moving main fuse box/consumer unit

longwalks1

currently our fuse box/consumer unit is under the stairs (open, not in a cupboard) but mounted above the electricity and gas meter, so the are on the wall it all take up is prob 80cm wide by 1.4m high. Ideally, I'd like to get it moved to the side of the meters, and have it boxed in. a quick look to me the cables and wires probably wont be long enough to sit the consumer unit where we'd like it, will this be a big job for an electrician to do??

dil1976

Not a massive job for a electrician, bit there does need to be space to put a junction box in for the cables that need extending. Also you new fuse box/DB will have to comply with the current regs which now includes RCDs/RCBOs for circuits where cables are buried in walls less than 50mm where sockets could pontentially be used outdoors and a few other reasons also. So would be well worth getting a Electrical Installtion Condtion Report done first which will highlight any problems that may arise if you just fit new board.

cyclonebri1

It might not be a massive job, but it will be expensive and you will still have a connection box where the meter is/the wires end at present.
It will also require new meter tails if they are too short.

jhs14

What do you want moving, just the consumer unit?

If the meter and everything before it is staying put, then this should be a simple job for an electrician. Doesn't have to be expensive, it depends how easy it will be to extend the cables for the circuits coming out of the CU. If they will still reach with the CU in the new position, then the job should be easy.

The length of the CU tails (the cable between meter and CU) isn't so much of a problem because the electrician can just replace those with new cables if needs be.

If you want the meter etc moving as well, it becomes a more complicated job and you will need more than a domestic electrician to do it.