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DaveB · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Essex

We would like to fit an 8.5kW electric shower unit as part of a bathroom renovation. Our consumer unit has 2 x 30w and 2 x 5w circuits only, with no spare fuseway. I suspect it is the original unit from when the house was built (average 3 bed semi, approx. 35 yrs).

My questions are:

a) Can consumer unit be replaced without complete re-wire of house?

b) It's been suggested that the basic power supply may not be enough even with a new consumer unit. Is this likely?

Grateful for any advice.

AlanE · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 11:24 am Post subject:

Dave

a) Yes it can

b) Possible - you will need to contact your electricity suppliers maintenance section and get them to check. It should be possible to upgrade meter and service fuse if required.

Alan

DaveB · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Essex

Alan

Thanks for quick response. Any way you could give me some indication of typical costs for an electrician to fit new consumer unit?

vince knight · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:53 pm Post subject:

The fuseboard can only be replaced if all the out going circuits are sound( ie. the lighting circuits have an earth and the ring main is complete. An electrical contractor will change the board but will not re-energise unsafe wiring until it is rectified.
Average cost £250 depepending on size of board etc.

Vince
V K Electrical Ltd

AlanE · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 5:26 pm Post subject:

Vince hope you intend hanging about here as we could do with an expert to answer the electrical ones from a professional point of view.

I always avoid answering how much will it cost questions because, as you probably well know from experiance, when you actually see a job it never turns out quite like it was explained - particually on the phone!!

Alan

vince knight · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 8:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks for that, no price is firm until a site visit has been made.
I will try to check the boards daily now that i have found you all.
As I have always said, advice costs nothing.

DaveB · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Essex

Thanks Vince and Alan. Fully understand your comments on cost of jobs and would not expect anything definite, but sometimes it can be helpful to a novice like me to get a rough idea of the ball park - £20, £200, £2000 ? before deciding to investigate further.

Cheers

DaveB

thescruff · Moderator Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 4616 Location: Bath

Yep, I second that Alan, welcome abord Vince.

scruff