Your switchboard is one of the most important pieces of your home, but many of us go about our daily lives without really thinking about it. With the simple flick of a switch, you’ve got light, heating, or the power to charge your devices, all thanks to your switchboard.
So, with our switchboards going through heavy daily use, it’s important to be able to recognise when they’re not working properly, overloaded, or just worn out. Knowing the signs is the first step to getting it sorted out, sooner rather than later, before it develops into something more dangerous.
Here are some of the signs to look out for, which will tell you your switchboard needs an upgrade.
1. You Notice Burn Marks or a Hot Smell
If you check on your switchboard and notice a hot, plastic smell, brown discolouration, or even soot, that could indicate your switchboard is overheating. Overheating usually stems from loose terminals, tired breakers or wobbly ceramic fuses. It’s important you don’t ignore it; the hot spot will only grow, which increases arcing, which increases heat. It’s a vicious cycle that can only end badly, so it’s important to call for a switchboard inspection as soon as you notice it.
2. You Hear Buzzing or Crackling From the Switchboard
If everything’s working as it should, your switchboard shouldn’t make a sound. If you hear any buzzing or crackling, however, that means electricity is arcing (jumping) between contacts. This can create tiny sparks and intense heat, which damages surrounding metal parts and makes arcing increasingly more likely each time you use an appliance.
3. Your Cover Plate Feels Hot
Your cover plate should feel the same temperature whether it’s turned on or off. If it feels warm, or even hot, when in use, it’s an indicator that something’s not right. It often means that your circuit is overloaded, a breaker is failing, or – with older equipment in particular – you’ve got poor ventilation.
4. Your Circuit Breakers Keep Tripping Over and Over Again
Tripping is a safety feature of all switchboards and is not always necessarily an indicator of a problem. There could have been a surge in the electricity grid, or it could be due to the weather. However, if you’re noticing your switchboard is constantly tripping, that’s a sign that it needs upgrading.
Chronic tripping can indicate you’ve got appliances that need more power than the switchboard can supply, faulty wiring, or that your switchboard is undersized. There are far more electrical demands nowadays, from induction cooktops, through air fryers, to electric vehicle chargers (often all at the same time). Many older switchboards simply can’t keep up.
5. You Have Ceramic Fuses or an Outdated Switchboard
Ceramic fuses were the standard many years ago, when they weren’t put under nearly as much pressure. However, they do not provide the protection that modern alternatives can offer. For example, they are easy to fit with the wrong size fuse wire, which can create a fire risk.
How Much Will a Switchboard Upgrade Cost?
Switchboard upgrades can vary in cost depending on suppliers or the size of switchboard your home requires. A smaller distribution board inside an apartment might cost between $600–$1,200, whereas a larger main switchboard at a house might cost up to $2,500. It’s an investment, but the cost of ignoring problems and delaying the upgrade of your switchboard will be even greater.
For more advice on when to upgrade your switchboard, and who to call upon to do the job, get in touch with the OnePoint team today.
