Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about consumer units, EV charging, EICRs, rewires, solar and LED lighting

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What areas do you cover?

We cover Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian, Fife, the Borders, Livingston and Glasgow. If you are unsure whether your postcode is within our coverage area, call 0131 202 2711 and we will confirm. Standard hours are Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00.

Who are Chris and Carlos?

Spartan Electrical Scotland is run by Chris Reilly and Carlos Tomas Callado, two qualified electricians who founded the company in 2021. Both are hands-on every day. When you call Spartan you are dealing directly with the people who care about the job being done properly, not a call centre.

Are you NAPIT registered?

Yes. Spartan Electrical Scotland is NAPIT registered, so all notifiable electrical work is signed off through our scheme and notified to building control automatically. You receive an Electrical Installation Certificate for every job that requires one.

What are your working hours?

Our standard working hours are Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00. Weekend visits are by arrangement for pre-scheduled work, and we respond to genuine emergencies outside these hours when we are able to. Call the office on 0131 202 2711 to discuss.

Do you offer finance?

Yes. We offer Klarna as a finance option on larger jobs, so you can spread the cost in instalments subject to Klarna's approval. We send you a Klarna payment link once a quote is accepted, you pick the instalment plan, and we receive the funds up front. Talk to us when you book.

Do you offer free quotes?

Yes. Quotes are free and there is no obligation. For most jobs we can quote from photos or a video walk-through; for rewires, solar and EV installs we always come to site for a proper survey first. Call 0131 202 2711 or use the enquiry form.

How long does a consumer unit change take?

Most consumer unit upgrades are completed in two to four hours. The exact time depends on the size of the existing board, whether the wiring is in good condition, and how many circuits need testing afterwards. We give you a clear estimate before we start.

How much does a new consumer unit cost?

Most modern 18th Edition consumer units fit between £650 and £1,200 including supply, install, full testing, building-control notification and the certificate. Larger boards, surge protection and any remedial work raise that, but we always quote in writing before any work starts.

Will my power be off for long?

We isolate the supply when we change the board, so the property is without power for the duration of the install (usually two to four hours). We coordinate the time with you so freezers, work-from-home meetings and similar are protected.

What is an RCBO and do I need them?

An RCBO combines an MCB (overload protection) and an RCD (earth-fault protection) on a single circuit. Modern boards use one RCBO per circuit so a fault on the freezer no longer trips the lighting too. We fit RCBO-per-circuit boards as standard.

Do you notify building control?

Yes. A consumer unit change is notifiable work under Scottish building regulations. We notify through our NAPIT registration, which means the certificate is lodged for you and there is nothing extra you have to file.

Which EV charger brands do you install?

We install all the major 7kW smart chargers including Ohme, Zappi, EO and Hypervolt. We help you pick a brand based on the way you drive, the tariff you are on, and whether you want tethered or untethered. Solar diversion is supported by several of the brands we fit.

How much does an EV charger install cost?

A standard domestic install starts from around £700 including the charger, cable, protective devices, commissioning and certification. Long cable runs, garage installs and consumer-unit upgrades carry extra cost; we quote in writing after a free survey.

Do I need a special consumer unit for an EV charger?

Not always. Many modern boards can accept an additional EV circuit. If your board is full or unsuitable, the charger will need its own protective module or a small dedicated unit. We check this during the survey and explain what is needed before quoting.

Is the install OZEV smart-charging compliant?

Yes. Every charger we install is OZEV smart-charging compliant, so it will not charge during peak grid hours unless you override the default. We commission the unit on Wi-Fi, set the off-peak schedule, and walk you through the app before we leave.

Can you install workplace or fleet charging?

Yes. We design and install multi-charger workplace and fleet setups including load-balanced banks, RFID access control and back-office reporting. We work with businesses across Edinburgh and the Lothians, and we can scope a project from a single site visit.

How much does an EICR cost?

Domestic EICRs typically run between £150 and £250 depending on circuit count. Small commercial premises are quoted on the basis of distribution boards and circuits. We confirm the price before booking and there are no surprises afterwards.

How long does an EICR take?

A typical two-bedroom flat or terraced house takes around two to three hours on site. Larger properties take longer. We aim to deliver the report within five working days of the visit, in PDF, with codes explained in plain English.

How often do I need an EICR as a landlord in Scotland?

Under the Scottish Private Tenancy regulations, landlords must provide a satisfactory EICR every five years and at every change of tenancy. We work with letting agents and direct landlords and keep your renewal dates organised so you are not caught out.

What do the EICR codes mean?

C1 means danger present, immediate action required. C2 means potentially dangerous, remedial action required for the report to be satisfactory. C3 means improvement recommended but not essential. FI means further investigation is needed. We explain each item before we leave.

