If your home has an old-style fuse box it probably has old wiring throughout the building too. Even though electrical wiring is usually tucked away within
walls or in the ceiling void wear and tear can still occur as the ageing insulation degrades, wiring is damaged by rodents and insects, or accidental
disturbance during home maintenance tasks.
As we mentioned above, during a switchboard upgrade your licenced electrician will assess the electrical wiring throughout your home for any rep
air
s or upgrades required. Even a well maintained fuse board can struggle to cope with the electrical needs of our modern lifestyle which can lead to all sorts of issues.
Our highly professional team have victorian a grade electrical licences, registered electrical contractors licences as well as plumbing licences. No job is too big or too small; domestic environments, like home switchboards, or commercial environments with shop or factory switchboards. Whether it’s to carry out switchboard upgrades, repairs or electrical services throughout melbourne, our attention to detail, customer service and electrical safety ensure that all your electrical needs are done professionally, on time and in budget. Energy efficiency and safety is a mandatory requirement in keeping your family, home, employees and business well lit, at an even temperature and safe.
Are you considering switchboard upgrades? many older homes and businesses in melbourne are still connected to the mains power supply by an old-fashioned fuse box with porcelain fuses. These type s of fuse boxes – also called federal boards – are way out of date and do not meet current building codes, in particular australian standards (as3000). Not only have all the components become brittle, with loose cable connections and ‘hot spots’, but they also present a very real risk of fire and a vastly higher danger of electrocution than modern switchboards.
A switchboard houses several safety switches along with fuses or circuit breakers. All of the circuits in your home are organized and managed in this box, which are connected to the electricity meter. When there’s a problem with your home’s current, such as an overload, or when an appliance breaks down and short circuits, the switchboard shuts down. It cuts off the electricity once it circuits out, protecting your home from potential fires or electrocutions of family members. Switchboards should be thoroughly inspected at least once every five years, with switchboard upgrades recommended every 20 years. If you’re redoing certain circuit breakers, consider upgrading the entire box to prevent issues during future conversions.
Safety Switch & Switchboards
If your switchboard contains old ceramic fuses, it should definitely be upgraded! other older switchboards also may not comply with electrical safety regulations that are designed to keep you and your family safe. If your switchboard looks new, or has been recently upgraded, check that it has the 6 things a safe, modern switchboard should contain.
So, what are some of the most common safety
issues
to look out for in old switchboards? and what should you do about it?.
Older properties tend to have older switchboards that don’t comply with the most current safe ty standards. Many old switchboards also don’t have safety switches.
ever found yourself fumbling for a torch or without light because a fuse from the switchboard has blown? not only are older fuses a hassle to reinstate once blown, if replaced with the wrong fuse will almost certainly put your home and those inside it at risk. Wire connections to fuses made decades ago become loose over time which can cause fires to start and spread throughout your home. With modern electrical appliances drawing more power and straining existing circuits, upgrading your home’s switchboard could not only save you time and frustration but also electrical call out and repair costs. Modern switchboards also include safety switches, which can protect you and your family from fatal electrocution.
If you don't have safety switches, your fuses are blowing or you are wanting to install solar panels you may need a switchboard upgrade. Old ceramic fuse boards were not designed to cope with the electrical appliances we have in our homes today nor do they provide any safeguards should something go wrong. With a switchboard upgrade each circuit is protected by a safety switch which will shut down power to your home instantly protecting you and your family from fire and electric shock. Old switchboards are also easily overloaded and you may need an upgrade when purchasing new appliances such as an induction cooktop or installing a spa or solar.
DO I NEED A SWITCHBOARD UPGRADE?
A switchboard upgrade may be necessary if you live in an older home on the gold coast to ensure that your wiring and switchboard are enough to support the electric al needs of several household appliances when they are in use simultaneously. For example, you need a lot of electricity to run the dishwasher, washing machine, oven and air conditioning at the same time. There is a risk of a fuse burning out or the wiring burning out in older gold coast homes built more than twenty years ago, resulting in dangerous electrical fires. You may also need to upgrade your switchboard if it does not have the required two rcd’s.
A switch board is a complex device consisting of varying connections that helps break down electric currents into smaller divisible circuits. It is often at the core of many electrical issues, and in many cases it’s best advised to upgrade the switchboard in order to handle your home’s or business’s electrical demands. Some of the key signs that you may need to upgrade your switchboard include:.
