Electric Switchboards 101: Types, Buying Advice and Maintenance

Switchboards are fundamental to any electrical network, providing homes and businesses with a safe and efficient power supply. Often overlooked, they’re the key components that distribute power from the main grid, ensure that devices and appliances stay connected, monitor and manage power output and contain elements that ensure general safety during electrical faults.

If your home or business has switchboards with older designs, obsolete protection devices, or types that don’t meet your current electrical needs, perhaps it’s time to upgrade. Upgrading prevents common issues like flickering lights, circuit tripping, and sparking. It is also mandatory to meet current wiring standards, which call for mandatory main switches and RCDs in all residential and commercial electric switchboards.

What Do Switchboards Do?

Power Distribution

As a central hub in the electrical network, the main purpose of a switchboard is to distribute power to different parts of your home or business. Cabling and wires from power lines enter the switchboard, then branch out into numerous circuits that power lights, switches or outlets and connected electrical appliances, devices and equipment.

Circuit Protection

These electrical components also have a huge say in safety. Each switchboard contains protective devices such as circuit breakers and fuses that guard against common electrical issues such as overloads, short circuits or electrical fires. They also simplify access and maintenance, with all parts housed in a single enclosure.

Monitoring and Controlling Power Supply

A key function of electric switchboards is metering and monitoring. The devices provide basic data such as voltage levels, amperage and power consumption. This can be presented in real-time or as historical data. Moreover, controls and switches can control power flow to the entire premises or individual circuits in the network. This improves efficiency by reducing power bills and facilitates maintenance and upgrading circuits.

Main Parts

To function efficiently and safely, switchboards consist of several parts:

• Main switch – this is the master control that can be turned on or off, supplying or cutting power to the premises. Main switches can also be turned off for enhanced safety in maintenance tasks, or when upgrading the electrical network with additional circuits. 
• Circuit breakers – protective devices that cut power flow during overloads and shortcuts. Each switchboard contains several circuit breakers, often one for each circuit. 
• Busbars – thin strips of conductive metals, usually copper or aluminium. They distribute power to the circuits to ensure efficient and reliable power supply. 
• RCDs – residual current devices that switch off the power supply in circuits or connected appliances and devices during electrical faults. They prevent common injuries such as burns and electrocution, shield appliances from surges and damage, and work with circuit breakers to deliver enhanced safety. 
• Meters and gauges – these monitor basics like voltage, amperage and electrical frequency. This data is useful in determining the overall efficacy of the network, or if there are potential issues. 
• Enclosure – this is the outer plastic or metal casing housing the internal components and equipped with a sliding panel for easy access. They come in surface-mount or flush-mount finishes. Enclosures protect parts from external factors like rain and dust, and most include ventilation slots or fans to ensure stable temperatures. 

Common Switchboard Types

There are different categorisations of switchboards, depending on settings, purpose and voltage requirements. Low-voltage types are common in residential and light commercial power supply, with voltages of up to 600 volts. They supply power to lights, appliances, outlets and equipment running on single-phase power. 

Medium-voltage switchboards handle between 1 and 35kV, usually in demanding settings with an industrial 3-phase power supply and heavy machinery and equipment relying on 3-phase plugs and sockets. Examples include manufacturing plants, data centres, mining operations, mills, and warehouses.

Emergency switchboards feature in critical operations like hospitals where they work with backup power supply from generators and UPS batteries for uninterrupted power.

When to Upgrade

Regular inspections can detect early signs of wear, such as damaged enclosures, rust or loose connections. Certified electricians can also discover defects in circuit breakers and RCDs to ensure proper tripping times and prevent accidents and injuries. Upgrade to newer designs and internal parts if your switchboard displays the following signs:

• Frequent circuit tripping – this points to problems with protective devices and other parts, often in older and overloaded switchboards.
• Flickering lights – overloading also causes flickering lights. This is usually the first sign that your switchboard needs upgrading. 
• Noises and smells – burning smells are caused by overheating, faulty wiring and loose connections. Buzzing, cracking or humming sounds result from arching, usually in damaged wiring, and defective insulation. Contact an electrician for an inspection to prevent more serious problems like electrical fires or damage to appliances. 
• Sparks – sparks in outlet sockets, breakers or fuses in older switchboards are a sure sign you’ll need a safer working replacement. 

Upgrade from older types with asbestos backings to comply with current standards and regulations set out in new wiring rules, and if your switchboard still relies on fuses for protection. Prices depend on size, load capacity, materials and included features like metering.