Electricians - idea of cost?

Raumarik

Raumarik

Raumarik

Soldato
Joined
14 Jul 2003
Posts
14,859
Guys,

Any idea how much it'd cost to get a consumer unit replaced in a house? We got the keys to our new home on Friday and this is one thing that's near the top of my "to do" list.

I know they're not that expensive on their own and the cost would be in labour - any ideas?

Father in law is an ex-electrician but has kept his certs up to date so I can ask him, but I'd assume it was a fairly large job as the unit in the house is still using fuse wire :p
 
Assuming you can just do a like for like swap you'll probably be looking at about £100 for the consumer unit then however much to fit it.

Your main problem is that new regulations mean you need to have your whole house tested.

This includes existing cables and sockets and from what i've been told you need this certification when you come to sell your house later on.

If its a full rewire then you can be looking up to £3000 depending how many circuits you have.
 
Gavmeister said:
This includes existing cables and sockets and from what i've been told you need this certification when you come to sell your house later on.

If its a full rewire then you can be looking up to £3000 depending how many circuits you have.
Click to expand...

This is not true, you do not need ANYTHING to be in order to sell a house, how do you think derelict houses with wiring from the 1800's get sold? There is no way he will require or be forced to have a re-wire!

The testing is quick and easy, in the event a circuit cannot hold an RCD in place most electricians will simply not RCD protect that circuit.

IME you are looking at around £300 for the job including approx £100 in materials. It will take the electrician likely half a day on site as long as its a straight swap and he actually performs the tests.
 
Jez is pretty much on the money I'd say, decent sized consumer units with RCD protected circuits are usually no more than £100 for your average semi and labour will probably be anything from £100 to £300 depending on where you live.

Rewiring the whole house is a bit dramatic :D
 
Cu change you are looking at about £300, If there is a faulty circuit this will either be left out or fixed (at extra cost) The electrician will have to do a installation cert for the swap, The electrician will be unlikely to not RCD protect a circuit now as 17th edition regs require all circuits buried at a depth less than 50mm in a wall to be RCD protected (typical domestic)
 
It all depends on what else needs doing, there are certain criteria that have to be met before any elecrician can do the work, unless you get some old cowboy in to do it who doesn't care about your safety.

To start with:

• the rating and condition of any existing equipment, including that of the distributor, will be adequate for the altered circumstances, and
• the earthing and bonding arrangements necessary for the safety of the alteration or addition are also adequate.

This generally means that your meter tails (cables from the meter to the CU) must be 25mm and your earthing conductor is 16mm with 10mm main bonding to the gas and water service pipes, or oil etc if you have that.
If they've not then they will have to be upgraded.

A good electrician will test the installation before hand and recify any problems found that are unsafe or might cause issues when the change is done.
He'll check that all your cpc's (earth cables) and ring circuits are continuos throughout, that all the insulation on the existing cables is sound and that all the neccessary criteria is met for the required disconnection times of the equipment he'll be installing.
As he must install rcd's for socket outlets etc. this is very important.

The testing doesn't take long, the remedials might.

The actual materials don't cost that much, I pay @£80 for a Hager (decent brand) CU with 10 split ways (circuits) and 2 rcd's, if you ask the electrician to supply it it'll be more expensive of course, I can let you know where to get them if you like and there are larger ones available of course if you need more ways.

I would also suggest that any electrician you use is registered here as they'll be able to certify the work without you having to get the local council involved :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom