Electricians Chelmsford

NICEIC Registered

Call – 01245 830560

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Our Services

Free Quotes
All Electrical Work Undertaken
Fully Insured
No Call-Out Charges
24/7 Service
Part Of The Award Winning TM Hughes Group

Our Services Include

Consumer Unit Installation
Wiring & Rewiring
Sockets & Switches
Outdoor Sockets
Indoor Lighting
Outdoor Lighting
Security Lighting
Earthing & Bonding
Landlords EICR Certificates
Fault Finding & Repairs
Smoke & Heat Alarms
Commercial Electricians
Electrical Emergencies
And More

TM Hughes & Son Electrical are NICEIC Chelmsford-based Electricians & Electrical Contractors serving local homes and businesses.

We have many years of experience in domestic and commercial electrical work.

We offer a full range of services, from changing a light fitting in the home to installing full electrical systems on commercial premises. Whether you are a homeowner, landlord, or business owner, we can help.

Our skilled electricians are available 24/7 and on hand for all electrical emergencies.

All work is finished to a professional standard, including fair rates and no call-out charges.

NICEIC Registered
Fully Insured
No Call-Out Charges
24/7 Service

Your local ‘Electrician near me’ based in Chelmsford can install and repair domestic and commercial electrical systems for home and business owners.

Consumer Units

The Consumer Unit, also known as the Fuseboard, is essential for keeping you, your family, and your appliances safe from electrical shocks and damage. Modern consumer units made of fire-resistant metal come with RCD (residual current device) fuses, which are important for safety in homes and businesses.

Many older buildings in Chelmsford still have old-style fuseboxes on wooden bases. These were common before 1970 and used wire fuses. They aren’t illegal but aren’t as safe as modern RCD fuses. In old fuses, a wire would melt if there was too much electricity, cutting off the power. When these old fuses blew, you had to replace the wire yourself. Now, RCDs make things safer and easier. They work faster, and you can reset them with just a switch.

So, if you have an old fuse box, it’s a good idea to get it replaced.
Our electricians often replace old fuse boxes with new consumer units. These have a main switch and newer circuit breakers. Consumer units have a main switch. This lets you easily turn off all the power in your house. This is useful, especially when an electrician needs to work safely without electricity.

Consumer Units

RCD, MCB, and RCBO Fuses

Depending on your home or business’s needs, a consumer unit will have different amounts of RCD, MCB, RCBO fuses or a mix of them.

RCDs (Residual Current Devices)

An RCD turns off electricity automatically if a problem is overheating or too much current. This helps prevent fires or electrocution.

RCDs can protect one circuit or many. We use fixed RCDs in consumer units. You can also find RCDs in some wall sockets or as portable devices that you plug into a socket.

RCDs in consumer units are lifesavers. They quickly cut power if there’s a risk of electrocution. But they don’t stop overheating. That’s where MCBs come in.

MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers)

MCBs trip and stop power if a circuit is overloaded, preventing overheating and fire. They’re great because you can reset them after the trip. But remember, MCBs don’t protect against electric shocks – that’s the job of RCDs.

RCBOs (Residual Current Devices with Overcurrent)

RCBOs combine the jobs of both RCDs and MCBs. They protect against electrocution and overloaded circuits.

Units with RCBOs are safe and efficient, but they cost more than those with RCDs and MCBs. A typical RCD/MCB unit has two RCDs and enough MCBs for the job.

Wiring & Rewiring

The Ring Circuit, often called the ring main, is a loop of cables linked to your consumer unit. These cables, known as twin and earth, circle your home and connect to wall sockets. This design lets electricity flow in both directions, reducing the load on cables and ensuring every outlet gets enough power. In Chelmsford, many houses still have old wiring.

Is It Time For A Rewire?

Electrical wiring can last up to 70 years, but depending on the house’s condition, it may wear out faster in older homes. If your home was built before 1970, checking your wiring is a good idea.

The wiring standards have changed over time. Before 1970, wiring had red (live), black (neutral), and green (earth) wires. From 1970 to 2004, the colours stayed the same, except the earth wire became yellow and green. After 2004, the live wire changed to brown (easier for colour-blind people to see), neutral to blue, and earth to yellow and green.

We offer rewiring services. If your house is old, one of our electricians can check your wiring. Just let us know. Homes that haven’t been rewired in the last 30 years likely need it.

Rewiring Services

Sockets & Switches

We install all kinds of sockets. If you’re changing your room or want a new look, we can swap old faceplates for new ones. You can choose single or double plastic, metal, or wood sockets.

New sockets can have USB ports or RCDs built in. We also fit special sockets like FCUs (with a fuse in the socket for fixed appliances), switches for appliances, cookers, multimedia devices, shaver sockets, and more.

Socket & Switch Installation

Outdoor Sockets

Outdoor sockets are really useful for most homes. Having power outside means you can plug in things like lawnmowers, vacuums, and power tools without needing long, bothersome, and risky extension cords from the inside. Outdoor sockets have plastic covers. These covers keep out rain and dust and stop plugs from coming loose.

You can get outdoor sockets with built-in RCDs. This is smart if you use tools like lawnmowers or hedge trimmers. Even if you accidentally cut the cable, you’ll be safe.

Indoor Lighting

We offer a full lighting installation, replacement, and repair service, including all lighting and switches, ceiling lights, downlights, wall lights, and bathroom and kitchen lights.

Lighting Circuits

Radial circuits power lighting in most Chelmsford properties. They run in a line (instead of a ring) and do not return to the consumer unit.

