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 They also become outdated as technology and regulations change.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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 If the breakers are frequently tripped by normal use, it’s a sign that your switchboard is out of date.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.
- 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.
- 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."
- 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.
- 7Sparks – Sparks indicate there is something wrong with your switchboard and you should call an electrician immediately. This is a very dangerous issue.
- 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:
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!
A switchboard upgrade typically costs between $1,200-$3,000 depending on the size of the switchboard and how many circuits there are.
Always ask for an itemised quote and find out what brand of electrical product the company uses. This affects the cost. Ideally, you want a known brand such as Clipsal or Hager, that way you know you are getting a quality product and the best level of safety.
Dawson Electric recommends and uses Hager products for most of our switchboard upgrade projects. Hager’s onekonekt modular switchboards are the perfect choice for most homes. They’re easy to install, easy to expand, and they’re some of the safest switchboards on the market.
We may recommend alternate brands depending on your home and its existing electrical system. Talk to us to find out what we’d use for your home!
Residual Current Devices (RCDs) have been compulsory on all power point and light circuits in Queensland homes since the year 2000. Changes to AS 3000 mean that new homes must be fitted with RCDs that match the type of equipment being used on a particular circuit.
RCDs (also called safety switches) monitor the current flowing through an electrical circuit. The switch trips if the current changes, which can prevent electrocution and electrical injury.
While circuit breakers protect your wiring and appliances from electrical fires, safety switches are designed to protect your family.
It takes 4-8 hours to upgrade your switchboard, but it may take longer if other electrical work is required. The project could take multiple days if we also need to upgrade old wiring that runs into your switchboard.
New switchboards are safe, energy efficient, reliable and they provide electricity for power-hungry appliances like air conditioning and EV chargers.
Old switchboards are outdated, and they may use non-compliant or dangerous equipment such as ceramic fuses.
Upgrading to a new switchboard might seem like a big commitment, but it will keep your family safe for decades to come. Plus, when you install a new switchboard, you’ll have all the power you need for modern appliances. That means you won’t have to deal with flickering lights or circuit breakers tripping all the time!
Last Updated on October 31, 2024
Owner
Dylan Dawson is the co-owner of Dawson Electric, a trusted Brisbane electrical company founded in 2007. With more than 15 years of experience, Dylan specialises in residential and commercial electrical services. He is passionate about educating clients on electrical systems, safety protocols, and energy-saving solutions.