Can you fix the issues if my EICR comes back unsatisfactory?

Yes. If your EICR has come back unsatisfactory (with C1 or C2 codes), we are happy to take over and quote the remedials. We also retest after the remedials so you receive a satisfactory updated report for your records or your letting agent.

How long does a full house rewire take?

A typical two-bedroom flat or terraced house rewire takes four to five days. Larger properties, tenement common areas and listed buildings take longer. We agree the programme with you in advance and let you know each day what we are doing.

How much is a rewire?

Rewires start from around £3,500 for a two-bedroom flat. Larger homes, additional circuits, smart lighting and feature lighting add to the cost. We quote in writing after a free survey and break the price down so you can see exactly where the money is going.

Do I have to move out for a rewire?

Not always. For smaller flats we can usually keep one room live and isolate the rest day by day. For larger jobs it is sometimes easier to move out for a few days. We discuss the practicalities at the quoting stage so you can plan.

Do you fix the walls afterwards?

We chase walls neatly and reinstate the chases with bonding plaster. Final skim, painting and any structural reinstatement is usually handled by a plasterer and decorator, and we coordinate that with you so the whole job feels like one piece of work.

Is the rewire guaranteed?

Yes. Spartan rewires carry a six-year guarantee on workmanship. The accessories and consumer unit components carry their own manufacturer warranties on top of that, and we register them on your behalf.

What is your call-out fee?

Our call-out is £75 for the first hour and covers travel, diagnosis and any minor work that can be completed in that time. Larger jobs are quoted up front, with your approval before we continue. There are no hidden charges.

Do you do small jobs or only big projects?

We do small jobs all the time. Dead sockets, tripping circuits, faulty extractor fans, replacement smoke alarms, immersion heaters: it is most of what we do day to day. Get in touch and we will book you in.

Can letting agents book direct?

Yes. We work with several Edinburgh letting agents on a direct-booking basis: we hold an account on file, attend tenant-reported faults, send the invoice to the agent and the certificate to the property file. Talk to Carlos to set up an account.

Do you offer planned maintenance contracts?

Yes. We run planned maintenance cycles for letting portfolios and small commercial sites: quarterly, six-monthly or annual visits with a written checklist for each visit and any flagged issues quoted clearly. It is cheaper in the long run than reactive call-outs.

Can you respond same day?

We aim for same-week appointments on routine maintenance, and same-day for genuine no-power or safety issues when we have a slot. Call the office on 0131 202 2711 and we will be straight with you about what we can do.

Why Sigenergy and not GivEnergy?

We have chosen Sigenergy as our primary inverter and battery brand because their hybrid kit is flexible, stackable, and well-supported. We are not currently working with GivEnergy. We do install other reputable brands when a customer has a specific preference.

Can you retrofit a battery to my existing solar?

Yes. AC-coupled batteries from Sigenergy sit alongside an existing solar inverter without needing to replace the original kit. We size the battery based on your usage, not just the panel array, and we commission the system on the same app.

Do I need MCS certification for solar?

MCS certification is required to register for the Smart Export Guarantee. We sign-off installs through our MCS partner where needed, so you can register the export tariff with your energy supplier.

How long does a solar install take?

Most domestic installs are completed in two to three days, sometimes four for larger systems with battery and a consumer-unit upgrade. We agree the programme with you ahead of time and we keep the site tidy day by day.

Is solar worth it in Scotland?

Yes, particularly with a battery. Scotland gets enough useful daylight to make solar viable, and combining the panels with a battery and a cheap-rate overnight tariff (such as Octopus Go or Intelligent) typically gives the best payback. We model it for your specific home in the quote.

How much does an LED downlight refit cost?

A single-room LED downlight refit typically starts from £350 including supply, install and certification. Whole-home projects are quoted on survey and we are happy to phase the work to suit a budget.

Can you make my home lighting smart?

Yes. We install dimmable and zone-controlled smart lighting with app and voice control via Alexa or Google. We integrate with existing smart-home hubs where you have one and pick robust, supported kit when you do not.

Do you do outdoor and garden lighting?

Yes. Spike-lights, wall washers, step lights and feature uplights, all weatherproofed properly and protected on the correct devices. Outdoor work is notified to building control where applicable.

Will replacing halogens with LEDs really save money?

Yes, noticeably. LEDs draw roughly 80% less power than equivalent halogens for the same light output, and they last around 20 times longer. The pay-back on a typical refit is two to three years on energy savings alone.

Can I keep my existing fittings and just change the bulbs?

Sometimes. Many older fittings can take retrofit LED lamps, but some halogen fittings overheat with LEDs or do not dim well. We assess what you have and let you know whether a retrofit lamp is appropriate or a new fitting will give a better long-term result.