Lack of spare ways
1960s to 1980s trading estate units in Barton Park and School Close often have original three phase boards with no spare capacity left to add new machinery or office circuits.
Distribution board replacement in Eastleigh
Planning to replace an outdated or overloaded commercial distribution board? MCI Electrical checks the incoming supply, earthing, circuit condition and future capacity before installing and testing the new board. The work supports shops, offices, warehouses and industrial units across Eastleigh and the wider Southampton area.
- Local & Trusted
- Upfront Pricing
- Free Quotes
How this is priced
The price depends on the number of circuits and whether your supply is single or three phase, so I quote after seeing the existing board. Anything found during testing is priced separately, so you decide what happens next.
- Covers isolation of existing supply, removal of old board, mounting new enclosure, connection of existing circuits, and full testing.
- Excludes rewiring damaged final circuits discovered during testing or putting right other existing faults elsewhere on site.
- Any additional containment, main earthing upgrades, or bonding conductors required by current standards are quoted separately before work begins.
- Fixed wire testing is priced on the number of boards and circuits, not by the hour.
- Emergency lighting is priced per light, and the three hour test is priced separately.
- Repairs are priced item by item off the report, so you choose what to do and when.
- Work outside your trading hours costs a different rate, and I tell you what it is before I set off.
- Quotes are free, rescheduling is free, and there is no callout fee.
Why boards get replaced
Boards get replaced for one of three reasons: the board is full and there is nowhere left to add a circuit, the parts are no longer made, or a report on your wiring has named it. Whichever it is, the job is straightforward once we have agreed when the power can go off.
Missing RCD protection and poor labelling
Converted town centre retail units in Eastleigh and shared offices in Chandler's Ford frequently feature borrowed circuits, faded schedules, and boards lacking modern RCD fault protection.
Environmental wear and corrosion
Premises near Southampton docks and Mauretania Road suffer from salt air and industrial dust that corrodes metallic enclosures, glands, and internal components over time.
What is and is not included
It covers isolating the supply, fitting and connecting the new board, labelling every circuit by what it feeds, and testing the installation. Anything found during testing is quoted on its own line.
Included
- Isolation of the incoming electrical supply at the main switch or isolator
- Disconnection and safe removal of the existing distribution board enclosure
- Mounting of a modern metal cased distribution board with appropriate RCD protection
- Reconnection and labelling of existing final circuits according to circuit functions
- Initial verification, inspection, and dead testing of connected circuits
- Live testing and issuance of electrical certification for the replacement work
Not included
- Full property rewiring or replacing final circuit cables hidden in building fabric
- Repairing existing circuit faults outside the immediate distribution board enclosure
- Upgrading main supply cables owned by the Distribution Network Operator
What we agree before the day
Before the day we agree a window when the power can be off, who needs telling, and what has to keep running, such as tills, fridges or servers.
- 01
Access and supply isolation
We arrange access to the main intake and confirm who has authority to isolate power to the premises before work commences.
- 02
Circuit identification and inventory
We review existing circuits to identify critical equipment such as cold stores, IT servers, or alarm systems that require planned shutdown procedures.
- 03
Working hours and site access
We establish whether work takes place during standard business hours or outside your trading hours to avoid operational downtime.
What you are left with
You are left with a labelled board you can read at a glance, and the certificate the same day the work finishes with a plain English summary of what changed.
- A board you can add to
- The replacement enclosure includes spare capacity and blank ways, allowing future machinery, lighting, or charger circuits to be added without replacing the main unit.
- A schedule that is accurate
- Every circuit connected to the new board is identified, tested, and recorded on a clear schedule fitted inside or adjacent to the enclosure door.
- A certificate that stands up
- You receive electrical certification detailing the installation of the new board, confirming tests completed and standards met during installation.
Why choose us
Every job is carried out to current standards, fully tested and left tidy. You get the certificate the same day the work finishes, with a plain English summary you can act on, and a reminder when your next test is due. Quotes are free, rescheduling is free, and there is no callout fee. The same electrician quotes the work, does it and signs it off.
Get Free QuoteQuestions I get asked
The questions I get asked most before a board is replaced.
How long will the power be turned off during a board replacement?+
I plan shutdowns with you beforehand so you can prepare. Small single phase board replacements typically take several hours, whereas larger three phase units in commercial premises require longer isolated periods. I confirm the expected duration once I examine the existing board layout and circuit count.
Can you replace a board outside normal business hours?+
Yes, I carry out board replacements outside your standard trading hours to prevent disruption to your business operations. Work outside your trading hours is charged at a different rate, and I will tell you that rate before I set off.
Why might an existing board need to be replaced rather than repaired?+
Older boards often lack available space for new circuits, use obsolete switchgear where spare parts are no longer manufactured, or lack mandatory RCD fault protection needed when modifying an installation.
What happens if testing reveals a fault on an existing circuit during the upgrade?+
If dead testing before energisation uncovers a fault on a final circuit, the issue is identified and remedial work is quoted from the report, item by item, so you can decide what to do and when.
Where the rules come from
The official rules behind this work, straight from the source.
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989Statutory duties requiring electrical systems in workplaces to be maintained in safe working condition to prevent danger.
- HSE, electrical safety at workPractical advice from the Health and Safety Executive on managing electrical risks, maintenance, and safe working practices.
Areas we cover
Eastleigh, Whiteley and Segensworth, Chandler's Ford, Hedge End and Botley, Southampton and the docks
Start with the job details
Tell me what you need and you will get a free quote, with no callout fee. Send over a few details about your premises and the work you have in mind.