Most people don’t think about their switchboard until something goes wrong with it. The problem is, by the time something’s obviously wrong, it’s usually been building for a while. Here are the signs worth actually paying attention to.
1. You Still Have Ceramic Fuses
If your board has round ceramic fuses that you replace with fuse wire, rather than circuit breakers you flip back on, you’re working with a design that predates most of the safety standards Australian homes now rely on. These were common up until the 80s and 90s in a lot of South West WA homes.
The fix for a blown fuse used to be finding the right gauge wire and rethreading it. If that sounds familiar, your board is a strong candidate for an upgrade regardless of anything else on this list.
2. You Don’t Have Safety Switches on Every Circuit
Since 2021, WA regulations require safety switches (RCDs) on all circuits, not just powerpoints. A lot of older homes have one safety switch covering lighting, or none at all covering certain circuits.
This one’s worth checking even if everything else about your electrics feels fine, because it’s not something you’d necessarily notice day to day. It only becomes obvious in the moment a fault actually happens – and that’s exactly when you want it working.
3. Fuses Blow or Breakers Trip When You Run Two Things at Once
Kettle and microwave running together. Air conditioner kicks in while the oven’s on. If everyday combinations of normal appliances are tripping your board, that’s usually a capacity issue – the board wasn’t built for how much power a modern household actually draws at once.
This is more common than people expect in houses that have had appliances added over the years without anyone reassessing what the board can actually handle.
4. Visible Damage, Rust, or a Burning Smell
This one’s less subtle. Scorch marks, rust around the board, a faint burning or hot plastic smell near the switchboard – these are signs of an active problem, not a “keep an eye on it” situation. If you notice any of these, it’s worth getting looked at sooner rather than later.
5. Lights Dim When Something Else Switches On
If your lights flicker or dim noticeably when the air conditioner starts, or when a large appliance kicks in, that can point to wiring or capacity issues that trace back to the switchboard. It’s not always the board itself, but it’s a common enough symptom that it’s worth ruling out.
What If None of These Apply?
If your board’s got circuit breakers, safety switches on every circuit, and none of the above symptoms – it’s probably fine. We’d rather tell you that than talk you into a job you don’t need.
If you’re not sure which category you fall into, it’s a quick thing for us to check. We’ve also put together a breakdown of switchboard upgrade costs in WA if you want to know what to expect once you do decide it’s time.
For a deeper look at the difference between the safety devices themselves, see RCD vs Safety Switch: What’s the Difference?
Getting It Checked
We work across Capel, Bunbury, Eaton, Busselton, Dalyellup, Australind, Donnybrook, Boyanup, Margaret River and Peppermint Grove Beach. If any of the above sounds familiar, get in touch and we’ll give you a straight answer on where your switchboard actually stands.