding a new socket to the existing unit - I investigated adding an RCD before the consumer unit to effectively protect the whole installation on one RCD but that didn't solve the AFDD issue which would still need adding (and isn't available for the board).

There is one minor complication - I had a new spur fitted by my dad last year in one of the bedrooms (didn't involve messing with the wiring in the consumer unit and was very straightforward so I didn't bother going the sparky route) - and likewise one in the kitchen as well a couple of years before that. Both jobs have been done to a proper standard as far as I can tell, but how likely is that to cause an issue? Would he be checking every single socket as part of the installation and what would the checks involve? (The wiring for both spurs is now embedded in the wall so that itself can't be checked)

[Belle427]

Any issues should be found during final testing if he does it, if the jobs were done to the correct standard then dont worry about it.

[Rough101]

With AFDD’s and an SPD, you could easily be £2K.

The AFDD is an expensive device, depends how many you need!

[Blue Oval84]

OK sounds like his price is reasonable then, I think they may only be needed on the sockets and as far as I know I only have two socket circuits (kitchen and everything else) - potentially I suppose if they're needed on everything then it could get up to six AFDD protected circuits.

Forgot to mention that at least his £1200 price does (I think) include my new double socket

[Rough101]

You do only need them on sockets, I’d highly recommend the other circuits each have an RCBO, it’s so much more convenient if you get a fault.

[Blue Oval84]

Thanks, yeah I'm thinking the same, I don't want to get nuisance tripping, for reasons that are now obvious that's never been a problem and I don't want to start now lol.

I'm leaning towards the view that I probably should have an RCD on the system somewhere, so going ahead with the replacement seems like a reasonable solution.

At least it sounds like the £1200 price is not wildly out of whack, although I will try and find a second quote just for comparison purposes if I go ahead.

[Baldchap]

I paid £788 to move a consumer unit and upgrade to a modern Hager one.

[DorsetSparky]

Mr Pointy said:

I paid £700 for a new CU in a normal terrace house a few years ago so I would have said £750 was a pretty good price but £1250 does feel a little adventurous even though you need a few extra parts. The best thing to do is to get a few quotes & you'll find out what the right price is. Don't forget that doesn't include rectifying any issues they find in the rest of the wiring when they do the testing.

Is there no way of adding extra sockets without running them back to new breakers on the CU? Upgrading yours would be nice, but is it actually necessary?

Any idea how much AFDDs cost each?

[DorsetSparky]

You really want an EICR done before a board change. This identifies any issues, and any competent sparks should be doing this. For example, if you've currently got no RCD protection and going to full RCBO, if there's borrowed neutrals, you'll get immediate tripping.

[119]

Only thing i found was this..

"From 28th September 2022 AFDDs are mandated for socket outlet circuits (up-to 32A rating) in high risk residential buildings, in homes in multiple occupation, in purpose built student accommodation, and in care homes. AFDDs are also recommended for socket outlet circuits (up-to 32A rating) in all other premises."

What about an additional smaller afdd fuse box just for the additional sockets and leaving the main one in place?

[Mr Pointy]

DorsetSparky said:

Mr Pointy said:

I paid £700 for a new CU in a normal terrace house a few years ago so I would have said £750 was a pretty good price but £1250 does feel a little adventurous even though you need a few extra parts. The best thing to do is to get a few quotes & you'll find out what the right price is. Don't forget that doesn't include rectifying any issues they find in the rest of the wiring when they do the testing.

Is there no way of adding extra sockets without running them back to new breakers on the CU? Upgrading yours would be nice, but is it actually necessary?

Any idea how much AFDDs cost each?

£78 for a Hager 32A combined RCBO & AFDD. The OP only needs two of them.

[dhutch]

Blue Oval84 said:

I have the consumer unit from 2002
https://imgur.com/a/V8wgrDe

Strikes me as odd that a CU from 2002 wouldn't have a RCD of any type.

But Google suggests 17th edition came in in 2008, and I guess being a flat likely mean unlikely there will be an cables running to outside. So yeah. Figures.

[Blue Oval84]

DorsetSparky said:

You really want an EICR done before a board change. This identifies any issues, and any competent sparks should be doing this. For example, if you've currently got no RCD protection and going to full RCBO, if there's borrowed neutrals, you'll get immediate tripping.

Well my further reading is making me want to scrap the whole idea - I use Powerline adaptors, there's no other feasible way to transmit internet around a property that is built like a faraday cage. Apparently AFDD's can suffer nuisance tripping because the Powerline comms (which work flawlessly today) introduce tiny voltage variations into the lines and the AFDD can interpret this as an arc fault.

Unfortunately because I'm using the powerline comms the new socket really needs to go on the same circuit as the rest of my sockets, the whole point of getting this socket is to have the internet and the powerline transmitter tucked away in the hall cupboard out of sight, rather than having to bring fibre line into my living room by drilling through two walls and then end up with new electronics where I don't have any today. I'm beginning to think this may be the easiest option however, I could just hide it in the stereo cabinet I suppose and leave the next owner to worry about the wiring.

[Little Lofty]

I’ve just had a new 20 way CU fitted to an HMO as part of a rewire, (7 circuits needed arc detection) and it cost £800 supply only, the AFDD are around £70 each. I guess they will be mandatory on all CU soon enough.

[mrmistoffelees]

Had my CU replaced last year with a Hager 20 way, 14 ways populated and an SPD too. Tidied up two separate sub CUs for solar and car charger (which required a couple of metres of the chunky EV charger cable with ethernet in the same cable), and a couple of other bits. £920. North Wales.

Edited by mrmistoffelees on Thursday 1st May 20:00

[DorsetSparky]

Mr Pointy said:

£78 for a Hager 32A combined RCBO & AFDD. The OP only needs two of them.

Where from?