Electrical Services

Nairobi Fuse Box Replacement/Consumer Unit Replacement.

Modern consumer units consist of a main switch, residual current devices (so-called RCDs) and circuit breakers. These consumers control the power around your home. RCD switches continuously monitor the current flow in your home, and if the current flows through an unexpected path (such as through you!), the current will be switched off in an instant, greatly reducing the risk of injury.

These modern units will greatly reduce the risk of electric shock or electrical fire in your home and should be considered essential if you still have an old fuse box.

The new consumer unit is also noticeably more comfortable. With an old fuse box, if a circuit trip occurs, you have to go inside and replace the fuse (which is getting harder and harder to get)! With modern equipment, you can be up and running in no time.

There are many risks associated with old fuse boxes. Since they don’t have the same capabilities as modern devices, if you get electrocuted, the power may not turn off, potentially resulting in death.

Regulations have also been introduced to improve the safety of consumer units in terms of fire safety. Aging consumer units in homes are less likely to be inspected regularly.

Due to changing usage patterns and the fact that we tend to hide these devices in boxes or under stairs, that means they can be overloaded. This, combined with the lack of ventilation, can create a fire hazard, so it is recommended that all consumer units be enclosed in non-combustible materials.

Make sure you and your family have peace of mind – get a fuse box replacement quote today.

Where to install a consumer unit

There is no specific location where the consumer unit should be placed, but the location should meet some requirements.

First, it should be easily accessible, it should have enough space, and it should be reachable without a ladder. It must be within easy reach of yourself or an electrician who needs to replace it and inspect it over time.

Can I replace my fuse box myself?

Only experts with specialized knowledge should and should replace the fuse box. It may seem like an easy task, but every DIY enthusiast should always remember that electricity can kill. You may think you know enough, but one mistake can be your last. That’s why it’s always a good idea to leave it to the professionals.

Apart from lack of knowledge, another reason is the lack of suitable tools and testing equipment. Even if you can install the consumer unit, you can’t verify that the installation was successful and that everything worked. When the light is on and the sockets or switches are working, you might think everything is fine, but that might not be the case. Because some circuits or the entire system may not be grounded. Cables can be installed incorrectly and other failures can occur, and over time can lead to fire or even death.

Troubleshooting is another possible issue. If you make a mistake during installation, power may not be restored or the circuit may not work for new users. You may then be in the dark until an electrician comes to fix the problem, which may take some time and an additional cost for emergency call services.

Can a consumer unit be boxed in?

A bathroom is not an ideal place to install a consumer unit. However, as long as the consumer unit is in a box or in a special cabinet that protects it from moisture, this shouldn’t be a problem.

But it’s important to note that even if the consumer is placed in a box or closet, it should be in zone 3 of the bathroom.

Zone 0 – the area within the bathtub or shower

Zone 1 – 2.25 m from the floor above the bathtub and in the shower

Zone 2 – The zone extends 60 cm outside the pool perimeter and has a height of 2.25 m.

Zone 3 – Anywhere outside of Zone 0, 1 or 2.

Can you wire a new electrical consumer unit to the old wiring?

Yes, it is possible to install a new consumer unit on an old line, but sometimes this is not possible and there is only one way to find out.

How long does replacing a fuse box take?

To determine whether a new consumer unit can be installed on an old line, an electrical inspection should be performed. It checks the condition of the cable and whether it is safe or needs to be rewired first.

It depends on the individual situation and the size of the fuse box itself. It takes an average of 1 to 3 hours to replace the fuse box. It really depends on the number of circuits that need to be connected, as a small 6 circuit fuse box will take less time and effort than a large 16+ circuit fuse box.

Factors such as cable routing in an old fuse box, possible defects, or incorrect cable connections can also affect the duration of the job.

Should I replace my fuse box with a circuit breaker?

The fuse box must be replaced with a consumer unit, not a circuit breaker. It’s easy to get confused, but a circuit breaker is actually a fuse, except that the circuit breaker can be restarted and doesn’t need to be replaced in the event of a trip. The old fuse box needs to be replaced with a modern consumer unit that looks and functions roughly the same as the fuse box but with some extra protection like RCD and RCBO.

Supplied in a package, the RCD is a residual current device that automatically shuts off power if someone touches a live wire. This will help prevent electric shock.

