The huge rise in the number of electrical devices we have in our homes and places of work puts demands on systems that were not designed to cope with the pressure they may now be under. This can be made apparent by the number of electrical sockets in each room. Modern buildings typically have several double sockets, while an older building may have only one, and that is a single.
The switchboard bears the brunt of this increase in power usage, so if you are putting more and more demands on it, it stands to reason there could be consequences. Here are five symptoms to look out for.
The Problem of Ceramic Fuses and Dated Boards
Dated boards tend to have ceramic fuses. They may be from an era before circuit breakers were even invented. We still use the phrase “blowing a fuse” when we mean losing our temper through being overloaded, because that was what used to happen in electrical systems; the fuse was developed as a built-in weak link that would prevent damage to equipment.
The fuse would then have to be repaired with fuse wire (and the problem that caused the issue remedied) before normal service could be resumed. The trip switch was a way of dealing with the same issue without the fuse having to be repaired or replaced.
When a device or a circuit suddenly stops working, we head for the electrical switchboard and can see at a glance which switch has been tripped. Once the problem has been resolved, we simply flick the switch back up, and we’re back in business.
Frequently Tripping Safety Switches and Circuit Breakers
If trip switches keep being triggered, it is a sign that something needs to be repaired or upgraded. If a circuit is often overloaded to the point of needing to be broken, the problem must be addressed, and this is a job for a qualified electrician.
Critical Warning Signals
Flickering lights and buzzing sounds are signs that something is amiss. The system is struggling to cope, and something needs to be done before the visual and auditory signs turn into a loss of function. In other words, you need to take action before something stops working altogether.
Planning for Future Power Needs (Air Con, Solar, etc.)
Being aware of the need to upgrade your electrics means being able to prevent issues and possible damage or harm to humans and animals. If you are going to have air conditioning installed, for instance, this will place an additional strain on the system, including the board. The sensible approach is to anticipate this and have an electrician look at your board and the wiring in general.
A charging station for an electric vehicle is a current example of something that could cause a sudden demand, but it could equally be a tumble dryer or electric dishwasher if you haven’t had one before. Changes to your supply, such as a solar installation, should also be kept in mind.
The Safety Benefits of a Modern Circuit Breaker System
As we saw earlier, a modern circuit breaker system is a big improvement on the old method of having fuses to blow, but it is not the ultimate answer. What you really need is to get your electrics checked over regularly and guard against trouble before it arrives. At Florance Electrical, we can do just that for you. Get in touch with our team to get started.