Why get a switchboard upgrade?

What is a switchboard?

A switchboard is the hub of your home’s electrical system. The main job of the switchboard is to direct electricity from the main supply to where it needs to go around your house from the lights to the kettle and air conditioning system.

Why is a switchboard important?

It’s simple: safety! Modern switchboards are created to handle the use of greater power requirements in our homes and prevent overheating, electrocution and fires.

Why do I need a switchboard upgrade?

Legislation & Safety Switches

Being up to date with the current electrical legislation is essential to ensure your home is safe for your family. Switchboards that were installed prior to 2000, were not required to have safety switches installed, which is a great risk.

Age

Older switchboards were designed to handle the power output for the appliances of their time. However, as appliances and power requirements have developed and grown, so have switchboards, to account for the increase in electrical appliances in the home. The higher levels of electricity required can cause an older switchboard to get overloaded and produce electric shocks or electrocution. If your home was built prior to 1990, we strongly recommend getting an electrician to assess the suitability and safety of your switchboard. New ones have circuit breakers, safety switches and high voltage diverters to make your switchboard, and ergo your home, safe.

Fuses & Circuit Breakers

When your fuses are constantly blowing, it can be frustrating! An older switchboard will cause fuses to blow, if this is happening, it’s time to get the electrician to have a look as you may need a switchboard upgrade.

Old ceramic fuses contain copper wire instead of circuit breakers and are no longer used as they are a huge safety hazard. Ceramic fuses only provide overload protection and are not safety switches so you are still at risk of getting electrical shocks. If you have ceramic fuses, do not touch them yourself as there is more risk of exposed live wiring so call the electrician.

The basic function of a circuit breaker is to ensure the electrical charge coming into the home does not exceed safety limits and if it does, it trips to stop the electrical circuit working to avoid damage to the system. If the circuit breaker keeps tripping, this could be due to overloading or short-circuiting, which can be easily resolved with an upgraded switchboard.

Lighting

If your lights are flickering, check the bulb is fitted properly and if so, this could be an issue with the wiring of your switchboard so call an electrician. Do not touch wiring yourself.

Appliances

We used to have just TVs, a kettle and lights in our homes. Nowadays, you can add phone and tablet chargers, computers and electronic games, air conditioners and air fryers to name just a few. As more appliances come into use, there’s an increase in how much energy they require to run properly and so your switchboard needs to be able to accommodate this safely.

Solar

To install solar power panels, you will need to ensure that your switchboard and meters are compatible. Most Australian houses built circa 2002 onwards will have this. Albeit, two spaces are required for solar breakers and if you do not have these, an electrician will need to upgrade this.

Smart Meters

Older switchboards are usually not compliant with the current regulations and so you need to contact an electrician to assess the suitability of your switchboard.

Electric Shocks, Sparks & Noises

If you get an electric shock or see sparks when you insert a plug into a power point, it is time to call the electrician and your switchboard may need upgrading.

How much does a switchboard upgrade cost?

Can you put a price on the safety of your home and family? Do not ever try to mess with the switchboard yourself, only qualified electricians should do this due to live wires and the risk of electrocution.

Maintenance costs on older switchboards will be increasing every year with regular repairs, which can be costly. Switching (pun intended) your old switchboard for a modern one will save call-out and repair costs.

Based on national averages, a new switchboard can cost between $500 - $1800 but costs vary depending on the size and capacity required for your home.