RCBO can be purchased separately and combines the functions of RCD and MCB in one device. Save space in consumer units and provide combined protection for each circuit individually.

Can a home inspector open an electrical panel?

Yes, they can and should open a group to do their work.

Control panels and consumer units are part of a home electrical system, they simply split the mains power supply into separate circuits.

Consumer unit home inspections are the standard for all recognized home inspections. To complete the inspection, the electrical panels should also be checked, as although the electricity in the house is working, there may still be some dangerous faults.

Can you replace a fuse with a lower amp?

Yes, lower amperage fuses can replace higher fuses.

While not dangerous, there may be some inconvenience as the load current will usually be higher than the fuse’s rating and the fuse may keep blowing.

So it is advisable to replace the fuse with one of the same current, but again, it might work just fine, just depending on how much work it should be able to handle.

What is the difference between a circuit breaker and a fuse box?

Fuse box and MCB are two different things

The fuse box is actually a box that holds the main circuit breaker, MCB, RCD and RCBO.

A Mcb, on the other hand, is a miniature circuit breaker, or just a fuse or automatically operated switch that restarts if tripped. It protects the circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit.

An RCD is a residual current circuit breaker that is usually twice the size of an MCB and has a button next to the switch to manually check that the device is working properly. Its main function is to automatically cut off the power supply when it is in direct contact with the live wire to prevent damage caused by long-term electric shock.

The RCBO is a residual current circuit breaker, as evident from its name, which combines an MCB and an RCD in one device with two functions.

What are the disadvantages of circuit breakers?

If we compare circuit breakers to fuses.
Its downside is the price, as circuit breakers cost far more than fuses.
Also, since this is an automatic that can be used multiple times, there is always a chance that it will break. This means that it can fire when it shouldn’t, or in the worst case, not fire when it should.

If we look at it from this point of view, a fuse is safer than a circuit breaker because it doesn’t actually fail and only works once after it needs to be replaced.

Replacing light switches and sockets in Nairobi

At some point, you may want to replace a switch or outlet in your home.

Whether you’re moving a hard-to-reach light switch or adding a new outlet to suit modern life, our friendly and experienced electricians will work with you to understand exactly what you need and get the job done as safely and efficiently as possible.

Nairobi socket replacement

Outlets in your home can be damaged or broken for a variety of reasons. Typically mounted low on the wall, sockets may wear out from daily use. However, a cracked or damaged outlet is a hazard and should be replaced as soon as possible to keep you and your family safe.

In some cases, your outlet may be unavailable for other reasons, such as Blocked sockets or loose plug prongs in sockets. In these cases, the inside of the socket may be damaged and must be replaced.
If you notice a burning smell from the outlet or see black spots, contact an electrician immediately.

Service socket

In most cases, sockets need to be replaced, not repaired. The reason is that there are no replacement parts for the socket’s internal components, so a new socket is usually required.

However, the socket can be repaired in some cases, such as If the socket is too loose or too tight, your plug won’t fit. If your socket is blocked, it can be removed.

When an outlet doesn’t work at all, the problem is usually not the socket itself, but the wiring behind the outlet or the fuse box that needs repair – which may have just come loose or be indicative of a bigger problem.

Our experienced Nairobi electricians are trained to identify socket problems and fix them quickly to ensure we provide you with the most cost-effective and fastest solution.

Installing new sockets in Nairobi home or office

Adding extra outlets to your house or apartment can make your home or office safer and more functional. Modern homes are now equipped with more technology than ever, as we all have more devices such as TVs, game consoles, laptops, digital TV boxes, and more. Using an extension plug to power such a device can be dangerous, as it can overload your system and be unsightly, resulting in many tangled cables behind or on the sides of your TV console.

Installing additional outlets can add desired functionality to your home or office, and if desired, can be built directly into the wall to maintain a clean look. You can even reduce the need for more sockets by adding sockets with USB jacks, reducing the need to charge things like phones, kindles, and other devices.

Your kitchen may also need to add additional outlets. Much older homes and offices were designed at a time when we were using fewer kitchen utensils than we do today, so you may find you have to constantly unplug things like a toaster or kettle to make room for an electric mixer bowl or even a microwave space.

An electrician can easily and simply install a new electrical outlet in your home or office, and our friendly, experienced electricians will work with you to ensure the job is done with minimal hassle and disruption.

