Fusebox Electricians in Penketh near Warrington

1) Why is the Fusebox important in our electrical system?

The Fusebox is one of the most important components in your electrical system. Without the Fusebox, there would be no way of shutting the electrics off in an emergency!

This is not the only task it performs but it is one of the most important tasks along with electric shock prevention, protection from electrical fires, prevention of cable damage and overheating on the electrical system along with dividing the electrical system up into circuits. 

If your Fusebox in Penketh is beginning to get very old then it’s vital you have the fuse box replaced and a modern one installed with circuit breakers, RCBOs and other protective devices. 

2) ​Replacing an Old Fuse Box in Penketh

When a fuse box is replaced for a consumer unit (see the difference here), a variety of electrical tests need to be carried out to verify that the circuits and electrical system are suitable for the new installation. You see, an old fuse box will not detect the variety of electrical faults that a new consumer unit will detect. This discrepancy in fault finding technology may mean that several circuits cannot be reconnected, switches trip intermittently or further works have to be carried out to rectify these pre-existing faults! 

It is good practice to have a separate electrical inspection carried out prior to the swapping of a fuse box for a consumer unit to verify if the electrical system is in good condition PRIOR to installing the new unit.

3) ​Good Installers and Regulations Compliance

​Good installation involves careful removal of the old fuse box taking care not to damage any cables. The new unit can be installed onto the wall, each circuit reconnected while carefully dressing the cables to avoid heat build-up and to aid in easier testing and inspection in the future. Once the new unit has been installed, further testing and inspection can be carried out to ensure that all circuits are safe to re-energise. The protective devices are checked to ensure they will disconnect within the prescribed time under the regulations and the installation can be completed. The earthing and other safety electrical connections are also checked.
 

The Electrical Installation Certificate can now be completed along with the building control notification (in dwellings).

4) Extra Costs

​Whilst there are not normally extra costs associated with upgrading a fuse box, on occasion electrical faults that are masked by old fuse box technology may appear during testing or installation and mean that repairs may be necessary in order to rectify the issues. The newer the age of the electrical installation, the less likely there are to be hidden issues or electrical problems that require repair, modification or upgrades. 

5) Hidden Extras

There are never any 'hidden extras' when upgrading a fuse box. You should always check the terms and conditions of the company that is quoting for the work to find out what may happen in the event of unforeseen issues. When we quote to replace a fuse box, consumer unit or to carry out electrical work, we give the most detailed quote possible using the information available to us at the time. We are trustworthy installers of electrical installations and do not simply add extra work on for any reason.

6) What are the advantages of replacing an old Fuse Box?

​A good sign that your electrical system needs an upgrade is an old fuse wire box containing fuses or wires. These boxes were last installed around 45 years ago which is a serious red flag! The benefits of upgrading an old fuse box are as follows:

• Better Protection from Electrical Fires
• Less Risk of Electric Shocks
• Safer Electrical System
• Compliance with Modern Regulations
• Proof to Home Insurance of Maintenance
• Peace of Mind
• Better Division of Electrical Circuits (more convenient when a fault develops)
• Learn the Condition of your Electrics

7) Mains Isolator

A mains isolator or Main Switch is a switch fitted AFTER the electric meter and before the consumer unit / fuse box to enable safety switching off for maintenance. This isolator can also be used to turn off all the power to the fuse box / consumer unit if there was to be an emergency. Not every electrical system has a mains isolator but every electrical system SHOULD! There is nearly always a Main Linked Switch in the consumer unit / fuse box itself as well as the mains isolator. 

8) ​What is an EICR?

Electricians often use specialist test equipment to measure the parameters of your electrical circuits, inspect for hidden dangers and visually check your system for any defects along with the barrage of tests. This process is referred to as a periodic electrical inspection. The lengthy report produced following such an inspection is called an EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). 

9) Other Names for an EICR?​

The inspection process is often called:

• Electrical Check
• Electrical Safety Check
• Safety Report
• Landlords Electrical Check
• Safety Check

If you ring an electrician, they will generally understand what you are asking for if you use any of these terms.

10) Electrics in Penketh 

​Many of the homes in Penketh are several decades old. Where electrical systems have not been upgraded since construction, they should as a minimum, have an electrical check carried out to determine how suitable they are for continued use!!!
If the fuse box is original to the property and the property is over 20 years old it may well require replacing.

Its important to remember with electrical wiring and consumer units, just because it appears to be working doesn't necessarily mean it’s safe!

​Wiring and Fuse Boxes have a life span, they will not safely provide service forever.

11) ​Contact

​If you are concerned about your home electrics in Penketh then get in touch with us today and let us arrange for an Electrical Check on your property. Prices start from £195 for a thorough Electrical Check which is a small price to pay for peace of mind.