It’s almost impossible to think of running your home or living your life without electricity in your home. This is all courtesy of the residential electrical switchboard that is the hub of where your electricity comes from.
Despite the importance of this gadget in your home, you more than likely haven’t given an electrical switchboard upgrade much thought. How necessary is an upgrade? Should it be something you need to consider if it isn’t broken? Keep reading to find out.
Contents
- What Exactly is an Electrical Switchboard?
- How Often Should You Upgrade Your Switchboard?
- A Few Good Reasons to Speak to Your Contractor About an Upgrade
- 1. Keep Your Home Running
- 2. Compliance With Australian Safety Requirements
- 3. Asbestos Risk in Older Models
- 4. Enables You to Prepare for Solar Energy
- 5. Reduces the Likelihood of Overloading
- 6. Simple Way to be More Energy Efficient
- 7. Increases Property Value
- Final Thoughts
What Exactly is an Electrical Switchboard?
Before we jump into whether or not you need a switchboard upgrade, let’s clarify what it is. Simply put, your electrical switchboard is the hub that houses all the wires and circuits that run through your home. Meeting at this central point makes it easy to control and repair when there is an issue.
Not all switchboards are the same. Older models may contain ceramic fuses and circuit breakers. As new appliances or electrical devices are added to your home, it may become necessary to add a new circuit to the board. This can be difficult if there isn’t space on the switchboard for new switches or additional circuit breakers.
How Often Should You Upgrade Your Switchboard?
There isn’t a hard and fast rule as to when your switchboard should be replaced or upgraded, However, experts do recommend that you have it checked once every five years. Furthermore, you should also consider having an upgrade every 20 years, especially since our energy needs are rapidly evolving and our needs for home technology are changing.
A Few Good Reasons to Speak to Your Contractor About an Upgrade
Electrical switchboards aren’t at the forefront of the average person’s mind. With that in mind, our team of electrical experts have compiled a list of the top reasons why you should consider an upgrade.
1. Keep Your Home Running
Modern homes require modern solutions. So, with this in mind, it’s a good idea to upgrade your switchboard to meet the needs of your home’s growing power needs. An upgraded switchboard will ensure that your home can easily handle the following power demands without issues:
- Running regular appliances (which includes freezers and fridges 24/7)
- Internet connectivity
- Charging various devices throughout the house simultaneously
- Security features such as video cameras and other smart features
- Lighting throughout the house
2. Compliance With Australian Safety Requirements
One of the top reasons you should consider an upgrade has to do with the ever-changing safety standards. That means the Australian safety standards have changed significantly in the last 20 years, making your older board non-compliant.
Additionally, any boards installed after the early 2000s will contain a residual current device, or RCD as it’s more commonly known. This safety switch prevents short circuits in your switchboard.
3. Asbestos Risk in Older Models
Older homes with switchboards that have never been upgraded may contain asbestos. This is because back panels made in the 80’s were made using asbestos. It wasn’t until 2003 that the use of this harmful chemical was banned.
For the unversed, asbestos particles inhaled can stay in the lungs and eventually lead to cancer. Your electrician will be able to check if your board contains any asbestos, in which case, they will recommend an upgrade.
4. Enables You to Prepare for Solar Energy
Older switchboards were never designed with the potential to handle solar panels and inverters. So, if you’re thinking about installing solar panels, you will need an upgrade. This would apply to electrical vehicles as well. Remember that you can use this as one of your home’s selling features if you ever want to put your home on the market.
5. Reduces the Likelihood of Overloading
We’re using more electricity in our homes today than we did 20 or even 30 years ago. With all the devices that need charging and more appliances to plug in, it’s much easier for a board to become overloaded if it has never been upgraded. A simple upgrade will reduce the likelihood of overloading.
6. Simple Way to be More Energy Efficient
Another huge advantage of an upgraded switchboard is that it will increase your home’s energy efficiency. Modern switches and circuit breakers have been designed to handle energy more efficiently. Your electrician will be able to suggest the most effective way to make your switchboard more energy efficient based on your home’s current and potential future needs.
7. Increases Property Value
A little-known fact is that an upgraded electrical switchboard can add significant value to your home. Not only does it tell potential buyers that your home is electrically sound, but a new board means that any additional power sources can easily be added.
Final Thoughts
These reasons make an excellent argument for you to speak to your local electrician about a switchboard upgrade. This will ensure that your switchboard can handle your home’s current and future energy requirements. You’ll also have peace of mind that your home is safe, compliant, and above all else, energy-efficient!
