Replacement of main switchboard does it have to be indoors?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Replacement of main switchboard does it have to be indoors?

johno1234

2805 posts

Uber Geek

#319213 3-Apr-2025 10:51

Our 1964 built home has been rewired at some point - the cables are TPS, but the circuit board and meter is on an external wall and has a mix of old porcelain fuses and newer circuit breakers. Last time we had a sparky around he said we should be thinking about replacing it but I forgot to ask if it would need to be moved indoors. Would it? I expect moving it would add a bit of expense.

Bung

6485 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3360101 3-Apr-2025 11:41

I remember our 1920s family home getting some wiring done in mid 60's and TPS was around then so you may have original wiring.

Spyware

3762 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3360108 3-Apr-2025 12:00

My house was built in '58 and TPS original.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

johno1234

2805 posts

Uber Geek

#3364746 16-Apr-2025 16:35

A follow-up question for the electricians:

Our current old switchboard has little space available and I need to get a 30A circuit added. There's a ripple control box but we no longer have an electric HWC. Could the ripple control be removed and the 30A circuit breaker added in its place?

There's also a 12VDC converter there and I have no idea where that is going. I should attempt to follow that cable and see where it goes. I'm pretty sure it is not connected to anything I need.

tweake

2391 posts

Uber Geek

#3364748 16-Apr-2025 16:50

johno1234:

A follow-up question for the electricians:

Our current old switchboard has little space available and I need to get a 30A circuit added. There's a ripple control box but we no longer have an electric HWC. Could the ripple control be removed and the 30A circuit breaker added in its place?

There's also a 12VDC converter there and I have no idea where that is going. I should attempt to follow that cable and see where it goes. I'm pretty sure it is not connected to anything I need.

that looks interesting.

if you can afford it i would seriously look at putting a fuse board inside. then you can fit rcd etc. however you will need to work out if cables would reach. track down that 12v line (door bell or even old telephone). i wonder what that panel backs into because it looks very deep.

also if anyone has the very early TPS, get it checked. some of that early stuff was rubber and it disintegrates (i would have thought it would all be gone by now).

johno1234

2805 posts

Uber Geek

#3364751 16-Apr-2025 16:59

Might be an optical illusion in the photo. - there's no cavity so just a regular depth framed external wall.

I guess a new internal board could be installed in the living room on the other side of the wall but otherwise the same spot but it would be a blemish on that wall. I would much prefer this to be a modern switchboard but if it is safe I would rather not spend the money at the moment.

Our previous reno was a 100yo bungalow and it had black rubber sheathed cables in steel conduit tubes. The hot water cylinder was rotten. The whole house looked lethal to me. Needless to say we completely rewired that one before moving in.

tweake

2391 posts

Uber Geek

#3364752 16-Apr-2025 17:13

johno1234:

Our previous reno was a 100yo bungalow and it had black rubber sheathed cables in steel conduit tubes.

wow! i have seen the remnants of those conduit tubes 30 odd years ago. i would have thought they where all gone decades ago. i think i have some cable roll holders made out of those tubes.

Daynger

435 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3364755 16-Apr-2025 17:21

tweake:

if you can afford it i would seriously look at putting a fuse board inside. then you can fit rcd etc. however you will need to work out if cables would reach. track down that 12v line (door bell or even old telephone). i wonder what that panel backs into because it looks very deep.

also if anyone has the very early TPS, get it checked. some of that early stuff was rubber and it disintegrates (i would have thought it would all be gone by now).

Even if replacing the circuit protection in the existing enclosure rcbo should be used, it may actually be required.

GoodSync

GoodSync. Easily back up and sync your files with GoodSync. Simple and secure file backup and synchronisation software will ensure that your files are never lost (affiliate link).

johno1234

2805 posts

Uber Geek

#3364883 17-Apr-2025 08:20

tweake:

johno1234:

Our previous reno was a 100yo bungalow and it had black rubber sheathed cables in steel conduit tubes.

wow! i have seen the remnants of those conduit tubes 30 odd years ago. i would have thought they where all gone decades ago. i think i have some cable roll holders made out of those tubes.

In hindsight those were some warning signs that it was a reno we should never have taken on.

SomeoneSomewhere

1804 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3364940 17-Apr-2025 09:17

No reason a switchboard can't be external; in Australia it's very common. Main concern is just space and waterproofing to the building envelope. Might be able to just mount a new plastic mounting panel in the board and a new ~15-way surface DB in that.

The old black panel may be asbestos.

RCDs are mandatory if the switchboard is replaced; RCBOs will likely be the method chosen to keep the size down.

There is definitely still VIR in steel conduit around but not much of it.

Plenty of TRS (tough rubber sheath) around; looks a lot like TPS. Old stuff was black but some was made in white. I'm not really sure if there's a safe way to tell them apart; lightly loaded TRS still seems to be in OK condition at least in sections where it never got hot, and while TRS is pretty much always unearthed and tinned, some TPS is too.

TRS insulation generally feels stretchier but I don't think I'd advise checking that on live cable.

larknz

1694 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3365092 17-Apr-2025 21:05

TRS is generally OK if it is not disturbed. It normally fails at the point it stripped back, such as at switches. If it is disturbed the insulation all falls off. It should be replaced sooner rather than later.

larknz

1694 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3365093 17-Apr-2025 21:08

Spyware:

My house was built in '58 and TPS original.

58 is really early for TPS it could be TRS.

pipe60

127 posts

Master Geek

#3365128 18-Apr-2025 09:22

As a electrician I would go for a board on the inside, may have to extend some of the cables to suit. yes you could get the ripple relay taken out.