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As a homeowner, you must consider several things before starting electrical upgrades to your home or business. You must ensure your switchboard meets energy requirements without overloading the electrical circuits. Likewise, your consumer mains might need an upgrade. You may wonder what other things can prompt you to upgrade your consumer mains.
This post guides you on how to know when it's time to upgrade your consumer mains. You can read up on the benefits of upgrading consumer mains, when to upgrade your consumer mains and the role of level 2 electricians in consumer mains upgrades. The post concludes with the electrical services of ASP level 2 licensed electrical contractors.
Consumer mains explained
Consumer mains refer to the power supply cables that connect service lines from your street to your home. Your electrical switchboard needs a power supply from the consumer mains.
Benefits of new switchboard installations
Upgrading your consumer unit and performing a new switchboard upgrade installation has several benefits. These benefits include the following:
- Improved electrical safety: Modern switchboards and consumer mains units include circuit breakers that protect against overloading and short circuits.
- Meeting up with safety standards: This is important if you want to sell your home. Installation certificates also indicate compliance with building regulations.
- Increased electrical system capacity: Modern consumer units can better meet higher power demands and reduce the risk of overloading.
- Energy and cost saving: Upgraded switchboards and consumer units tend to be more energy-efficient. They are also more cost-saving in the long term.
When to upgrade your consumer mains
Here are some situations or reasons that need you to upgrade consumer mains:
To meet the power demand of electrical appliances
If the building date of your Australian house is earlier than 2010, there's a chance it has 6mm consumer mains. Such consumers' mains can only supply a maximum of 40 amps of electricity to electrical switchboards through the 6mm cables. You must convert such consumer mains to 16mm cables before it can handle 70 amps of electricity and above.
In other words, you must upgrade your consumer mains if you run many electrical appliances, such as hot water systems, multiple fridges, and air conditioning. This step is even more critical if you consider installing other large appliances, such as pool pumps and cooking appliances.
To resolve defective consumer mains
Your existing consumer mains may need to be upgraded if they become defective. This means that it may have electrical issues such as deteriorated or low insulation resistance.
Handling electrical defect notices
Your authority network, such as Endeavour Energy, Ausgrid, or Essential Energy, may detect a consumer mains fault or defect. As such, they can send you an electrical defect notice. This defect notice usually requires fixing any identified fault within 21 days. A Level 2 electrician is well qualified to handle and resolve such electrical defect notices.
To resolve sudden power outages
Power issues are often due to defective or overworked consumer mains. Increasing power consumption from extra appliances burdens existing mains and causes overly worked cables that, in turn, lead to sudden power losses. This is a reason to get an upgraded consumer mains installed.
Replacement of asbestos panels
Electrical switchboards of houses older than 25 years (or built before 2004) may possibly have an asbestos panel. Such switchboards will need the removal and replacement of asbestos panels. Switchboard asbestos removal can only be done by Level 2 electricians.
The role of level 2 electricians in mains upgrades
You need a Level 2 electrician if you need to work on your consumer mains. This is because consumer mains work is advanced and complex; only licensed, trained, and qualified electricians should work on them.
Likewise, only a licensed electrician with an ASP (Authorised Service Provider) Level 2 licence can install consumer mains systems. Usually, licensed electricians cannot connect consumer mains to supply networks.
When to get your switchboard upgraded
You can simply go for an upgrade if your electrical switchboard is outdated. After all, your switchboard plays a vital role as the distribution centre of your home's electrical system. You will simply be complying with Australia's safety standards. Just be sure to get a qualified electrician to do the upgrade. Other reasons to get your switchboard upgraded include the following.
To avoid the risk of old VIR cables
Many older houses may have VIR (Vulcanised Indian Rubber) cable wiring, which is risky for several reasons. It has a limited lifespan and can be a reason for short electrical circuits and electrical fires.
This is because the VIR cables can deteriorate, and the insulation can break away from the conductors. In this situation, the steel conduit can become live and pose a risk if it makes contact with the conduit.
To meet the XLPE cabling standard
This is an excellent reason to opt for a consumer mains upgrade or switchboard upgrade. The domestic modern standard uses a minimum of 16mm cable size and XLPE cables (cross-linked polyethylene) when installing consumer mains.
XLPE cabling is preferred because of its superior mechanical properties compared to other insulations. These properties include greater tensile strength and higher impact resistance.
Fuses, circuit breakers, safety switches and RCDs
Circuit breakers, safety switches, and RCDs essentially act as safety gadgets that protect your electrical system.
Fuses
A fuse is an electrical protection device that breaks the flow of electrical current if your appliance is generating excess electricity flow. You should know that old ceramic and porcelain fuses are now considered outdated. They are less equipped to handle technological upgrades. As such, you need to upgrade to a modern switchboard if you have one.
Circuit breakers
Your circuit breaker acts as a resettable fuse when it detects excess current flow and then trips switches.
Safety switches
Safety switches act as electrical protection devices for electrical circuit components. According to new regulations, installing new circuits requires new safety switch installations. Likewise, altering an existing circuit requires you to have safety switches installed. In any case, all final subcircuits need to have safety switches installed.
Residual current devices (RCDs)
RCDs are sensitive electrical safety devices that trip off when there are electrical faults in the system. They provide an additional layer of protection against potential electrical fires or electrical shocks.
Electrical services of ASP level 2 contractors
Reputable electrical contractors can provide services on various properties. These services include the following:
Installation and replacement of private power poles
Your power supply can be compromised if you have defective private power poles. They can even pose a serious safety hazard. Electrical contractors with ASP Level 2 licences can safely install and replace temporary and private power poles.
Power supply troubleshooting
Similarly, they can perform power supply work on overhead and underground electrical cables. You can also invite them for issues with your electricity meter box.
Moreover, they can troubleshoot issues with circuit breakers and install safety switches.
Emergency electrician services
Electrical contractors can competently provide emergency electrician services. This includes checking your consumer mains, troubleshooting your main supply cables, upgrading your switchboard, and installing power points.
General ceiling fan and lighting installations
You can invite your local electrical contractor if you need to get additional LED lights installed. They can also perform appliance installation such as ceiling fan installation.
Electrical repairs
You can invite electrical contractors to perform an electrical inspection on your property. Their fault-finding process can reveal electrical faults that need fixing. As such, your electrical contractor can perform general electrical repairs.
Switchboard upgrades to 3-phase supply
You can upgrade your power supply to a 3-phase to run high-power appliances conveniently. Your local electrician can help you upgrade your switchboard so you can power appliances such as hot water systems and large air conditioners.
Contractors can help with mains upgrades
After reading this guide on how to know when it's time to upgrade your consumer mains, you can take the next step to contact a local electrical contractor. You cannot attempt a DIY mains upgrade or use an ordinary electrician's services. A local electrical contractor can assess electrical wiring and help with reasonably priced mains upgrades.
