Switchboard Upgrade Cost – Here’s What You Need to Know

What is an Electrical Switchboard?

An electrical switchboard is a component that transmits electricity derived from outside to the rest of the home. It directs current to every circuit and electrical appliance in the home. An RCD switch or safety switch is installed on the switchboard for safety. Its goal is to shut off the electricity supply to the building when there is a change in electrical current.

Electrical switchboards are extremely important in a home as their main goal is to divert electricity across a home. There are various reasons why you might require a switchboard upgrade, with the following being the most common ones:

• Short-circuiting appliances
• Flickering lights
• Too many appliances
• Overheating cables
• Old age
• Electrical defect notice

You should note that Australian Standards mandate property owners to have updated switchboards as house fires and electrocution are more likely to happen with older switchboards present.

Why Conduct a Switchboard Upgrade?

There are various reasons why switchboard upgrades are necessary, with the following being a few of the reasons:

• You want to install new power points
• The current electrical switchboard is older, and older systems will likely create problems.
• The circuit breakers frequently trip.
• The fuse box contains ceramic fuses, making it outdated
• Lights within the building randomly flicker
• Buzzing or odd sounds coming from the electrical switchboard
• If the older switchboard wiring becomes overheated and then overloads

All of these reasons and the increase in electrical demands by appliances have resulted in older switchboards being unable to handle the load. An electrical fire, electric shock, and many other negative effects can happen when older electrical switchboards overload.

Upgrading to a safer and newer electrical switchboard can prevent these issues. This, in turn, protects the building, the people and the appliances within said building.

How to Know if You Need a Switchboard Upgrade?

Energy consumption within homes has increased in parallel with the advancement of technology. The result is more Australian homes having more household appliances, which, in turn, means that these homes require more energy. Old switchboards like porcelain or ceramic fuses aren’t equipped to handle this continuously-growing electricity demand.

According to Australia’s Energy Standards, every homeowner is legally mandated to conduct a switchboard upgrade if they meet the following conditions:

• Want to install additional power points
• Have received an electrical defect notice
• Want to add larger electrical appliances such as irrigation and pool pumps

What’s Involved in an Electrical Switchboard Upgrade?

When switchboard upgrades are being conducted, you should note that the process involves various steps. Every switchboard upgrade is different and will depend on the building’s age and its switchboard wiring system. A qualified electrician will also need to follow all regulations and safety guidelines to ensure the process is carried out properly.

Generally, a switchboard upgrade takes about 2 to 4 hours to complete and will include the following steps:

1. The structure’s power is cut off to ensure the entire process is safe.
2. All old fuses and protection devices are properly removed.
3. A 12-pole enclosure is installed in the house with new breakers and RCD switches.
4. All circuits are then connected to the updated RCD switches and circuit breakers, ensuring they are up to code.
5. The home’s grounding system is properly inspected to ensure it is in proper condition.
6. Electrical tests are conducted to ensure the entire process works correctly.

Electrical Switchboard Upgrade Cost

There are various costs associated with an electrical switchboard upgrade since you need to consider various factors. The property type, age of the property and location are some of the factors to consider. An electrical switchboard upgrade can cost anything from $700 to $5,0000; however, the final price will depend on the building’s current switchboard wiring system and age.

Here is a breakdown of the average cost of switchboard upgrades Sydney:

• A basic upgrade can cost anything from $800 to $1900
• If the building’s electrical wiring needs upgrading, switchboard wiring could add another $2000 to $4000 to the price, especially if the electrical switchboard needs to be moved.
• You can expect to pay $3000 to $4700 for a 3 phase switchboard upgrade.

You should note that the prices above are estimated, and they might differ depending on the electrician carrying out the upgrade. Nevertheless, you can expect to spend within this range when you conduct switchboard upgrade costs using commercial electrical contractors in Sydney.

Furthermore, be wary of quotes you get lower than this average price, as the electrician might not be fully certified. More so, if extra steps like asbestos removal are needed, then the cost will increase.

To get an accurate and detailed quote, speak to our team of qualified electricians today at 0434-289-478.

Why Are Older Electrical Switchboards Unsafe?

Generally, electricians widely installed ceramic or porcelain fuses in homes all around Australia during the late 1900s. They act as a safety device by shutting off the power once there is a short circuit to the porcelain’s overheated fuse wire or when there is an overload. Australian homes older than 25 years with no switchboard upgrades might still have porcelain fuses installed.

The major reason these outdated systems are unsafe is they cannot keep up with today’s electricity demands, which, in turn, causes them to crack. Porcelain fuses do not utilise circuit breakers for when there is an electricity trip in the home. Furthermore, ceramic fuses will frequently trip at small electrical usages, which can be annoying in some situations and dangerous in others.