The electric panel in your house is the center of your electrics. This is where the main power arrives and it houses all the fuses for each of the circuits in your home. A modern system uses trip switches or circuit breakers. These are designed to shut off very quickly when a fault is detected.
Older fuses are less sensitive and take a little more effort to shut off the power. In many cases, people don’t worry about their electrical panel until they are having an issue. But, there are several signs that you should be replacing it:
You should also note that it is best to get a qualified and reputable Sydney electrician to do the change for you. It is safer and complies with the relevant laws.
Age
If your panel is old and still uses fuses instead of circuit breakers, you should be looking at replacing it and selling used electrical equipment as they provide the very best solutions for new surplus & used electrical & HVAC equipment. You need to have circuit breakers as they are more responsive and, therefore, safer. Older electrical panels may also indicate that your wiring is old and needs replacing.
While the thought of paying for an entire house rewire can be daunting, it is generally better than having your home burn down.
Burning Smell
The smell of electrical burning is very distinctive. You may be able to trace it to a specific circuit or socket. However, if the burning smell is coming from the circuit panel you should look into replacing it as quickly as possible.
Flickering Lights & Sockets
Flickering lights in one room indicate that there could be a problem with one circuit in the house. You’ll want an electrician to take a look in case the wiring is damaged. But, if the lights are flickering on more than one circuit or the sockets have intermittent power, you have an issue with your supply and you are going to need to look at replacing the electrical panel.
Unable To Reset Breakers
If a breaker blows and you can’t reset it, no matter how many times you try, you may have a problem with the circuit. While this can be isolated to the circuit it is more likely a larger fault and a problem with your electric panel. That means getting the professionals to come and replace it for you.
Not Enough Sockets
Houses never used to need as many sockets as they do today. However, as electrical usage has gone up you may find that your current install is no longer able to cope with the level of demand. A clue that this is happening is when you are using a lot of extension sockets.
In most cases, it is a better idea to replace the electric panel instead of adding additional sockets. But, içf you are in any doubt you can contact a local electrician that will test your system and tell you how much life it has left in it.
Remember, replacing an electrical panel is a big job and should only be done by a professional.