Everything You Need to Know About Upgrading Your Fuse Box

15 July, 2019
How to upgrade fuse box?

There are many reasons why people decide to upgrade their electric fuse box. For instance, a switchboard may need to be upgraded or replaced if it has been deemed unsafe. In some cases the electric fuse box may not be able to handle the demands that you are placing on it, causing it to either repeatedly cause fuses to trip or overheat.

You may also need to upgrade your fuse box because of a new appliance purchase, such as a pool pump or AC unit, which requires an extension in order to meet the extra power demand. Also, if you own an antiquated porcelain based fuse box-with fuse wire-then an upgrade that includes circuit breakers is an absolute must if you want to protect your home and your loved ones. Regardless of the reason, upgrading your fuse box can be very easy to do, and we will cover everything you need to know about upgrading your electric fuse box in this article.

How long will it take?

A fuse box, as with many things in an old home, will differ from property to property. However, if you want to perform a rudimentary changeover from an archaic fuse box model to a safer and newer version then it will likely take you roughly four hours to complete in most cases. However, if you own a property that has been on the market for over a quarter of a century, then you will likely need to upgrade your mains power too so that your home will be able to handle the additional power demands.

Hence, your fuse box cable will also need to be upgraded, in terms of its size, to adhere to the extra power requirements. In most cases, doing so will take approximately eight hours to complete, so you may need to take a day off of work to work on it if you are planning on doing it yourself; albeit such extensive and complicated work is usually best left to the professionals.

What about location?

In the past, a fuse box could be situated anywhere on a property. As such, meter readers would end up suffering because of the rather tricky situation. However, times have changed, and today’s homeowners will have to deal with a plethora of bureaucratic red tape in terms of where a switch box can be legally situated.

In most cases, your fuse box will need to be installed within two metres of the facade of your home and less than 2 metres from the ground itself so that it can be accessible for your meter readers. Please ensure that your fuse box meets the aforementioned legal requirements when you are upgrading your fuse box, as failure to do so may lead to hefty fines as well as the forced relocation of your fuse box.

In any event, the proper installation of the fuse box on your property will take several hours to complete, and if you hire an electric company to perform the work they will provide you with an estimate in terms of what the expected timeframe will be before any work actually takes place.

How much will it cost?

Unbeknownst to some, replacing a circuit breaker involves far more work than simply extracting the old model and installing the new model. In fact, when you upgrade your fuse box the electrician that performs the work will have to also ensure that your property’s electrical wiring system is also brought up to code so that it complies with the latest legal requirements.

Your final cost for the upgrade will vary depending on the extent of work that needs to be done on your home to ensure that it adheres to current legal protocols. However, any reputable electrical company will provide you with a transparent and accurate quote before any work takes place, so you won’t have to worry about any unexpected charges.

If you are looking for a typical ballpark figure for a fuse box upgrade, we recommend contacting our office directly, as all homes are different and the actual amount will vary according to the number of circuits that you have on your property.

The Best Upgrade For Comprehensive Protection

The fundamentals of circuit breakers and fuses are congruent, in the sense that they stop current flow when they detect an issue by opening the circuit. However, they differ in terms of what they actually protect, as well as what faults will actually activate them and the amount of time that it takes for them to be activated. It should also be noted that great strides have been made in terms of technological advancements in circuit breakers and fuses over the last decade.

For instance, the most advanced type on the market today is known as an RBCO. An RCBO consists of an amalgam of circuit breakers and combination safety switches. They work by protecting singular circuits from electric shocks, as well as any overloads and shorts. As such, if there are any problems with a given circuit then the problem will not spread to any of the other circuits in your home.

This is in stark contrast to previous models whereby one safety switch was responsible for protecting a large number of circuits by itself. RCBOs also have the additional benefit of preventing any nuisance trips, because each individual circuit is equipped with its own earth fault limit.

If you would like to learn more about upgrading your electric fuse box, call Hi-Lite Electric at 416-800-5523 or contact us here.



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Riaz Jilani
Riaz Jilani
2024-06-05
I had another electrician which not giving me time and then I search on google and found Hi Lite with good reviews so I decided to try them. I send massage on their website and after 30 minutes I got call from them they booked me different time which was not suitable for me. I requested them and they change according to my convenient.electrician came on time complete the job also advised me some unseen problems also fixed perfectly and my satisfaction . First time I really impressed I recommend them they are trouble free and with good reputation
Michael Butler
Michael Butler
2024-05-10
Stove wasn't working. Stove people said it was an electrical issue. Steven came over, showed me what was wrong. Now I know more about electricity. 5/5 would electricity again.
Heather D
Heather D
2024-05-10
Excellent service. Matt came out after hours to resolve an emergency situation where an outlet in our garage caught on fire. He was here within the hour and completed the work efficiently. In addition he communicated clearly all the necessary steps needed. We will definitely be calling him back for additional assistance in the future if the need arises.
Amrik Bhogal
Amrik Bhogal
2024-04-29
Excellent service! We had a problem with some receptacles in a couple of rooms in our house. Tried the usual resetting the breakers and GFI plugs, but to no avail. Called Hi-Lite Electric based on a recommendation from a friend. Matthew from Hi-Lite come over, diagnosed and fixed the problem quickly and efficiently. He was very knowledgeable and kept me in the loop as what he was doing. His estimate was very accurate. I would highly recommend HiLite
Roy Thompson
Roy Thompson
2024-04-29
Matthew and Steven did a fantastic job added two lights in my bedroom, prior to that their was no lights in my bedrooms. i would highly recommend them.
Izabella Hansen
Izabella Hansen
2024-04-23
Had a great experience with Matthew, a licensed electrician. He explained everything I needed thoroughly. Worked efficiently, was professional and curteous. I highly recommend this family run company.
Jo Persad
Jo Persad
2024-04-19
Excellent service. We had a problem with our house wiring and Matthew diagnosed and fixed the problem quickly and efficiently. He was very polite and pleasant and informative. We would highly recommend HiLite.
James Danakas
James Danakas
2024-03-27
The service we received from Matthew and Luciano was excellent and our problem was solved in a timely matter. Great customer service! Highly recommend!
Corrado Di Rosa
Corrado Di Rosa
2024-03-26
Excellent customer experience! Matthew is always on point with his recommendations and makes sure the issue is solved. Highly recommend Hi-Lite.
Funk Roberts
Funk Roberts
2024-03-18
I recently had the pleasure of having Matt from HiLite Electrical come over to replace my smoke alarm, and I couldn't be more satisfied with the service provided. From the moment Matt arrived, it was clear he was not only highly skilled but also incredibly personable and professional. His attention to detail was impeccable, ensuring that the job was done efficiently and effectively. What truly set Matt apart was his commitment to going above and beyond. He was punctual, arriving right on time, which is a rarity these days. But more importantly, he took the time to explain the process, what the problem was, and why we couldn't get the unit from the foundation in the first place. He was also amazing to talk about in general (especially fitness, training and combat sports, relationships, and other things), and ensured everything was working perfectly before he considered his job done. I highly recommend Hi-Lite Electrical to anyone in need of electrical services. Their team, from speaking with Ang on the phone to set up the appointment (Happy Angela Day..that's an inside joke) to Matt getting it done, Hi-Lite exemplifies the kind of professionalism and expertise that is all too rare. Trust me, if you want a hassle-free, high-quality service, look no further than Hi-Lite Electrical. A big thank you to Ang and Matt for not just meeting, but exceeding my expectations! Super Happy Customer! Funk Roberts

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