Perth electricians – most are surfers.

They get up early, start work at 5am, and then by 3pm they’re in the water.

They’re the happiest tradies in Australia.

But …of course they take their work very seriously – and that’s why they’re life-savers as much as tradies.

Eg check out this important information by Acura Electrical:

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF AN OUTDATED SWITCHBOARD?

1. NO RCD SAFETY SWITCHES TO PREVENT FATAL ELECTROCUTIONS
To protect against fatal electrocutions, legislation in Western Australia requires that at least 2 RCD Safety Switches should be fitted to a household switchboard to protect all power and light circuits.
RCDs are designed to cut the power source instantly to protect you from an electrical shock – that could be potentially fatal. Installing RCDS can prevent 90% of fatal electrocutions.

2. FUSES AND PLUG-IN CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL FIRES
Fuses are illegal to use.
Loose plug-in connections under load is arcing, melting the connected cable and finally ignites a fire.
Not a proper size Fuse-wire or Plug-in Circuit Breaker in fuse base overloads and burns the cable.
Hanging out fuse-wire will shock you while trying to replace or check it.

3. EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS BOARD (CARCINOGENIC)
Many older switchboards contain asbestos in their mounting and pose a health risk if incorrectly removed.
The correct removal of the asbestos when upgrading a switchboard is very important and must be carried out by a licensed and trained electrician.
Asbestos is a dangerous and illegal material that should NOT be drilled or cut. Dust from drilling an asbestos switchboard can release fibres into the air that can get into your lungs when inhaled and can never be removed.

Here’s some classy looking switchboard upgrades across the other side of the country.

From Kenny the Irish Electrician in Bondi:

There are some very obvious signs to look out for with your cafe’s old switchboard that will tell you if its time for an upgrade.

Ceramic Fuses & Old Wiring need to be replaced immediately. Obvious signs to look out for are black smoulder or any sign of melting around the ceramic fuse and cabling entering the fuse holder. If black smoulder marks are spotted in your home wiring, the wiring and switchboard must be upgraded straight away.

With new Appliances requiring more wattage, your old switchboard is not equipped to deal with the new power consumption demands and over time appliances will trip or overload and possibly short circuit, resulting in damaged cabling. Upgrading your switchboard will prevent your appliances from randomly tripping due to the safety switch being more superior in protecting your circuit and appliances.

Do your Lights Flicker or you have noticed the Lighting Socket is Black/Brown when you remove the old globe? The problem here is fluctuation in voltage. Over time your voltage is increased by your supply authority making is much harder for your old switchboard to handle the changes. Adding safety switches will prevent this problem and make you and your cafe safer.

When it comes to power supply and demand in commercial buildings, a single phase switchboard is unlikely to be enough – that’s best for residential/homes. For larger cafes and restaurants, a 3-phase power supply is more appropriate for the load.

Some more Perth electricians who can do your switchboard upgrade:

West Side Electrical
https://www.westsideelectrical.com.au

GA Parry
https://www.gaperry.com.au

Ric H Tek
https://richtek.com.au