Switchboard upgrades are one of the most important, and often overlooked, aspects of maintaining a residential, commercial or industrial building.

Whether you’re upgrading to a new system or simply replacing an old switchboard, it’s important to ensure that your switchboard is up to date and compliant with the latest safety standards.

If you live in Sydney and need a switchboard upgrade, there are a few things to consider before making changes to your electrical system, including making switchboard upgrades. On this page you’ll learn:

Learn more about switchboards;
Understand how a switchboard works;
Know when to make switchboard upgrades;
Choose the right switchboard;
Look for a trusted electrical services provider;
Prepare for switchboard upgrades, and more.

7 REASONS TO CHOOSE GREENELEC

When you hire GreenElec electricians you can expect a few things:

We’ll arrive on time – Being punctual is important to us. You haven’t got all day to wait around for disorganised tradesmen.
We won’t leave a mess – We’ll ensure that once we’ve completed all work the space will be exactly how we left it. You shouldn’t have to clean everything up after you’ve hired an electrician
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Transparent pricing – We’ve all heard all the horror stories of people being charged hundreds and hundreds of dollars for changing one light bulb. At GreenElec we ensure that you get a transparent, honest quote. We’ll also be totally upfront if we think there is a smarter / better way to do things
High quality work – Being on time won’t matter if the quality of work is terrible. Our expert Sydney electricians are very highly trained and completely accredited and qualified. Our team of electricians have won multiple awards for their work and projects. They get receive frequent training to ensure they are always on top of the smartest and most effective ways to do things
Family run business – GreenElec is a family owned business, we’re based in the Northern Beaches and service all of Sydney. Instead of dealing with a mega franchise, you get personalised local service – without compromising on quality.
World class after sales service – For products like solar, on the odd chance something goes wrong, many installers go missing. They don’t want to deal with it. In the unlikely event anything needs to be fixed, our team get it sorted fast.

HOW SWITCHBOARDS WORK

A switchboard is essentially a large electrical panel that contains circuit breakers, fuses, safety switches, and other devices that help to distribute power throughout a building. Switchboards are typically located in a central location, such as a utility room or basement, and they help to protect your home or business from house fires or electrical fires, power surges and other hazards, such as fatal electric shock.

For example, your air conditioning unit may be on the same circuit as your fridge and freezer. If there’s a power surge or spike, the breaker will trip and shut off the power to all three appliances, preventing them from overloading the circuit and starting a fire.

If your air conditioning unit is on a different circuit than your fridge and freezer, the breaker will only trip for that particular appliance, meaning that your other appliances will continue to have power and won’t be affected.

Upgrading Switchboards: An Overview

While most homes and businesses have a switchboard, many people don’t know how they work or when they need to a switchboard upgraded. Here’s a quick overview:

Circuit breakers and fuses are the two main types of devices that are used in a switchboard.

Circuit breakers have a safety switch that automatically shuts off power supply to a particular circuit when it detects an overcurrent condition. Fuses, on the other hand, are designed to blow or melt when there is an overload on the circuit, which then interrupts the flow of electricity.

While circuit breakers are more common in newer homes and businesses, fuses are still used in some older buildings. Some fuses are made of ceramic or porcelain, while others are made of metal. Ceramic fuses have been around for a long time, but they are not as common as they once were.

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When To Make Electrical Switchboard Upgrades

If you have older style switchboards, it is important to make sure that they are still compliant. The Australian standards for electrical switchboards change from time to time, and licensed electricians will know the latest. In Sydney, electrical switchboard upgrades are also a mandatory requirement for any commercial or industrial building undergoing renovations.

Below are some other signs that you need to have a switchboard upgrade:

Common Signs That You Need A Switchboard Upgrade:

The switchboard has an asbestos panel or multiple asbestos panels;

Exposed electrical wiring or electrical components;

Electrical wiring is old or damaged;

The safety switch is constantly tripping;

Ceramic fuses keep blowing;

Circuit breakers trip frequently;

There is arcing or sparking coming from your electrical sockets;

A short circuit has occurred in your electrical system;

The short circuit caused a fire;

Loose connections;

The switchboard is making odd noises;

You are not able to add new circuits; and

You received an electrical defect notice.

Making the Right Switchboard Upgrades with GreenElec

If your switchboard is more than 20 years old or if you are still using ceramic fuses, it is likely that your electrical system needs electrical work or at least, an inspection.

Before switchboard replacement or upgrades, a qualified electrician in Sydney usually checks the type of property, the age of the property, the power points, the number of occupants, the number of electrical appliances and devices, the location of the property, power points, and more.

A 1 phase switchboard upgrade will typically be sufficient for most homes and small businesses. A 3 phase switchboard upgrade may be necessary for larger properties like industrial properties with more occupants or electrical devices.

At GreenElec, our team of experienced and certified electricians provides electrical switchboard upgrades for both residential and commercial properties across Sydney. We conduct thorough inspections of your electrical system and provide a detailed report with recommendations. Your old switchboard will be replaced with a new one that meets all the latest Australian standards.

What to Expect During Electrical Switchboard Upgrades

– We will first disconnect the electrical supply to your home.

– Our licenses electricians will then remove the old switchboard and circuit breaker.

– The new switchboard and circuit breaker will be installed and wired up.

– We will test the new switchboard to make sure it is working properly.

– Finally, we will reconnect the power to your home and test all of the electrical outlets to make sure they are working correctly.

We will also ensure that you have the right safety switch or residual current device (RCD) installed. An RCD is a safety device designed to protect you from electric shock and can be lifesavers.

How many circuits are in your switchboard will depend on the size and age of your home or business. For example, a small home may only have two or three circuits, while a large commercial building may have dozens of circuits.

Your switchboard also connects to an earthing system, which helps to protect your home or business from electrical shocks. The earthing system is typically a rod that is driven into the ground or a metal plate that is buried in the ground.

Here are additional expectations and considerations during a switchboard upgrades or switchboard inspection:

Your home or business will experience a power outage during the switchboard upgrade, so you’ll need to make arrangements accordingly.
We will need access to your fuse box or circuit breaker panel. If these are located in a difficult-to-reach spot, you may need to move them before the upgrade can take place.
During a switchboard upgrade, safety switches will need to be installed on all circuits. If you don’t have safety switches already, we will install them for you.
We will need to drill holes in your walls to install the new switchboard. These holes will be filled and painted after the switchboard upgrade is complete.
If you’re looking for an affordable solution to a switchboard upgrade, you can do a DIY switchboard upgrade. There are some kits that come with everything you need to have your switchboard upgraded. However, this poses a lot of safety risks and may actually cost you more in the long run. It’s still best to have a professional electrician like GreenElec do the job to ensure it’s done correctly.

GreenElec: A Reputable Partner For Switchboard Upgrades

Upgrading old switchboards is a big job, but it’s necessary if you want to ensure the safety of your home or business. Reliable switchboard upgrades can also help improve the efficiency of your electrical system.

In Sydney, GreenElec is a reputable and reliable partner for switchboard upgrades. We are a team of licensed electricians who have been servicing the Sydney area for 14 years. We are experienced in all aspects of electrical work, including switchboard upgrades.

When choosing reliable electrical services or fully qualified electricians to upgrade your current switchboard, be sure to ask about their experience with switchboard upgrades, their licensing and insurance information, and whether they offer a warranty on their work.

GreenElec offers all of these things and more. We always take a positive and proactive approach to all our projects, no matter how big or small.

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SWITCHBOARD UPGRADE Sydney