Contact us today for a quote to install an socket outlet in your Nairobi home, office, or apartment.

Socket or switch for mobile Nairobi

Many of us have to move an outlet or light switch at some point. This could be because you want to change the location of your furniture, or you have an additional structure or other structure that makes the current location of your switches and sockets inappropriate for your new facility.
If you need to move an outlet or switch in your home or office, Arrowtech Electricians can help. Our fully qualified electricians will move one or more socket and switches quickly and safely, always making sure we respect your home.

How much does it cost to add a new socket in Nairobi?

The cost of adding a new socket outlet to your home, office, or apartment depends on several factors, including the number of socket outlets to be replaced, the new location of the socket outlet, and the type of outlet you need. This is because the complexity of the job may depend on some of these elements. At Arrowtech Electricians, we are always transparent about our prices and we promise to always give you the best value for money when relocating or adding a new outlet to your Nairobi home or office.
Contact us today for a custom socket installation quote.

Installing new light switches in your home or office

When adding new lighting, you may need new light switches in your home or office, such as a new light fixture, switching to spotlights, or if you want to modernize the look of your home with more modern light switches.

Adding extra switches can change the lighting in your home or office and create an ambiance by adding items such as dimmer switches that allow you to control the brightness of light fixtures or more complex light switches that allow you to control different areas of the room, such as the kitchen. There are work lights, Downlights, and ambience lighting.

Whatever new light switch you need, Arrowtech Electricians can help.

Nairobi Light Switch Repair

Do you want to turn on your lights but nothing happens? If the light doesn’t come on, the problem is usually your power supply or wiring. However, in some cases, when everything else is ruled out, the fault may lie inside (or behind) your light switch itself.
The power cord may come off the back of the outlet cover, preventing the outlet from functioning properly.
At Arrowtech Electricians, we can help you quickly identify light switch problems and fix them quickly, safely, and efficiently.

More and more homeowners are looking to equip their homes with smart lighting. Smart lighting comes in many forms and can be controlled from devices such as tablets, mobile phones, and in some cases, even voice control from devices such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home.

While there are many smart light switches you can install yourself, for your safety and security, it’s best to have a qualified electrician install them for you. In some cases, the task can be more complicated because not all smart switches are compatible with older types of circuits, in these cases a dimmer may be a suitable alternative that allows you to control the lighting in the room and create Ambience.

If you have older types of circuits and want to use more home or office automation, it may be worth rewiring some parts of your home.

Arrowtech Electricians are smart home electrical experts who will work with you to automate your home or office, give you peace of mind and enjoy your new smart lighting.

Install the USB socket
Most of us have many electronic devices that require charging from a USB outlet. Installation of the USB socket

From phones to Kindles to other devices like Fitbits and speakers. If we’re going to charge these devices, we’ll need an outlet, which you might want to use for other household appliances.

As a result, more and more people are adding sockets that include SUB charging sockets.

Arrowtech Electricians can help you install these new socket outlets and make charging a breeze!

Outdoor lighting and socket installation
If you have a garden, chances are you’ve considered adding lighting and Sockets to make the most of your outdoor space. You might want some outdoor Christmas lights or light up your garden for outdoor entertaining in the summer.

Not only does an outdoor socket outlet help with mowing, it also means you can enjoy music or an outdoor electric heater.

No matter what outdoor lighting and sockets you need, Arrowtech Electricians are experts in providing safe and reliable outdoor electrical equipment designed to withstand any weather in Nairobi.

Add new socket outlets to your garage or shed.

Adding new outlets to the garage or shed Garages are less and less used to store your car. In fact, many of us use our garage or shed to pursue a hobby or work in a space separate from our home or office.

In these cases, you may want to add extra socket outlets to your garage, shed, or garden shed so that you can always use items like computers, tools, or other appliances.

Whatever your needs, an Arrowtech electrician will help you get a fully functional power source for the area so you can enjoy the extra space.

Add an EV charging station to your Nairobi home or office
Adding an EV charging station to your Nairobi home Many car owners are now switching to fully electric or hybrid vehicles.

While these cars can be charged from a standard outlet, most EV owners will benefit from installing a dedicated charging station for faster and more energy-efficient charging.

We can help you install an electric vehicle charging station or additional outlet at the location of your choice.