The switchboard is the beating heart of your home’s electrical system. It controls every circuit in the house and protects your family against electrocution.

But switchboards are just like any other electrical appliance – they wear out during normal use. This can cause small problems like flickering lights, but it can also be a real danger to your family.

Old, damaged and worn out switchboards need to be upgraded. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the signs that it’s time for an upgrade, and what you get for your money!

8 Warning Signs You Need a Switchboard Upgrade

Switchboards degrade during normal use. They also become outdated as technology and regulations change. It’s time to upgrade your switchboard if you notice any of the following warning signs:

1. 1Your house was built before 1991 – The first generation of Residual Current Devices (RCDs) became mandatory in 1991 in Australia. If your home was built before 1991 and still has its original switchboard, you’re putting your family at risk.
2. 2The switchboard is overcrowded – Switchboards can accommodate a limited number of circuits. If you’re installing a new appliance or circuit and there’s no room in the switchboard, it’s time to upgrade.
3. 3Circuit breakers trip regularly – Circuit breakers protect your electrical system against dangerous overloads. If the breakers are frequently tripped by normal use, it’s a sign that your switchboard is out of date.  Modern appliances can draw large amounts of power. This may trip the breakers on an older switchboard that was designed for less power-hungry devices. Circuit breaker tripping can also be a sign of short circuiting. This is common in older switchboards because they are less power efficient and lack important safety features. Shorting circuits are dangerous and can cause electrical fires. 
4. 4Flickering lights – Old switchboards are a common cause of flickering lights. Not only is this annoying, it’s a sign that something is seriously wrong with your wiring. Have a licensed electrician check your lights and switchboard to identify the problem.
5. 5Ceramic fuses – Very old homes (built in the 1960s or earlier) may still use ceramic fuses. These fuses are an old technology that provides limited protection against electrical overload.If you still have ceramic fuses they have been there for decades, which increases the likelihood of an electrical fault or fire.

This is the BEFORE shot of an old switchboard we recently replaced at a property in Carina. You can see the Australian-style ceramic fuses on the left, as well as modern safety switches on the right.

Dylan Dawson, Owner of Dawson Electrical

“Your switchboard is the heart of your home’s electrical system so it must be a high priority that it is in a good working order.”

1. 6A burning smell – If you notice a burning smell coming from your switchboard, you may have an overloaded circuit or faulty wiring. This is very dangerous – call your electrician immediately.
2. 7Sparks – Sparks indicate there is something wrong with your switchboard and you should call an electrician immediately. This is a very dangerous issue.
3. 8Melted or blackened circuit breaker – This is a sign that your circuit breaker has malfunctioned and needs to be replaced. This is a dangerous issue and you should call your electrician immediately.

Upgrade to a New Switchboard

We are licensed to work on residential and commercial systems. If you’re experiencing the problems we discussed above, or if you want to upgrade to modern appliances and need more power, we can help!

What Does a Switchboard Upgrade Provide?

Updating your switchboard is a major upgrade to your home. It provides:

• Additional capacity for installing circuits and appliances (such as solar panels and air conditioning)
• Compatibility with modern, high-power appliances (such as EV chargers)
• Improved safety and protection against electrical faults and injuries
• Reliable power for your day-to-day needs

• Better upgradability as technology evolves
• Compliance with modern electrical standards
• Potential energy savings due to the greater efficiency of modern switchboards

Improved safety and protection is the most important part of upgrading your switchboard. Old switchboards are more likely to cause electrical fires and electrocution. Upgrading to a newer model prevents this, with features like safety switches being very effective in preventing electrical injury.

Here’s the AFTER shot of the Hager switchboard and meter box we installed in the Carina property. The new switchboard is compatible with circuit breakers, RCDs and it has plenty of room for expansion in the future!