Common warning signs your switchboard needs upgrading include lights dimming when appliances start, power loss after adding new appliances or circuits, repeated outages in the same part of the house, and any humming, buzzing or crackling from the board itself. You may be asking yourself “does my switchboard need upgrading?” if you’ve noticed any of these signs. Never inspect, touch or open a faulty switchboard yourself as this is dangerous and can kill, always call a licensed electrician to assess and diagnose the issue safely.
Warning signs that your switchboard may need upgrading
If you notice any of the following signs that your switchboard may need upgrading, call a licensed electrician straight away. This blog covers some of the common warning signs of a faulty switchboard, however please note that there are several other warning signs that indicate a faulty switchboard which this blog does not cover.
Warning: touching or even opening a faulty switchboard is dangerous and can result in death. Do not touch a faulty switchboard, always call a licensed electrician to have it professionally inspected. If ever in doubt, call a licensed electrician.
Lights that dim or flicker when appliances kick in
Lights that dim or flicker when the dishwasher, ducted air conditioner or an EV charger starts drawing power point to a capacity problem at the board, not a fault with the appliance. Older switchboards were sized for the load of a much older home, and modern appliances pull more current at start-up than the board was ever built to distribute cleanly.
New appliances are triggering power loss
If problems started, or got worse, after adding a new appliance, an EV charger, a renovation or extra circuits, that timing is a useful clue. It suggests your home’s power needs have outgrown what the switchboard was set up to handle. This is common in older Perth homes where the switchboard was never reassessed after later additions.
The same part of the house losing power repeatedly
If you’re frequently losing power in the same room or area of your house, that’s a pattern worth noting. A repeated pattern tied to the same area can suggest that part of the house is on a circuit that’s struggling to keep up. This should never be ignored.
A humming, buzzing or crackling sound coming from the switchboard
You don’t need to (and shouldn’t) remove the cover or even touch the switchboard to hear it. A humming, buzzing or crackling sound coming from where the board is mounted usually points to a loose connection, a component under strain, or arching from within the switchboard. A switchboard which is humming, buzzing or crackling can explode, with the explosion reaching extremely high temperatures of over 19,000°C+, if you can hear humming, buzzing or crackling, do not touch the switchboard. Stay away from the switchboard and call a licensed electrician immediately.
Visible Signs on your Switchboard a Licensed Electrician Looks For
A professional switchboard assessment covers a range of checks which a licensed electrician is qualified to safely carry out. Checking a faulty switchboard yourself is dangerous and can result in injury or death. Always hire a licensed electrician to check and assess a faulty switchboard.
These are some of the things a licensed electrician checks when they inspect your switchboard:
- Ceramic fuses: small cylindrical holders, usually cream or terracotta, that look nothing like a modern circuit breaker. A board still running on these is decades old and almost certainly missing RCD protection.
- RCD coverage: WA legislation requires at least two RCD safety switches at the switchboard, protecting all power and lighting circuits. A board with only one blanket safety switch, or none at all, won’t disconnect fast enough in a fault.
- Scorch marks, rust or corrosion on the busbars and terminals, which shows heat or moisture has already caused damage rather than just being a risk down the track.
- Overcrowded wiring, or circuits that have been added or modified without proper labelling over time.
These are the issues that need to be checked and diagnosed by a licensed electrician, so they’re not something to check yourself. If you notice any of the signs of a faulty switchboard (such as flickering lights or repeated power loss) that suggests that there might be a problem with your switchboard, call a licensed electrician straight away.
What a Switchboard Upgrade in Perth Involves
During an assessment, the electrician checks the condition of the enclosure, the wiring and terminations, the age and type of the protection devices fitted, and whether the board’s capacity matches your home’s current demand. If an upgrade goes ahead, the job involves removing the old board, fitting a new enclosure, installing RCDs and modern circuit breakers, reconnecting and labelling every circuit, then testing the installation and issuing a compliance certificate.
For a standard three to four bedroom Perth home, a switchboard upgrade typically costs between $1,500 and $3,000, covering the enclosure, breakers, RCDs, labour and compliance paperwork. Homes with more circuits, or those needing three-phase work, can run higher costs. Most standard upgrades are completed within a day.
Spotting the sign of a faulty switchboard should always be followed by calling a licensed electrician. Confirming what your board actually needs, whether it’s a full replacement or something narrower like adding RCDs to specific circuits, comes down to a proper inspection. Phase Pro Electrical WA’s licensed electricians carry out switchboard assessments across Perth and High Wycombe. If your switchboard needs upgrading, get in touch with us today for a free quote.