Replacing fuse box...can anyone tell me how much it would cost?

Question

to change my old fuse box for a new one. My present one is about 30years old and I think it needs replacing. Lights fused last night and it was the devils own to change the fuse..I believe more modern ones indicate the fuse that is blow. Am I right?

Answer 1

the modern ones do not blow but trip out, so you just switch them back on, however they are expesive, my consumer unit as it is realy called is fuses and I would not part with it for the world, the new units trip out at the slighest thing such as a bulb blowing, they often trip due to strip lighting and washing machines even though there is nothing wrong, I am an electrical engineer and thus have considerable experience, personally if you have poblems with your fuses just buy a few spare fuse holders etc and at your leisure rewire them with the fuse wire ready in case you need them. by the way if your house wiring is 30 years old the chances are you could well need a rewire. you really should have your wiring checked every five years. Lots of the guys doing that kind of work insist you change your consumer unit (fuse box,) if you do rewire then its best you do change it as it will be compulsary then.

If you are looking at a full reqire you are looking at anything from about £600 upwards in to the thousands.

for a new consumer unit (fuse box) an electrician will buy it for about £40 plus vat and each trip in it will be about £25 ( each trip is what they call a way, each way is where each of your fuses are now so if you have say a six way consumer unit you have six fuses in it. so six times £25 for the trips and about £40 for the unit, then there is labour to fit.

I hope I have been of some help
remember your fuse box as you call it is the house holders insurance against fire really for the fuses go before damage is done. thats the theory anyway . Take care

Answer 2

Hi, you'll need to fit a RCB/D consumer unit. A split one ( with the breakers is about £100. labour is a day if there are no problems - £150

Bear in mind that RCD with earth leakage may uncover earth leakage problems in yuor house that a fuse box will not find, you'll need to wait and see. These are often where the neutral is touching earth somewhere, or your shower/imersion/cooker element. But once they appear, they will need fixing as the RCD will trip out ith these faults.

Good look, house wiring should be changed every 20 years so its about time this was looked at as well, you can do the job seperate to the consumer uit at a later date if needed ( normally co-incide with when you want to redecorate.

You cannot change the consumer unit ypurself (unless you know how to comply with part p ) , this is now notifiable work under part P regulations. Your local planning office can give you more infor about their part p planning requirements

Answer 3

To change an old rewireable type 'fuse box' to a modern 'split' consumer unit, with e.g. 8 circuit breakers and an RCD for sockets would cost appx. £170.00-250.00 + vat. Depends on the brand of equipment and other things that may be reqd. for example upgrading of earthing and supply tails to meter. Not really a diy job, especially in England with Part P regs.

Answer 4

It can get pretty costly replacing an old fuse box with a circuit breaker system .Ask around you may find someone who does it on the side ...Check Homedepot.com or lowes.com for the cost of circuit breaker box . Modern breaker trip off like a light switch

Answer 5

It sounds like what you need is a distribution box with circuit breakers. They trip off when they detect a short circuit and can be reset when the short is gone.
The cost is dependent on the size (Amp. Service) and installation.
Please get some expert advice. All it takes is one mistake around electricity and it could be your last.

Answer 6

I doubt you can even BUY a fuse box anymore.

You will have to go to a circuit breaker box. they have magnetic
trip switches that you put in them. I think you will need a licensed electrician to do that work because of insurance problems, plus it has to be certified before you can sell your house.

not sure about that last part. better check that.

tom

Answer 7

Well modern fuse boxes, don't use fuses. :)

They have trip switches, so if one goes you just flip the switch back up.

How much it cost?
1. Can you Do It Yourself?, if so -> not that much.
2. Get someone in, well how long is a piece of string.!

Answer 8

ROFL, sorry but don't ever go to that mechanic again, hes ABSOLUTLY ripping u off, mufflers don't have bearing, and they never willl, all a muffler is, is a bunch of little walls inside a container, nothing inside moves. and 250 bucks for a WHOLE NEW MUFFLER is expensive, u could get a whole new exhaust system for that price.

Answer 9

We had someone come give us an estimate to replace ours. The estimate about $2,000 in Charlotte, NC. Of course anytime you call someone out of the book, you get a ridiculous estimate.