Need to upgrade your switchboard?
Switchboards are the central hub for all electrical power in your home. It distributes the power coming into your house from a major supply and serves it out to different electrical components such as lighting or appliances. Needless to say (but we’ll say it anyway…) it’s an incredibly important piece of kit and needs to be minded, inspected and if it’s old, your switchboard needs an upgrade.
Why would I need a switchboard upgrade?
There are a few different reasons why you’d need an upgrade to your existing switchboard.
Your house was built pre-1990:
For starters, let’s think about power usage in simpler times. We didn’t have multiple devices charging all over the house like we do now. Then of course our appliances were few and far between. There weren’t many dishwashers or clothes dryers and even microwaves weren’t the necessity they are now. As for Christmas lighting? Well, Santa had to make do with a battery-operated torch to guide himself around Queensland and didn’t have the spectacle of lights around today. The bottom line is that we use way more electricity than we ever did so those old ceramic fuses just ain’t going to cut it anymore.
It’s the law:
Having said that, unless you’re about to renovate an old build that hasn’t been inhabited in decades, your home should already have a modern switchboard with safety switches. In fact, it’s required by law that you have a switchboard with safety switches. However, if you extend your home or add new sockets or even appliances, make sure your existing switchboard is up to the task and can accommodate the extra load.
It’s tripping:
You may have a modern switchboard with required safety switches but that doesn’t mean that everything is going to be perfect. If a fuse keeps tripping every time you turn on the kettle or the dishwasher, you need to have it looked at by a licensed electrician. It might mean that your existing switchboard cannot handle these extra appliances. As well as that, your appliance might need to be repaired or changed.
Hiring an electrical contractor
In Queensland, all electricians must have an electrical work licence permitting them to carry out work. What’s more, the law requires that licensed electrical workers must ensure that they perform electrical work in accordance with legislation, codes of practice as well as technical standards.
As well as individual licences for electrical work, electrical contracting businesses must also have an electrical contractor licence. In addition, electrical contractors must have a minimum of $5 million public liability insurance, with a $50,000 consumer protection component.
We’re here to help!
Always Prompt Repairs are open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 4.30pm. However, if you need us outside these hours, call us and we’ll come to the rescue.
We offer
- Competitive pricing so that we make it affordable for your home or business
- And a skilled team of master electricians with vans stocked with parts
We accept cash, mobile EFTPOS, Debit, VISA and MasterCard.
Remember that additional charges may apply after hours or weekends. To sum up… what are you waiting for?
