Fuse Board & Consumer Unit Upgrades
Safe, modern protection for your home or business
Consumer units · RCBO & RCD protection · Surge protection
Serving Co. Laois, Co. Offaly, Co. Kildare & the Midlands
Fuse Board Upgrades in Laois & the Midlands
Your fuse board is the heart of the electrical installation. Older boards that still use fuse wire or ceramic fuses were built for a different era of demands — and many have no RCD protection at all. Upgrading to a modern consumer unit with RCBOs and surge protection makes the installation safer, easier to live with and ready for modern appliances.
Maher Electrical is based in Mountmellick and is an ECSSA registered contractor. We replace and upgrade fuse boards in homes, apartments and businesses across Co. Laois, Co. Offaly, Co. Kildare and the wider Midlands, and every upgrade is tested and certified. Homeowners often need an upgrade for insurance, a house sale or before adding solar PV, an EV charger or an extension. Every job is different, so call Conn Maher on 085 200 8988 for a free assessment and quote.
Signs You Need a Fuse Board Upgrade
Most old boards keep working until something goes wrong — but the warning signs are usually there. If your board feels warm, buzzes or smells of burning, isolate it if it is safe to do so and see our emergency electrician service straight away.
- A board that still uses fuse wire or ceramic fuses.
- A wooden-backed board, or one that has become brittle and discoloured with age.
- No RCD protection on socket and other circuits.
- A board that feels warm, buzzes or gives off a burning smell.
- Circuits that trip repeatedly, even after resetting.
- No spare ways left for new circuits.
- A property being sold or rented, where certification may be requested.
What an Upgrade Includes
A modern consumer unit does more than replace old fuses — it protects your circuits and the people using them.
Modern Consumer Unit
We replace your old fuse box with a modern consumer unit sized for the property, with every circuit clearly labelled and properly protected.
RCBO Protection
Individual RCBOs give shock protection on every circuit and mean a fault on one circuit does not knock out the power to the rest of the home.
Surge Protection
A surge protection device helps safeguard appliances and electronics from voltage spikes caused by lightning or switching on the network.
Earthing & Bonding
We check and upgrade the earthing and main bonding to gas, water and other services as part of the upgrade, where needed.
Testing & Certification
The new board is fully tested and certified to current Irish standards, so your paperwork is in order for insurance or a future sale.
Learn more →Room for Solar, EV & Extensions
Spare ways so new circuits can be added later without another board change — ready for solar PV, battery storage or an EV charger.
Upgrades for Solar & EV Charging
Solar PV, battery storage and EV chargers all need capacity and the right protection at the board. If your existing fuse board has no spare ways, no RCD protection or is simply outdated, it may need to be upgraded before the new equipment can be installed.
We are SEAI registered and install solar PV and battery storage as well as EV chargers, so we can look at the whole installation together and advise on the best approach. If an upgrade is needed, we will explain why and include it in your free quote — no surprises and no unnecessary work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about fuse boards and consumer unit upgrades.
Why does my fuse board keep tripping?
Tripping is usually a sign of a fault, not a board being too sensitive. Common causes include a faulty appliance, water getting into a fitting or cable, a damaged circuit, or a board that is overloaded or outdated. If the board trips again and again or will not reset, treat it as urgent — see our emergency electrician service or call 085 200 8988. We fault-find, repair the cause and advise whether an upgrade is the right fix.
What's the difference between a fuse box and a consumer unit?
A fuse box is the older type of board, using rewirable fuse wire or ceramic fuses, usually with no RCD protection. A consumer unit is the modern equivalent, using circuit breakers, RCBOs and RCDs that trip quickly and protect people as well as wiring. People often still call both a "fuse board", but only a modern consumer unit meets current standards.
Do I need a fuse board upgrade to install solar or an EV charger?
Not always, but often. Solar PV, battery storage and EV chargers add circuits and load to your installation, and many older boards have no spare ways and no protection suitable for them. We check the existing board and earthing during the survey — if an upgrade is needed we will explain why, and every job is quoted individually.
How long does a fuse board upgrade take?
A straightforward consumer unit replacement is usually completed in a day, including testing and certification. If additional work is needed — earthing and bonding upgrades, sorting out circuit faults or adding new circuits — it can take longer. We agree the plan with you first and confirm the timescale before we start.
Will you issue a certificate for the new board?
Yes. Every fuse board upgrade is tested and certified to current Irish standards. Maher Electrical is registered with ECSSA (Electrical Contractors Safety & Standards Association) and fully insured, and you will receive the certification and test results for the work — useful for insurance, when selling your home or for future works.
Can you upgrade a fuse board in an apartment or rental property?
Yes. We upgrade fuse boards in houses, apartments and rental properties, and we work with landlords and management companies. We assess the board, meter position and access before quoting, and we can advise landlords on what their property needs. If the board serves shared areas or the building is managed, we will confirm what is involved with you first.
Upgrade Your Fuse Board
Call or WhatsApp Conn Maher for a free assessment and quote. If your board is warm, buzzing or tripping repeatedly, treat it as urgent — see our emergency electrician service.