All mains electricity for a building comes in through a switchboard and is distributed throughout the property to several sockets and switches that provide power to lights and various appliances. A switchboard will also have circuit breakers, safety switches or fuses that are there to protect the property and its occupants against electric shocks and electrical fires caused by a malfunction of the system or any connected appliance.

A switchboard is therefore an essential element within your electrical system and needs to be at peak efficiency. To ensure this is always the case, upgrading switchboard systems is sometimes necessary. This is particularly relevant at a time when technology is changing constantly and putting increasing demand on household and business power.

When a Switchboard Upgrade is Necessary

According to Australian Wiring Rule AS3000:2018, a switchboard replacement is required if:

• An electrical defect notice has been received, stating that the electrical installation does not meet safety standards
• The system is being altered by installing new lights and power points throughout the property
• You are installing some major electrical appliances, such as a pool heater, air conditioning or irrigation pumps that require large amounts of power.

An electrical switchboard upgrade to the system is recommended if:

• Your existing system is quite old, particularly if it has outdated ceramic or porcelain fuses that are unable to meet modern power demands
• Fuses blow or circuit breakers trip frequently because the system cannot support the number of connected appliances
• Lights tend to flicker, or there are buzzing noises coming from the switchboard
• Cables become overheated due to power overloads
• You need to introduce more capacity for future use, or you are concerned about the risk of fire.

A new switchboard will make your electrical system safer, more reliable and better able to cope with future demand.

Upgrading to a Switchboard that Meets Your Needs

When installing a new switchboard, you first have to decide what you want:

• Air-insulated switchboards are the cheapest and easiest to install and maintain, while metal-enclosed ones are the most expensive and complex, but offer enhanced durability and protection.
• New switchboards have greater circuit capacity, so you can have as many circuits as you currently need, plus some extras to allow for future growth.
• If you have high electricity demand, a three-phase switchboard that has three live wires with different voltages will cost more than a single-phase switchboard but will offer greater capacity and efficiency.
• An older house may have an asbestos panel in the switchboard, which will make replacement more complex and expensive.
• The consumer mains that connects the outside supply to your building may need to be upgraded to handle high demand, while old and dangerous cables may also need to be replaced.

Switchboard upgrade projects can be challenging and complex processes, but we will help you make the right decisions. Contact Florance Electrical to determine if you need to upgrade, and we will ensure it is done properly with a comprehensive safety inspection.