Switchboard Upgrade & Installation

You May Be Wondering, Why Do I Need A Switchboard Upgrade?

There can be many factors and reasons to upgrade your switchboard, they all centre around safety for you and your family.

As we have improved our technology and changed regulations over the times to stop safety issues arising, some electrical systems have been neglected and left to run down. RCDs are a huge improvement on safety and are designed to protect living organisms (including your pets), where before the protective devices only protected the appliance and infrastructure of the system from overload. It only takes 0.5Amps to be able to stop your heart. RCDs measure the difference in power going out and coming back and is designed to disconnect the power supply in the event of an imbalance of 30mAmps. That’s 0.03Amps, and the device is required to disconnect/trip within 300milliseconds as required by our regulations in AS/NZS 3000.

You are now required to have a minimum of 2 RCDs protecting all lighting and power circuits when selling your property.

You may be saying, “my switchboard is functioning now, why upgrade my switchboard?” It’s the same reason you service your vehicle, or change your warn out tyres and brakes. Prevention of a safety hazard (fire or electrocution) is much better than having to react to one of these potentially life threatening hazards.

Signs That You May Need Switchboard Repairs

• Prevention is better than cure. Leaving an electrical problem unattended can be a recipe for disaster. There are many ways we can tell if your switchboard needs repairs. It may mean that your switchboard is faulty, if you’re experiencing any of the following problems:
• Burning odour: A burning smell around your switchboard could mean either that the circuit breaker is melting from being overheated or that the wire’s insulation is burning. Both of these could lead to an electric fire. Turn off the electricity immediately, and contact a licensed electrician for repairs if this happens.
• Flickering lights: When a switchboard can’t handle the power demand of a household, the lights flicker. This may also be due to problems with the wiring. Either way, if the problem persists, consider calling an electrician.
• Breakers constantly tripping: If your circuit breakers often trip without apparent cause, it may be that your switchboard needs a repair or upgrade. This may happen more often when you have several appliances working simultaneously.

How Much Does A Switchboard Upgrade Cost In Perth?

The cost of a switchboard upgrade can vary greatly depending on what types of circuits you have; single phase or three phase supply, three phase outlets, quality of parts used and quality of workmanship.

Your switchboard is the heart of your electrical system and as such there is no need to sacrifice quality for cost when it only puts you and your family at risk to save a few dollars. Being fair and reasonable with our pricing for these jobs, our workmanship, and our customer service is why we believe you will be happy with the finished product we can provide for you. Contact us today for a quote.

Switchboard Repairs

Circuit breaker not resetting? RCD continuously tripping? Burning smell coming from the switchboard?

Give TALR Electrical Services a call and we can organise a time to come out and diagnose the issue and repair it for you. Small repairs and maintenance can help avoid larger and more costly repairs further down the line.

What Are The Dangers Of An Outdated Electrical Switchboard?

There are many dangers in having an outdated switchboard:

• Old boards can be made of asbestos which can lead to lung and respiratory issues 25-30 years after only one fibre gets stuck in your lungs.
• Switchboard fires can occur when the switchboard has degraded, terminals have become loose, debris falls onto live terminals and ignites. This can also lead to the whole dwelling being lost to a fire.
• Protection for you and your family is the biggest concern for an old switchboard. Many circuits may not be protected by a Residual Current Device (RCD) which protects people from suffering fatal electric shocks.