Every electrical appliance in your house is controlled by a switch. Hence, it’s imperative for you to consider upgrading your switchboards.

While upgrading your switchboard might not be the most riveting dinner table conversation, it’s quite essential to ensure the safety of your household. You don’t want to end up with a massive short-circuit or electrical outage due to your old faulty switchboard. So, it’s better to stay ahead of your game and upgrade the switchboard before it completely gives out, causing some serious electrical problems.

But, what are possible signs that your switchboard isn’t working properly? Or, when do you need to upgrade it? We’re here to answer all your questions and solve your electrical woes. Today, we’ll all talk about the importance of switchboard upgrades and when to get them to avoid any long-term electrical damage in your house.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s roll!

 

WHAT IS A SWITCHBOARD?

A switchboard is the main electrical control centre in your house that directs electricity to every part of the house from the main electrical supply line. It controls the operations of every electrical appliance in your house. So, simply speaking, it’s like the CPU of your house that powers the entire household electricity.

 

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET A SWITCHBOARD UPGRADE?

As we all know, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Nothing comes before safety, and that’s the primary reason for getting switchboard upgrades in your home. If you have an old switchboard, it’s more likely to get overloaded because it’s not designed to power new-age electrical appliances. Thus, you’re more likely to face short-circuits with an old switchboard.

Moreover, new switchboards come with in-built safety switches to lower the risks of electrical sparks or shocks due to any sudden power surge. Plus, you don’t need to worry about the circuit breaker constantly tripping with a new switchboard. There are also much lower chances of your fuse blowing up once you upgrade the switchboard.

On top of this, old switchboards are not compatible with today’s smart metres. So, if you’re planning to install a brand new electrical metre in your house, it’s best to upgrade the switchboard to maintain household safety and avoid electrical problems.

 

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY SWITCHBOARD NEEDS UPGRADING?

Now that you know the importance of upgrading your switchboard, it’s time to discuss when to get it done. There are certain instances where it becomes necessary to get a switchboard upgrade for your house.

So, in this section, we’ll discuss the signs that can indicate your switchboard needs an upgrade. Let’s take a quick look!

 

 1. Age Of Your House

If you bought an old house, it’s most likely to have older switchboards. Before you move in, it’s best to hire an electrician who can check the switchboard. If it’s an outdated switchboard model, you need to upgrade it immediately before installing any new-age electrical appliances in the house.

 

 2. Old Electrical Wiring 

Old electrical wiring signifies that it’s time to get an upgrade. If your wiring has turned black or grey, it’s a higher risk of giving out at any time. So, to avoid any severe electrical outage, it’s better to upgrade the entire switchboard and install new wirings.

In contrast, if your electrical wiring is still white, you might not need to upgrade right away. Hence, closely monitor the condition of your electrical wiring from time to time to determine whether you need any switchboard upgrade to ensure the electrical safety of the house.

 

 3. Flickering Lights

Flickering lights do not necessarily mean that you have a faulty light bulb. At times, loose or damaged wiring of an old switchboard can also cause the lights to flicker. Thus, if you notice that the lights are flickering even after installing a new light bulb, it’s time to upgrade your switchboard.

 

 4. Frequent Short-Circuits 

As we mentioned earlier, old switchboards cannot supply power to new-age appliances and get overloaded quite frequently. It will result in constant tripping of the electrical appliances. These frequent short-circuits can lead to the malfunctioning of the appliances. Thus, if you notice such frequent short-circuits, get a switchboard immediately.

 

 5. Rewireable Fuses 

If the switchboard comes with rewireable copper wires instead of built-in circuit breakers, it requires an immediate upgrade. The rewireable copper fuse wires can cause serious safety hazards. Hence, closely check your switchboard for copper wires and upgrade them if required to maintain household safety.

 

 6. Old Power Sockets

Discoloured power sockets can indicate an overloaded switchboard. Additionally, if the power socket is becoming too hot to touch every time you turn on an appliance, the switchboard is getting overloaded and requires an upgrade.

 

 7. Blown Up Fuses 

Frequent blowing up fuses in the house signifies uncontrollable power surges through the electrical lines. If the fuse in your house blows up regularly, it shows that the switchboard is overloaded and cannot withstand the sudden power surges. Thus, you need to upgrade it as soon as possible to avoid any power outage.

 

 8. Electrical Noises And Sparks

If you hear a buzzing noise or see some electrical sparks while switching on an appliance, it’s probably because the switchboard is overloaded and cannot manage the current flow. Under such circumstances, you can also experience electrical shocks quite frequently. Thus, it’s time to upgrade your switchboard to avoid severe safety hazards.

 

FINAL WORDS

It might seem negligible at first but always look for the signs that indicate you need immediate switchboard upgrades. By simply upgrading your switchboard, you can avoid some serious electrical hazards and ensure household safety.

After going through our article, we hope you’re well aware of all the possible signs that might indicate your switchboard needs an upgrade. So, if you identify any of these signs in your house, immediately contact a professional to take a look at the switchboard.

Try not to resolve the issue yourself without professional guidance because it may do more harm than good. It’s always best to exercise some precautions when it comes to electrical wiring and connections in your house to avoid hazards.

And on that note, we bid you farewell. Take care and stay safe!