A switchboard is the heart of your household electrical system.

As the central hub for your wirings, it routes power from the mainline into various circuits around the house. Additionally, a switchboard is also the frontline of defence against power surges, overloads, and short circuits. That’s why keeping your switchboard at optimal condition is essential in keeping safety hazards out of the way.

While many of us have an idea about the purpose of a switchboard, knowing the signs and warnings indicating that we have to upgrade it can be a difficult matter. There are people who believe that as long as it works, it is good to go. However, that’s not actually the case – so the answer to this question remains vague: When do you have to upgrade your switchboard?

Fortunately, remembering the following signs might give you an idea of whether or not your switchboard is putting your family at risk.

If your switchboard has been operating for ages, you only have to identify these minor signs and problems to decide if your safety is at risk due to obsolete or hazardous switchboards.

Overcrowded Wiring

If you want to introduce a new appliance in your home, routing it to a dedicated switch or safety breaker is the first thing to do. You don’t want the new appliance to overload the existing circuits dedicated for other appliances. However, if you notice that your switchboard circuits are full, or the wiring is crowded, then it’s time to think about expanding your switchboards.

Expanding your switchboard allows your new appliance to operate on an ideal current supply through a dedicated switch rather than bypassing it to an existing circuit. Not only will sharing appliances in a single breaker overload your system, but it also has a high risk of causing a fire if you are still using obsolete switchboards with replaceable fuses which have a high chance of failure.

Hiring a certified level 2 electrician to upgrade your switchboard is much more cost-efficient than replacing your damaged appliance and potentially risking your life.

Flickering Lights

You might have noticed at some point that your light bulbs seem to communicate through morse code. But this flickering is a symptom of many possible electrical faults. It can be as simple as loose bulb fitting or as bad as loose wiring in an old or damaged switchboard circuit.

If neglected, the loose connections can cause arcing and sparks, igniting any light and combustible material nearby, resulting in a fire. That’s why it is recommended that you upgrade to newer switchboards that are more compact to make sure there is less physical movement and vibration which loosens up the contact screws.

Nasty Electric Shocks

Improper electrical wiring and grounding can result in sudden electric shocks. Electricity can leak out of worn-out or old wires and faulty switches or appliances, energising the metal housing. If you have an appliance with a metal handle and is improperly grounded, touching the metal part will be a rather shocking experience, especially with a wet palm.

Flicking a faulty switch can also be traumatic if electric shock happens every time you touch it. That’s why keeping your electrical components checked, fixed, and replaced by certified electricians from Gordon Powers is most recommended. Our team of professionals specialise in safe switch replacement, installation, and repairs, and we take pride in completing the job without you leaving the room.

Rewirable Fuses

Old and obsolete switchboards sometimes use copper fuse wires which melt down if the current capacity is exceeded. This is a safety feature, but more often, if these fuses are used up, people replace them with traditional copper wires which are denser and have higher capacities than the safety fuse.

As a result, the switchboard could not protect your circuit from another overload since the wire will simply supply more current instead of melting down, damaging your appliances as well as your switchboard.

Modern switchboards utilise safety breakers for every circuit, making sure that the appliance or electrical load will only get enough supply of current. In this way, you can make sure that your appliances are safe from the damage because the circuit will trip if the power exceeds the limit.

Frequent Tripping

Your switchboard’s circuit breakers are designed to trip off whenever the circuit overloads or shorts. This is designed as a safety feature, however, if you experience frequent power trips even during minimal power usage, then you need to determine whether or not it is caused by a damaged appliance or by a switchboard malfunction.

If the switchboard causes unwanted power trips, then it might get in the way of your productivity and can be a nuisance during busy hours. Calling a certified electrician from Gordon Powers to upgrade your switchboard to a newer and more reliable model is the start of a more secure electrical system.

Summary

We all desire home improvements, that includes adding a home theatre system, air conditioning, and other appliances. Likewise, your switchboard must be ready and capable to handle these additional loads. That is why upgrading your switchboard to accommodate more demanding power loads is essential in order to keep electrical emergencies at bay.

Furthermore, by getting help from our licensed electricians, you get more than what you pay for. Highly qualified electricians from Gordon Powers are capable of maintaining, inspecting, and upgrading switchboards of any size and power rating. You also give us the opportunity to inspect your electrical system and determine other faults to eliminate them.

Now you can enjoy a quality movie time at home without worrying about electrical hazards because Gordon Powers is always accessible at your disposal, sun up or sundown. Set an appointment with us at (02) 9199 7480 or send an enquiry at hello@gordonpowers.com.au for a free quote.