After the year-end shopping period, many South Africans are starting the year with new appliances and gadgets, from gaming consoles and upgraded TVs to air fryers, fridges, and more. As these go 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,” says Dr Andrew Dickson, 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 exactly where problems begin.
Warning signs to look out for
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 and unmarked switches you cannot identify. Noticing any of these signals means it’s time to contact a qualified electrician.
The life-saving test
“It is important to consider your earth leakage; look for the button marked ‘TEST’ on your DB board and press it. The unit should trip immediately. If it doesn’t, your earth leakage protection has failed, and that’s the device designed to save you from electrocution,” he warns. “It is crucial to get this replaced immediately if it does not operate.”
When to consider an upgrade
A DB board may 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 EV charger, heat pump, or multiple air conditioners
- Power trips regularly during normal household use
- Your board has no 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,” says Dickson.
He encourages South Africans to take ten minutes to check their DB board. “It’s a small step that can prevent a far bigger problem down the line.”
