Essentially it does two things: 1) It divides up the power. In a switchboard you’ll normally have a lot of power coming in from the grid, and you want to split this up so that it can be distributed around through many individual circuits.2) It protects people and equipment. This is normally through the use of circuit breakers and fuses in the switchboard which help limit faults and keep people safe.

It is AS/NZS 61439, the standard for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. There are different parts to this standard such as AS/NZS 61439.0 which is the specifiers guide, AS/NZS 61439.1 which are the general rules and AS/NZS 61439.2 for power switchgear and controlgear assemblies.

There are many types, these include: Residential switchboards – for use in a houseMain switchboards – these are normally the larger switchboard of an commerical or industrial installation and provide the connection point to the grid. These aredesigned to be operated by an ordinary person.

Distribution boards – these are normally up to around 250A and supply power to individual circuitsMotor control centres – control and power the motors in an industrial installationMechanical services switchboard – these supply power and control to mechanical services which are normally associated with air conditioning, ventillation, hot water and sometimes elevators. Control Panels – these often have electronics inside which are powered with a 24V power supply and backed up by an uninteruptable power supply (UPS). They often are built in a Rittal enclosure and contain things like PLCs – Programmable Logic Controllers, RTUs – Remote Terminal Units, ethernet switches and various other electronics. <br>

Generally yes. There are exeptions where it can be argued that no main switch is required in a commercial installation. This would be where a switchboard is exteneded and the new section is less than 3m from the old section.

These are the same thing. You may find however that when someone is refering to an electrical panel they are talking about a smallish wall mount switchboard.

These are the same thing.

The basic functionality of a simple standard switchboard is the divide the power into seperate circuits safetly. The basic components are circuit breakers, and enclosure and conductors (either copper bar or cable). There are often many other parts to a switchboard depending on the purpose and design.

For a residential setting these are often the same thing – can be known as the meter panel, the fuse box, switch box switchboard etc. For commercial projects the meter panel is a specific part of the switchboard that holds the metering equipment. It is moally recognisable by the black bakelite panel that the meter sits on.

The main difference if the standard they were build to. Previously switchboards could be built to AS/NZS 3439. However since May 2021 all switchboards sold in Australia need to be built to AS/NZS 61439. If an existing switchboard was build to an old standard it doesn’t need to be replaced, but any new work must be compliant with the new standard. This can make altering exisitng switchboards very difficult to do in a compliant way and often requires a new switchboard or new section of a switchboard that is compliant to the new standards.

It depends on the current level of the switchboard and what distribution circuit breakers are required. As well as the switchboard there will be installation costs and possible grid connection costs. If you need a quote on a switchboard we’ll be able to meet your specific needs. Please contact us here: Electrical Switchboard Quote