When did you last take a look at your switchboard?
If you’ve got an older house (built in the 1970s or earlier), do us a quick favour: stop reading this article, pop down the hall and take a look at your switchboard. If it looks like one of the pictures below, keep reading; there’s a good chance you’re overdue for an upgrade.
First things first: what’s a switchboard, and what does it do?
The switchboard is the Fat Controller of your home’s electrical systems; it directs electricity to the right place, “organises” your power, and (most importantly) safely disconnects the power when it detects a fault.
If you’re old enough to remember your Mum going outside in her dressing gown to reset a fuse in the fuse box, you already know the basics of a switchboard. Modern switchboards do the same job, but replace those old-school fuses with high-tech monitoring devices and circuit breakers that will trip in the event of a fault.
When switchboards are correctly installed and maintained, they protect you by spotting faults as they happen and shutting the power off before you get a shock, or before an electrical fire starts.
Why do older switchboards need to be replaced?
Technology has come a long way in the last 50 years, and the components used in old switchboards just aren’t up to scratch anymore. Even if your old switchboard is still working, it’s unlikely to meet the current NZ safety standards, and it won’t be fitted with RCD and MCB protective devices (which keep you safe if an electrical fault happens). Older switchboards also struggle to handle the electrical load needed to run modern appliances.
All of this adds up to a less safe switchboard and an increased risk of electrical fires and shocks.
Modern protection: RCDs and MCBs
Modern switchboards are fitted with residual current devices (RCDs) and mini circuit breakers (MCBs), which provide extra protection against electrical hazards.
In simple terms, RCDs constantly monitor the electricity flowing through your house and automatically turn off the power if a fault is detected. If you poke a fork into the toaster or drop your hairdryer in the bath*, the RCD will immediately notice the change in the system, go “OK, that’s super dangerous” and turn off the power before you get an electric shock. Old porcelain fuses and older circuit breakers can’t disconnect as quickly and safely as a modern RCD, so if you’ve got an old switchboard you’re much more likely to receive a serious or fatal shock if an accident happens.
Mini circuit breakers (MCBs) are automatically operated electrical switches that recognise when too much electricity is flowing through a system. MCBs help to protect you against the things you can’t easily see or avoid; for example, if faulty wiring inside your walls causes a short circuit, the MCB will shut off the power before an electrical fire can start.
*As electricians, we highly recommend that you never do either of these things.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade?
We’re not trying to freak you out, but if you’ve got an older switchboard it’s definitely worth having a qualified electrician check that it’s operating safely. You wouldn’t feel comfortable flying in a plane that hadn’t been maintained since the 70s, so don’t take that risk with your home electricity.
If any of these things sound familiar, give us a call:
Your switchboard looks old, or parts look broken.
You’ve recently purchased an older house, and you’re not sure what state the wiring is in (even if it’s working perfectly).
Your house keeps having Paranormal Activity moments: weird humming noises, flickering lights, lightbulbs blowing all the time, or appliances getting really hot for no reason.
If you’re at all unsure about the safety of your switchboard, we’re happy to come round for an inspection and a free, no-obligation proposal. Switchboard upgrades aren’t overly expensive, and they’re 100% worth it to have peace of mind that your home and family are protected.
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