After the year-end shopping period, many South Africans start the year with new appliances and gadgets, including gaming consoles, upgraded TVs, air fryers, fridges and more.

As these devices are put into daily use, the added demand can expose weaknesses in older home wiring and electrical systems.

“Most families don’t think twice about their distribution board (DB board) until something goes wrong, and by then it’s often too late,” said Dr Andrew Dickson, an engineering executive at CBi-electric: low voltage.

Why your DB board matters

“Your DB board is designed to cut the power when something goes wrong, whether it’s a faulty kettle, an overloaded plug point or a lightning strike. But many South African homes still rely on DB boards installed in the 1990s. Back then, a typical household had a TV, a fridge and perhaps a microwave.

“Today, it’s multiple TVs, computers, chargers, Wi-Fi routers, air conditioners, washing machines and other high-demand devices, often running at the same time. That mismatch between old infrastructure and new energy use is where problems begin.”

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Know the warning signs

According to Dickson, several indicators suggest your DB board or wiring may be unsafe.

These include:
• burn marks around switches;
• any faint burning smell;
• rust or corrosion;
• loose or exposed wires;
• lights dimming when appliances switch on;
• frequent power trips;
• warm switches or outlets;
• buzzing sounds from the board;
• unmarked switches you cannot identify.

Dickson said noticing any of these signals means it’s time to contact a qualified electrician.

The life-saving test

Dickson said it is vital to consider your earth leakage; look for the button marked ‘TEST’ on your DB board and press it.

“The unit should immediately trip. If it doesn’t, the earth leakage protection has failed. That’s the device designed to save you from electrocution, so it is crucial to immediately replace it.”

Cost to replace earth leakage protection

“A standard replacement costs between R3 500 and R7 000, with major upgrades reaching R12 000. Compare that to rebuilding after an electrical fire,” said Dickson.

When to consider an upgrade

A DB board might need replacing if:
• your home is more than 25 years old, and the board has never been upgraded;
• you still have an old fuse box instead of modern circuit breakers;
• you’ve added high-demand appliances, such as an electric vehicle charger, heat pump or multiple air conditioners;
• the power regularly trips during normal household use.

Dickson encourages all South Africans to take 10 minutes to check their DB board, “It’s a small step that can prevent a far bigger problem down the line.”

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