The distribution board (DB board) is where your home's circuits, breakers and earth leakage unit live. Many older Benoni homes still have boards that don't meet today's standards.
Signs your DB board needs attention
- Old screw-in fuses or ceramic fuse holders instead of breakers
- No earth leakage unit, or one that trips often for no clear reason
- Scorch marks, a burning smell or a warm board
- Not enough space for new circuits, such as an inverter, stove or air conditioner
- A Certificate of Compliance inspection that flagged the board
What an upgrade involves
The electrician replaces the enclosure and breakers, labels every circuit, checks the earthing, and fits an earth leakage unit. Ask for surge protection to be added at the same time. Once the work is done, a registered electrician must issue a Certificate of Compliance for it.
Why surge protection matters here
Gauteng's summer thunderstorms bring frequent lightning, and power can surge when the supply comes back after an outage. A surge protection device in the DB board helps protect appliances, gate motors, alarms and inverters. It's not a guarantee against a direct lightning strike, so check what your insurance covers too.
Questions to ask
- Will you issue a CoC for the new board?
- Is surge protection included, and what type?
- Will every circuit be labelled?
- How long will the power be off?
Read more: Electrical Certificate of Compliance explained
Frequently asked questions
When should a DB board be upgraded?
If it has old fuses instead of circuit breakers, no earth leakage unit, signs of heat or burning, not enough space for new circuits, or it fails a Certificate of Compliance inspection.
Does a DB board upgrade need a Certificate of Compliance?
Yes. Work on the distribution board must be done by a registered electrician, who issues a CoC for the work. See electrical CoC in Benoni.
What does surge protection in the DB board protect against?
Voltage surges from lightning and power coming back after outages, which damage TVs, gate motors, routers and pumps. See lightning and surge protection.
Can a DB board upgrade be combined with an inverter installation?
Often yes. Many installers split the board into essential (backed-up) and non-essential circuits at the same time, which saves on labour.