Do You Need To Upgrade Your Home’s Switchboard?
At O’Brien Electrical Port Macquarie, we offer comprehensive switchboard upgrades and maintenance throughout Port Macquarie and the surrounding Hastings region.
Your switchboard is the primary source of power for your home or property, so it’s vital that you keep it properly maintained and up to standard for your home’s electrical needs.
If your old switchboard is struggling to meet the demands of your home’s electrical requirements, get in touch with our team of fully qualified, licensed and local electricians in Port Macquarie.
Call us by phone or request a quote online today!
Call us (02) 6581 2967
Why Do You Need To Upgrade Your Switchboard?
The main reason for upgrading is safety.
With modern homes and lifestyles using more and more electrical appliances, it’s important that your home’s electrical switchboard is up to the task to handle a bigger electrical load.
For example, older switchboards used ceramic fuses and many do not have safety switches installed. This increases the risk of fire hazards as well as electrical shocks. Under current Australian electrical standards, all modern switchboards require a safety switch.
This not only protects your family, but also reduces blown fuses, electrical faults and circuits from being continually tripped.
How Do You Know If Your Switchboard Needs Upgrading?
Wondering if you need to upgrade? Here’s a few common signs to keep an eye out for.
- No safety switches or RCDs
- Flickering lights
- Intermittent loss of power
- Overcrowded circuits
- Appliances tripping the circuit
- Ceramic fuses
- Blackened fuses
How Does a Switchboard Get Upgraded?
This will vary depending on your home as well as your budget, but a switchboard upgrade often involves:
- Replacing ceramic fuses with new circuit breakers and RCDs
- Rewiring the cables behind your panel
- Installing new service fuses
- Inspect and test your Main Earthed Neutral system
- Replacement of asbestos panels
- Perform safety tests
How much does it cost to upgrade a fuse box?
The overall cost will depend on how many circuits you have and how many need RCD protection, as well as any extra installations or connections such as upgrading your mains or adding in smart meters.
As a rough estimate, a switchboard upgrade can cost between $900-1300, but this should only be used as a guide.
For more information on upgrading your electrical systems, or to request a quote, get in touch with our friendly team.
Call us or contact us online.
Call us (02) 6581 2967
