Hi, I’m Matt from Prolecko Electrical Services. We recently filmed the process of upgrading a switchboard in a customer’s home in Perth, Western Australia. If you’re wondering whether your switchboard needs replacing, then here is everything you need to know!
How to know if your switchboard is outdated?
Old-style fuses:
If your switchboard still uses old ceramic or porcelain fuses with fuse wire, it is outdated and needs an upgrade.
Lack of safety switches (RCDs):
Modern switchboards are equipped with safety switches, also known as residual current devices (RCDs), which provide protection against electrical faults and reduce the risk of electric shock. You can identify these easily as they all have a test button on the front. If your switchboard lacks these safety switches, has only one or two RCDs protecting your entire electrical system or the test button doesn’t trip the switch, your switchboard is likely outdated.
Limited or no circuit breakers:
Circuit breakers are designed to protect your electrical circuits by automatically shutting off the power in case of an overload or short circuit. If your switchboard has only a few circuit breakers or none at all, it may be outdated.
Signs of wear or damage:
Look for visible signs of wear or damage on your switchboard, such as broken parts, burn marks, or discolouration. The backing panel used in houses built before 1990 were all made of asbestos, visually check its condition looking for damage and deterioration. These could indicate that your switchboard is ageing and potentially hazardous.
Frequent electrical issues:
If you experience frequent power outages, tripping circuit breakers, flickering lights, overloaded circuits, or tingles from tap handles, your switchboard may be outdated and struggling to handle your home’s electrical demands.
What are the risks if you don’t upgrade?
There are many reasons you want to upgrade your switchboard instead of simply replacing the individual components, but it can all be boiled down to one key point…safety. Outdated components can cause several hazards from electrocution to a house fire.
Old switchboards generally have a single RCD protecting only a couple of circuits, along with dangerous porcelain fuses. These fuses are hazardous for several reasons.
- They tend to become loose over time, which can cause arcing, heat generation, and even a fire that could spread into the house.
- When removed, live components are exposed, making them unsafe.
- The inconvenience of having to replace fuse wire whenever there’s a fault can be frustrating.
Replacing fuses with a circuit breaker adaptor may lead to unprotected circuits in your home.
If your switchboard is equipped with a single outdated RCD switch and porcelain fuses, it is time to contemplate a complete switchboard replacement. If you opt to simply replace the fuses with circuit breaker adaptations, these can also pose a safety risk. Loose connections in the holder still pose a fire risk due to hot joints and if the incorrect size protection is installed you run the risk of having cables in your home that aren’t appropriately protected, which could lead to cables being inadequately protected and in some instances a delayed trip or failure to trip during fault conditions.
Old switchboards are often made with dangerous asbestos paneling.
As is the case with many older homes, the presence of dangerous materials that no longer fit building regulations is common. In old switchboards installed before 1990 asbestos was used as the panel at the back. As we all know, this poses a health risk if fibres are inhaled. We recommend checking the condition of your switchboard and scheduling an upgrade if the asbestos panel is damaged. When we upgrade switchboards, we always safely remove asbestos panels and replace them with a non-asbestos alternative.
Old switchboards often don’t meet current safety standards.
Old switchboards often have exposed cables that pose a huge safety risk, especially when you consider that often the times you need to turn the power back on, you are dealing with night-time storms and poor vision. The video showcases a job where the outdated switchboard had wiring that was visible and unprotected. By installing protective coverings, we easily prevent contact with live cables.
What to expect from a switchboard upgrade
Our switchboard upgrade projects include the installation of a non-asbestos panel, a new load centre holding all the circuit protection, and individual safety switches for each circuit. All the components are neatly labelled, tested, and ready to go. This family from the video can now enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a safe switchboard, knowing their home is protected for many years to come.
Schedule a switchboard upgrade today!
Worried about the safety of your switchboard? Put simply, replacing your switchboard enhances the convenience and safety for you as a homeowner. By incorporating safety switches on each circuit, the switchboard becomes significantly safer and requires fewer maintenance visits in the future. Get in touch with the team at Prolecko to have your switchboard inspected or replaced today!
