Switchboard Upgrade & Install

If you live in an older home , you might have an old switchboard with ceramic fuses or old faulty switches which are not only unsafe but also inefficient. The problem with old switchboards is that they were built for a time when households used to have fewer electrical appliances. Today, however, an average household has a number of appliances that contribute to more than 33% of the total energy bill. Hence a switchboard upgrade to your home becomes inevitable as you add more appliances.

Does My Home Need an Energy Audit? These appliances put more load on your electrical wiring than they are able to carry to and from old ceramic switchboards, hence resulting in electrical shocks or can even start house fires. So if you have noticed any of the below signs, chances are that your home is in need of a switchboard upgrade.

#1. Unsafe wood or asbestos backing Old switchboards are usually mounted on wood or asbestos backing which can be extremely hazardous in case of fire or short out. These switchboards are usually found in Ballarat homes that date back to the 60’s or 70’s

#2. Over-crowded Switchboards You might also notice that these switchboards are often overcrowded leaving little room if any to add more circuits when you are installing new appliances such as an electric oven or pool pump. This will require you to go for a switchboard upgrade since overloading existing circuits is against the electrical safety laws due to the massive fire risk.

#3. Old ceramic fuses Old ceramic fuses are just that! Old. They use old technology that is unsafe and unreliable. The new switchboards with safety switches provide protection against overloading, short circuit and electric shocks, making them much safer than their old counterparts.

#4. Frequent tripping The appliances we have in our homes these days put a lot of load on the electrical circuits. However, if you are experiencing frequent circuit breaker trips and you have already tested all your appliances and found them to be okay, it’s most likely a problem with your old switchboard that needs to be upgraded.

#5. Melted/burnt fuses If you notice a burning smell around your switchboard or the fuses are obviously blackened, you should attend to this issue immediately and call your Ballarat electrician instantly. Delaying a switchboard upgrade in this instance can start a fire and can be extremely dangerous for you and your family.

Wrapping up As licensed electricians , we have completed tens of switchboard upgrades for our clients. If you notice any of the above signs and believe that it’s time for your home to get a new switchboard, feel free to get in touch with us for an obligation free quote and we would be more than happy to attend to your request for a switchboard upgrade .