Consumer Unit Replacement -approx cost

[bracknelldiy]

Hi,
I'm looking to have our consumer unit replaced: as noted on a thread I started a couple of months ago its old, has insufficient RCDs, and is overall just 'a bit ***t'. I had an electrician I had in for some other work look at a little while ago and now have a quote.

I was wondering whether anyone on here could be me an idea of what I should expect a reasonable price to be. It would be a 10 way RCBO CU, new tails, and an existing wiring installation test plus completion certification. It will be staying in the existing location.

Yes I'm happy to go and get some other quotes, but if the quote I have is near as damn it in the right ballpark then I'd prefer to just go with it (loyalty and person one knows, not due to laziness I might add).

 

[ETAF]

what has he quoted , the price can vary a lot , even in berkshire , I had my sons CU changed last year (in berkshire) - BUT they also did some rewiring making good on the kitchen wiring, all RCBO and also a surge protection - tested and cert

Also ensure temporary power is available to Fride/freezer and router , and not off for very long - so that had to be setup

BUT we choose someone who had carried out a project and project managed, long story - but was not on site and needed to remotely work with - so i knew we payed over the odds for that ( At my home I had a simple 2 RCB CU fitted in 2018 - £600 - but only connected up - NO wiring for house , as that was all changing and due to be carried out later - so a very simple install of the unit and connections - we have added and had certified various circuits on a room by room bases )

But his was £1500 12way RCBO - in 2023 , including the kitchen wiring sorted as a temporary ring , as a new kitchen was planned, as i say I knew this was a lot - but dealt with a PM during the installation remotely and also trusted the workmanship - as various people in the area I knew had used, and he had a new bathroom/toilet installed by the same company

I would go with someone you know and trust - I have had work carried out on my property - kitchen fitters employed an electrician and recently i had reason to go into loft and look at the wiring and it was NOT up to the standard i would call pro - loose connections on junction boxes used, no colour coding sleeving on lights , even a screw through the outer insulation , wire trapped in the loft flooring ...... earth fault on one lead - I could do better as a DIY - although a qualified Electrical and Electronic engineer and have done this work in the 80's BUT now retired

 

[ericmark]

Who takes the risk? A CU and bits likely cost around £350, depending on make etc. but the time to do the job if all goes correct is likely around 6 hours, but if it turns out there are borrowed neutrals it could take 10 hours or more.

So the electrician could do an EICR first, then no surprises, but when mine was changed he did it and left me to sort out the problems, as it turned out just two wires in one 4 gang switch plate. If nothing goes wrong, then clearly not doing an EICR is cheaper, if your paying by the hour, your risk, if by the job, his risk, so he needs to add to price to allow for win some lose some installations.

 

[Murdochcat]

Minimum 1 day.

Nobody charges less than a day for a CU change

Could easily be much more if an issues are identified

Where in Berkshire - location matters a lot

 

[ebee]

Get an EICR done first then you know what you are up against. Then you can get the CU changed once it is all OK.
Never have a CU change then try solve issues afterwards.

 

[Murdochcat]

Get an EICR done first then you know what you are up against.

Not sure I agree with this. It all depends on how old the property and wiring are

 

[Notch7]

Before covid let’s say £600ish

after covid / Ukraine war I use the “times by almost 2” principle

 

[flameport]

. It would be a 10 way RCBO CU, new tails, and an existing wiring installation test plus completion certification. It will be staying in the existing location.

£800 - £1000 assuming the installation isn't riddled with major defects and problems.

 

[Murdochcat]

Also, don;t ask for a 10 way if you need 10 ways - ask for a 14 way unit so there are spare ways

 

[bracknelldiy]

Also, don;t ask for a 10 way if you need 10 ways - ask for a 14 way unit so there are spare ways

It has been specified for me: perhaps I need to ask the question. I'm going to assume that fitting a 12 or 14 way rather than a 10 way isn't going to be a significant difference price wise.

Useful observation, thanks.

 

[ebee]

well it coulda been

Not sure I agree with this. It all depends on how old the property and wiring are

nope - wired last week could be a right load of a dogs dinner but might be pretty good indeed. age is only one guidance factor, so an EICR should tell you pretty well what you really need to know.
In short, not always so much as when it was done but how it was done and to what standards.
I have seen new builds, say 3 or 4 years old that have made me cringe, I have seen some that are 20,30,40 years old that give me more confidence (OK they might need some updating).
Then whatever the age, if additions/alterations are made it can produce other problems too.

 

[flameport]

I'm going to assume that fitting a 12 or 14 way rather than a 10 way isn't going to be a significant difference price wise.

Less than £10.
Unless space is a problem, get the largest one.

 

[Murdochcat]

It has been specified for me: perhaps I need to ask the question. I'm going to assume that fitting a 12 or 14 way rather than a 10 way isn't going to be a significant difference price wise.

Useful observation, thanks.

So if the spark is specifying a 10 way cu how many existing circuits are there?

 

[ebee]

I usually aim of at least two spare ways (if all things considered) is appropriate.

 

[bracknelldiy]

So if the spark is specifying a 10 way cu how many existing circuits are there?

Its 10 (actually slots 9 currently in use but only because one of the circuits (radial) was switched over to piggy back onto an RCD slot). Space could be an issue. I'll ask the electrician. I certainly see merit in having spare even if its not clear what demand one might have in future.