Radial circuits also power boilers, cookers, and showers. The first light/appliance in the circuit is connected to the consumer unit and then joined to the next light, the next, and so forth. Electricity ends at the last light in the circuit.

Lights

Indoor lighting includes ceiling, recessed, pendants, chandeliers, wall lighting, spotlights, track, and cable lights.

Your lighting can be fitted with standard wall switches or dimmers so you can control the brightness of each room.

Bulbs

There are various lightbulbs available, and they often cause some confusion. Bulb types include Halogen, Incandescent, Energy Saving and LED, with the fitting types bayonet, Edison screw, capsule and twist-lock. There are wattage and lumens to consider. No wonder people get confused. But don’t worry. We’ll ensure the best bulbs for your home are fitted with the lighting installation.

Switches

Dimmer switches include the traditional switch, touch, remote control and smart so you can change the light levels from the comfort of the sofa.

Outdoor Lighting

Light up your outdoor living spaces with Outdoor Lighting. It’s a great way to brighten your garden, outdoor living spaces and other outdoor areas.

Our range includes Wall Lights, Coastal Lights, Ground Lights, Decking Lights, LED Garden Lights, and Solar Lighting.

Lighting Services

Security Lighting

Security lighting is great for keeping your home and workplace safe from burglars and vandals.

We can set up motion sensors, solar lights with timers, or floodlights in places where your property might be at risk. These lights turn on if someone walks by or when it gets dark for the timed ones. Crime studies show that well-lit places are less likely to be hit by criminals.

Our security lighting is planned to give the right amount of light. It scares off intruders, shows your other security stuff (which also helps keep criminals away), and ensures your CCTV cameras can see if there is a crime. The cost of security lighting has dropped a lot recently. With LED bulbs that save energy, these systems are now pretty cheap.

Earthing & Bonding

Properties built after 1991 usually have earthing and bonding that meet current wiring rules. But, many older homes still have earthing wires 4-6mm thick, which don’t match the newest standards.

Whether getting new electrical work or a check-up, our electricians will ensure your earthing and bonding are safe and working properly.

Earthing & Bonding

Landlords EICR Certificates

If you rent a property, our electricians can help with the essential EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). We also do PAT (Portable Appliance Testing).

EICR is a legal must every five years or when you start renting to new tenants. It checks all parts of your electrical system, like RCD fuses, the consumer unit, earthing, sockets, and light switches.

PAT testing checks appliances like washing machines, irons, and lamps. Once your property passes the EICR, you get a certificate. You can show this to tenants and letting agents, which helps with your landlord insurance.

Portable appliances include kettles, toasters, and even fixed appliances like ovens. They’re common in rented homes and vary in workplaces. For example, a hairdresser uses portable items like hairdryers and straighteners.

Landlords and business owners need to know their tenants, employees, and customers are safe from electrical risks. PAT testing helps protect everyone, whether it’s a rental property or a business.

Our qualified electricians will check and test all appliances in your property or business to ensure they’re safe. If any appliance fails the test, we can fix it or replace it.

EICR Certificates

Fault Finding & Repairs

Electrical systems usually work fine for a long time. But sometimes, older systems or those not installed properly can have problems. These issues might be burning smells, burnt sockets, faulty light and cooker switches, a consumer unit making noise, fuses that trip often, or crackling sounds.

It’s important to fix even small-seeming electrical problems because they can be dangerous. We offer a service to quickly find and fix these issues. It’s fast and affordable. Our electrician will test to find the problem and then repair it.

Smoke & Heat Alarms

Are you ready in case of a fire? Do you have a plan to get out and smoke alarms connected to your home’s electricity? If not, we can set up a professionally linked smoke alarm system for you.

Our trained electricians will put multiple alarms around your home. These alarms work off your main power and are all linked. If one alarm goes off, they all do, so everyone in your house knows.

These alarms also have battery backups for when there’s no power.
A linked system that uses the latest heat and smoke alarms is much more reliable and safer than battery-powered ones.

We also install special systems for people needing extra help, such as the elderly or the hard of hearing.

Smoke & Heat Alarms

Commercial Electricians

Chelmsford businesses change. To help your company grow, you might need new electrical work or a full rewiring. It’s okay if you’re not sure what electrical work you need. We’ll plan an electrical system that fits your needs and budget. Our price is clear and has no hidden fees.

Our electricians are skilled in commercial electrical systems. They handle single-phase and three-phase systems and all types of wiring, such as Cat 5, Cat 5E, and Cat 6. We also install various commercial lights for offices, shops, warehouses, and factories.

We also offer other business services, such as electrical maintenance, PAT testing, and setting up security systems.

Electrical Emergencies

We handle Electrical Emergencies in Chelmsford. Electrical issues can pop up suddenly, surprising homeowners and businesses. Quick help is important if you consistently face a sudden power cut, smell burning, or your fuse trips.

We’re here 24/7 to help Chelmsford and don’t charge for call-outs.

Here’s what we handle:

Power Cuts

Check with your power company first. They’re often caused by grid problems and are fixed quickly. Otherwise, call us.

Noisy Consumer Units

These noises can mean something’s wrong. Our team will investigate, find the issue, and fix or replace the parts.

Tripping Fuses

These trips are to keep you safe. If yours keeps tripping, we’ll find out why, fix it, and reset the fuses. Sometimes, we might suggest a new fuse box. Avoid tripping by not overloading circuits and using safe and suitable appliances.