When should you upgrade your switchboard?
A switchboard works as the central hub of electrical wiring in your home. It plays an essential role in directing electrical currents from the main supply to different circuits around your house. After a few years, this part might get some issues due to normal wear and tear or electrical problems, which might lead to unexpected blows or tripped circuit breakers. Thus, it is essential to perform switchboard upgrades to ensure the safety of your family.
But how do you know when to replace a switchboard? Here are 4 common signs which suggest you might need switchboard upgrades.
1. Flickering lights
The main reason why a light flickers constantly is that the bulb is not being properly screwed. But in some cases, a damaged or old switchboard might cause the electrical wiring to get loose, which disrupts the electrical currents to the light bulbs. Thus, if you still see a constantly flickering light after fixing it, then the problem might be from the switchboard.
2. Appliances short-circuiting
Old switchboards have a tendency to trip or short circuit when they get overloaded because of a preventative mechanism that helps protect the circuits from overheating or causing a fire hazard. Also, most of these models are not made to deal with the high loads of wattage in the majority of households today. So if you notice these issues occurring when using some electrical appliances, switchboard upgrades might be the ultimate solution to bring peace of mind to your family.
3. Re-wirable fuses
If you are living in an old house and the switchboards have re-wirable fuses rather than circuit breakers, you would have to upgrade these parts as soon as possible. Re-wireable fuses make up a considerable safety hazard since they contain most copper fuse wires. If an overload occurs in your electrical system, these copper fuse wires will blow or melt down, which would result in many serious consequences. While replacing blown wires might be a simple solution to many people, most experienced electricians often replace melted fuse wires with regular copper ones. Also, the upgrades of the switchboard will prevent your home from facing these dangerous situations.
4. Overcrowded appearance
If the wiring of your switchboard looks overcrowded with a lot of wires, keep in mind to deal with it as soon as you can. Otherwise, this can lead to many electrical issues such as overloading, overheating, circuit shorting. Upgrading the switchboard is a good investment which can ensure safety, particularly when you are going to install new devices. The installation of a new pool pump or air conditioning system, for example, will need dedicated circuits, so this upgrade will ensure the whole system can operate properly.
Final thought
As soon as you notice one of these signs, it is necessary to perform switchboard upgrades quickly to ensure the safety in your home. Unless you are an experienced electrician, it is advisable to hire a professional service to get it done safely and efficiently. For further information about any of our services, please contact Power Plus Electrical Qld via our contact form.