Before you can start generating solar power, you may need to upgrade your home’s electrical switchboard. For many, this can be a confusing and unexpected part of the process.
Why would you need to replace your switchboard just to add solar panels? What does the upgrade involve, and how much will it cost?
At Penrith Solar Centre, we understand how worrisome all the technical information can be as you take your first steps on your solar journey. Don’t worry, we’re here to support you with articles like this one. Replacing a main switchboard may or may not be a necessary upgrade. There’s a lot to explore here.
In this article, you will learn:
- When is a Switchboard Upgrade Necessary?
- Safety and Switchboard Upgrades
- Cost and Advice for Switchboard Upgrades
- Situations Requiring Special Consideration
By the end of this article, you’ll be prepared to make informed decisions about your main switchboard and have peace of mind knowing your electrical system is safe and ready to support your new solar setup.
When is a Switchboard Upgrade Necessary?
A main switchboard upgrade is needed when your current switchboard can’t handle the electrical load required by new installations, like solar systems or major appliances.
It’s also essential if the switchboard lacks space for a new breaker, especially in older boards that don’t have room for it.
Every time you add a new appliance, like a new oven or dryer, a new breaker is added to the main switchboard. Eventually, that space fills up. It can be a problem because those boards are not very big.
You’ll need space on the board for the solar main switch. It’s especially necessary if you’re also planning on upgrading anything else in your home. Things like adding an electric car charger, a new hot water system, or a solar battery.
If your home happens to be a three-phase site, you’ll need enough space in your main switchboard for a three-phase breaker. It’s usually the size of three switches, one for each phase, and they take up a lot of real estate on your board.
When upgrading a main switchboard, the electrician takes everything off the board and places it in a smaller, better-designed switchboard that fits.
It’s literally grabbing all the bits and pieces from the board and reworking it into one neat and tidy board.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about solar batteries, you might want to start with the following article titled, Adding a Battery to a Solar System.
Safety and Switchboard Upgrades
Safety Problem:
In the late 1900s, regulations for switchboards were different. Boards had a main switch and a bunch of porcelain fuses for various electrical components.
Old switchboards often don’t have safety switches, which are required by today’s electrical standards, which are in place to protect personal, property, and livestock from any electrical installation.
If your switchboard is full of old fuses, you should strongly consider an upgrade to replace those fuses with safety switches. This technology just wasn’t around 20 – 25 years ago.
Safety Solution:
Safety switches play an important role – they detect faults and automatically shut off the circuit to prevent electric shocks. They’re designed to save your life. To be clear, you still may get an electric shock, but it won’t continually shock you. It switches off quickly.
Installing safety switches is also a great way to protect against dangerous issues like electrical faults that could lead to fires or injuries.
Electric faults can happen. It’s possible a rat or some other critter might chew through a wire – it’s common enough to mention here. Water leaks are also something that leads to electrical malfunctions. In the worst-case scenario, it could even burn your house down.
Our sparkies call safety switches “safer switches,” purely because they can still cause an electric shock. There may even be some potential damage, but the switch is designed to trip off the second any faults are detected.
Like smoke alarms, it’s important to test it once a year to make sure it’s still working. There’s a test button on each breaker.
By law, a safety switch is required on any new power circuit installed in a home. However, for solar main switches, safety switches aren’t mandatory on existing power or light circuits.
Penrith Solar Centre strongly recommends that homeowners consider a switchboard upgrade for safety reasons. Although PSC doesn’t include switchboard upgrades in our standard packages, we encourage customers to reach out to a local electrician to discuss options.
Upgrading can add an extra layer of protection, even if it’s not required.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about our aftercare, you might want to check out the following article titled, Penrith Solar Centre’s Service Department Safeguards the Future of Your System.
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Cost and Advice for Switchboard Upgrades
Switchboard upgrades usually start around $1,000. However, some electricians may charge significantly more, so it’s a good idea to get a few quotes to avoid paying too much.
If an electrician quotes a price over $3,000 or $4,000, this should raise questions. In that case, consider asking for a breakdown of the costs. If they won’t supply this, look for another electrician.
You should feel confident that the cost is fair and necessary.
Qualified installers have a duty to fix or report any dangerous or non-compliant conditions they encounter on a switchboard.
Good installers will test important elements, like the earth connection and ensure there are no non-compliant cables in the board, such as cotton cable, to make sure everything meets current electrical standards. They will also provide documentation for their work.
Be cautious if an electrician skips paperwork, as they may be trying to avoid responsibility for any future issues. Reliable electricians make sure all necessary steps are followed, and that the homeowner has a clear record of the work completed.
If you’re interested in learning about the rebate for solar, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Does the Solar Rebate Work?
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Situations Requiring Special Consideration
- Some scenarios require extra attention when it comes to switchboards. For instance, if you’re installing a battery, you may need additional circuits or a residual current device (RCD) to handle backup power safely.
- Another example is when older, bulky meters take up too much space in the switchboard. In these cases, upgrading to a smaller smart meter can free up room for new connections.
- If you want to increase your solar capacity, you might also consider upgrading from a single-phase to a three-phase electrical connection. This upgrade depends on your energy provider’s policies and adds extra costs.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about single-phase and three-phase sites, you might want to check out the following article titled, Single-Phase vs. Three-Phase: How Are They Different?
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Final Notes on Switchboard Safety and Customer Care
Reputable installers put customer safety first and are always transparent about any issues they find. They will fix any problems they discover, even if it requires extra time or cost because safety matters most. When you work with a trustworthy electrician, you can feel confident that your home is in good hands.
At Penrith Solar Centre, safety is the cornerstone of everything we do. While we don’t replace switchboards, we do work with them every day. Upgrading yours might be a smart idea. We’ll be here for you through the process. It’s what we do.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about what to expect with your installation, you might want to check out the following article titled, What to Expect on the Day of Your Solar Installation.
