Fuseboard replacement
Removing an old board and installing a modern consumer unit with appropriately rated protective devices for each circuit.
Fuseboards & Consumer Units
Fuseboard Replacement & Upgrades
The fuseboard is the one part of an electrical installation that everything else depends on. It distributes the supply, and it holds the protective devices that disconnect a circuit when something goes wrong. Plenty of Irish homes are still running on boards that were fitted decades ago, with rewireable fuses or a single RCD covering everything.
Replacing a board is not about having something newer on the wall. It is about the installation being protected in a way that reflects how the house is used now — more appliances, more circuits, EV charging, garden rooms and home offices that were never part of the original design.
What this work covers
Consumer unit upgrades
Replacing boards that have no spare ways, so new circuits such as an EV charger or garden room supply can be added properly.
RCD upgrades
Adding or improving residual current protection where an installation has none or relies on a single device for the whole property.
RCBO installation
Individual RCBOs give each circuit its own protection, so a fault in one place no longer takes out the lights and sockets together.
Fuseboard repairs
Faulty breakers, damaged enclosures, loose or overheated connections and devices that will not reset or hold.
Board relocation and tidying
Boards in awkward positions, unlabelled circuits and messy tails sorted out as part of the work.
Signs an older board is due attention
- Rewireable fuses or old cartridge fuse carriers rather than breakers
- No RCD protection, or one RCD covering the entire installation
- The whole house going dark when one appliance faults
- A board with no spare ways left
- Breakers that feel loose, will not stay in, or are warm
- Circuits that were added over the years with no clear labelling
None of these mean an installation is unusable, and we will not tell you it is. They do mean that the board is limiting how well the installation can protect itself, and that is the honest reason to upgrade.
What happens on the day
Before anything is disconnected we test the existing installation, because a new board with better protection will immediately reveal faults an older board tolerated. Finding those first means no surprises once the power goes back on.
The supply is then isolated, the old board removed, the new unit installed and each circuit connected, labelled and tested. Power is off for part of the day, and we will give you a realistic idea of how long before we start.
When to call
People usually come to us about a board when
We work across Swords, North Dublin, Fingal and the wider Dublin area. If you are not sure whether something needs an electrician, call 089 979 8130 and we will tell you straight.
- They are buying or have just moved into an older property
- An EV charger, shower or garden room supply needs a spare way
- The board keeps tripping and taking out unrelated circuits
- An inspection has flagged the board or its protection
- The board is damaged, warm or physically failing
FAQs
Common questions
Related
Work that often goes with this
Electrical Testing & Inspections
Testing gives a clear picture of the installation before deciding on board work.
Electrical Repairs
Faults uncovered during board work are usually straightforward remedial repairs.
EV Charger Installation
A charger needs a dedicated circuit, which often depends on the board having capacity.
Electrician in Swords
Board upgrades are some of our most frequent work in the older housing around Swords.
See every service on our electrical services page, or check the areas we serve.
Thinking about a board upgrade?
Send a photo of your existing board with your enquiry and we can usually tell you straight away what is involved.
Or email info@exileelectrical.ie — you can also use our quote form.