Upgrading your electrical switchboard is one of the most important decisions you can make for the safety of your home and family. Your electrical switchboard acts as a gateway for all the power running through your property, whether that be from the street or a solar panel system. Often, in older homes, you might experience a power loss when running a few appliances at once. This is caused by an out-dated electrical switchboard with an older fuse box that is rarely equipped with a safety switch – something that can be very dangerous! thankfully, this issue is easily resolved; all our team at north lakes & surrounds electrical have to do is perform a simple inspection of your switchboard to determine if the fuse box, wiring and circuits are safe or whether you’ll need a repair and upgrade.
Do i need a switchboard upgrade? why are ceramic fuses not safe? do i need cable protection? is my rcd out of date? we are often asked these (and many more) questions about switchboards. Many houses still use old ceramic fuses. Adding new or bigger appliances like air-conditioners, pool equipment or workshop equipment adds extra load onto your electrical system. If your switchboard is pre-1980s, it is likely that you have an undersized main cable and poor fuse contacts. It may not meet current australian standards and you may need a switchboard upgrade or a new switchboard altogether. A switchboard upgrade will involve the replacement of all ceramic fuses for modern, safe circuit breakers and rcds.
HOW MUCH IS A SWITCHBOARD UPGRADE?
In 2018, nearly every home in australia became sub-standard with the introduction of the as/nzs3000:2018. With this standard release came the need to protect all of your electrical circuits with residual current devices or rcds. These are electrocution protection devices that save you from being hurt or killed by electricity. Contact us for a free quote to upgrade your switchboard today and ensure the safety of your home.
Your electrical switchboard is the heart of the home and unfortunately many home owners fail to keep it up to current standards. An outdated switchboard can be the cause of nuisance tripping/overload, house fires and electrocution, an old switchboard may also contain asbestos which can be dangerous to everyone in the household especially if the switchboard pre dates the 90s. Once an electrician upgrades your switchboard, you can rest easy knowing that your home is protected completely by safety switches (rcbos) which not only protect you from electrocution but also protect the cabling in your home from overload.
The switchboard in your house is the control panel for all your homes wiring. Older switchboards can be less safe or not be able to supply enough power if you want to add more appliances or an extension that requires more outlets to your home. Modern switchboards don’t use fuses and also have more safety features in their ability to detect faults and shut down as well as supply more power. A switchboard upgrade whilst not an attractive addition to your home is one of the most important ones.
Fully complying with all australian electrical standards melbourne wide electrical can guarantee you a safe and effective switchboard upgrade. Older homes in melbourne have switchboards that still feature long out-of-date fuses that run the risk of causing electrocution to homeowners attempting to conducting their own repairs. By choosing us to conduct a thorough and complete upgrade of your home’s current switchboard you are ensuring the continued safety of your family. To find out more about how our switchboard upgrades are beneficial to your property please feel free to contact our skilled team today. At melbourne wide electrical we are here to make your home’s electrical systems operate without a hitch and we also provide led lighting upgrades , home-theatre-installations , powerpoint installations.
What exactly is a switchboard?
Did you know that upgrading your switchboard means that you will be preventing your family from the threat of an electric shock? new switchboards are much more sensitive than the old ones and are able to detect when there is an electricity leak, such as when electricity passes through the body in an electric shock. When it detects a leakage it will shut off immediately, in. 3 of a second, and will completely prevent electrocution. Unfortunately accidents do happen such as a child sticking a fork into a power point, someone using a knife to get toast out of a toaster, touching a switch with wet fingers or accidentally dropping an appliance into a bath or sink.
Old switchboards can start fire.
We are proud of our workmanship and never compromise on quality. Our complete electrical switchboard solutions are guaranteed to deliver a safe and effective way to meet all your electrical needs. So, call us with confidence for your switchboard installation today!.
Are you expanding your home or business? are you adding new appliances or devices to your circuits? even if you’re not, an electric switchboard upgrade may be necessary if your current one is becoming too old. Old switchboards may start to become faulty so replace them with newer, higher quality switchboards that are built with tougher, longer-lasting materials. Additionally, you may require an electric switchboard upgrade if you’re adding additional more devices or appliances to your home. If the power drawn from a switchboard is greater than the supply, then the circuit will trip to prevent an overload which could otherwise lead to an electrical fire.
