Can my fuse board handle an electric shower?

A modern 9.5kW to 10.5kW shower draws more than 40 amps on its own. It needs its own circuit, properly protected. If your board is an old rewireable box or has no spare ways, the board comes first.

Should I do the board and the charger at the same time?

Do the board first or together. Doing it first means any installer can then fit the charger without surprises, and the power is only off once.

What does an EV-ready board mean?

A metal consumer unit with RCBOs, surge protection and at least two spare ways sized for high load circuits, so a charger or shower can be added later as a small job.

EV chargers and electric showers

Fuse Board Upgrades for EV Chargers and Electric Showers

Q: Do I need a new fuse board to fit an EV charger?

Often, yes. A 7kW charger needs a dedicated circuit with the right RCD type and a spare way on the board. Old boards usually have neither, which is why many charger installers will quote for the charger only once the board is sorted.

Your charger installer or bathroom fitter has looked at the board and said "that needs upgrading first". They are right. We fit EV-ready boards with the capacity and protection big loads need, from £449 fixed, so your other trades can crack on.

Fully insured
5-year workmanship guarantee
5.0 from 300+ Google reviews

Send a photo, get a fixed price Call 07703 295654

Fixed price by photo

Send 3 photos, get a fixed price

No visit needed. We reply with a fixed written price within two working hours, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Do I need a new fuse board to fit an EV charger?

Often, yes. A 7kW home charger needs its own dedicated circuit, the right type of RCD protection, and a spare way on the board. Old boards usually offer none of the three. That is why charger installers look at your board photo before they will even book you in.

The same logic applies to electric showers. A 10.5kW shower pulls more than 40 amps continuously, more than an entire 1970s house was designed around. It needs its own properly protected circuit from a board with room to give it one.

What an EV-ready board gives you

Spare ways, sized for big loads At least two free slots with the capacity for a 32A or 40A circuit, so the charger or shower connects without another board change.

The right protection type EV circuits need RCD protection that handles DC leakage, usually Type A with the charger's built-in protection. We spec the board so any compliant charger just drops on.

Headroom on the supply We check your main fuse and tails as part of the job. If the supply itself needs the network operator involved, we tell you before anything is committed.

Board prices are the same fixed packages as every other job: see the cost page. We fit the board; your charger installer fits the charger, or we can recommend one we work with.

High load questions

Get the board sorted before the installer comes back

Send three photos now and we will have a fixed price with you within two working hours.

Send my photos WhatsApp instead