Electrical Distribution Board Installation Singapore (DB Box / Electrical Box / Switch Box)
DB box installation services are suitable for old homes with aging circuit breakers and new properties with inadequate electrical circuits. Get in touch now for a price estimate and advice.
Distribution boards (DB) can be installed by an electrician from an electrical services company. We can install a new electrical distribution board in residential, commercial and industrial properties. Contact our team for more information about DB box installation services.
There are a few scenarios where an electrical box installation may be necessary. The two most common reasons are to resolve frequent power trips and supply power to a new home renovation. If you are not sure whether you need a new DB box, we would be happy to advise you.
What is an Electrical Distribution Board
There are many names for an electrical distribution board. The most common terms are distribution box, db box, db board, electrical panel, electrical box, switch box, breaker box, and panel board. Every residential HDB flat, condo, or landed property should have its own DB box.
An electrical distribution board is a component that safely distributes electricity from a larger circuit into multiple smaller circuits. In a typical residential property, a distribution box connects the property to the electrical supply of the building and distributes the electricity to smaller electrical circuits.
How an Electrical Consumer Unit (DB Box) keeps you safe
Distribution boards keep you safe by preventing an electrical fault from causing electrocution and fires. It does this by shutting off power to a circuit if it has a fault condition. The component of a distribution board that detects and disconnects an electrical circuit is called a circuit breaker. These are rectangular blocks with a lever on them. Each distribution board is made up of multiple circuit breakers, which we will explain more about these later on this page.
The circuit breakers in a DB box are designed to cause a power trip to stop the flow of electrical current when there is too much electrical current in its electrical circuit due to a short circuit or overloading. Circuit breakers are an automatic safety device that can be reset when they trip to resume normal operation.
It is essential to install a proper distribution board with the appropriate layout and type of wiring to avoid frequent electrical problems and maintain the lifespan of the electrical circuits within the property.
When to Replace Your Distribution Box
You should replace your DB box or replace old circuit breakers when there is a smell of burnt plastic surrounding the enclosure. This is a sign of underlying problems such as a loose connection. These underlying problems could have caused irreparable damage to some of the components within the distribution board. It will worsen with time if an electrician does not resolve the problem.
You may have to install a new DB box if you live in an older property and have not had rewiring completed in more than ten years. It is essential to know that components within an electrical distribution board are affected by wear and tear as they exist for your safety. The age of the electrical components makes itself known by causing you trouble in the form of regular circuit breaker power trips.
You should look into replacing your distribution board or circuit breakers if you face frequent power trips in your house, which may signify that your circuit breakers are beginning to fail. We can advise you if DB box installation is necessary based on your current needs or problems. Reach out to us to start a discussion.
Parts in a Distribution Board (DB) Box
There is one miniature circuit breaker for each circuit in a standard residential distribution board, at least one earth-leakage circuit breaker, and at least one main circuit breaker in the distribution board enclosure. These circuit breakers are aligned side-by-side and connected together with thick wires and copper busbars. We will explain more about each of these parts below.
Miniature Circuit Breakers
Each electrical circuit inside a property is connected to a minature circuit breakers at the electrical box. Each miniature circuit breaker has a current rating that denotes the maximum amount of current it will carry before it disconnects the circuit by triggering a power trip. This is a safety feature to prevent overcurrent, a dangerous fault condition.
Residual Current Circuit Breakers / Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker
The RCCB or ELCB is an important safety device. Residual current circuit breakers (RCCB) and earth leakage circuit breakers (ELCB) are different names for the same circuit breaker. These circuit breakers are a safety mechanism inside a DB box that cuts off the current flow to one or more miniature circuit breakers when current leakage is detected within one of the circuits. This circuit breaker is used as a preventive measure against electric shock and electrocution. Every distribution board installation should include an ELCB.
Main Circuit Breaker
Main circuit breakers allow electricity to flow into a property and distribute electricity to the rest of the circuit breakers in a distribution board. The main circuit breaker is a double-pole circuit breaker in a single-phase distribution board (the standard for small and medium residential homes). It functions similarly to a standard miniature circuit breaker, except when it trips, it causes a complete physical disconnect between the electrical circuit in a property and the power supply by isolating neutral and live cables.
Single-Phase vs Three-Phase Distribution Boards
Most residential and small properties use single-phase electrical power. Single-phase power is reliable and sufficient to handle basic electrical loads from lighting and simple appliances in small properties like HDB flats and condominiums.
Most large landed, commercial and industrial properties use three-phase electrical power. It provides more consistent and efficient power than a single-phase circuit, and is more reliable for heavy electrical loads. These properties usually have a main distribution board and a few subsidiary distribution boards if it has to power a large area.
The demand for three-phase power has seen a steady increase in recent years with the continued rise in popularity of electric vehicles. Electric vehicle chargers require three-phase power from a distribution board to power fast chargers.
HDB DB boxes are meant for single-phase power supply and cannot be upgraded to three-phase power supply.
Type of Distribution Board Repair and Installation
Distribution board related installation solutions include:
- The replacement of individual circuit breakers.
- The replacement of the entire distribution board.
- A complete rewiring of the property.
Repairs.sg is an electrical services company that provides circuit breaker, distribution board, and rewiring services. We are happy to speak with you over a phone call or a WhatsApp chat about DB box installation and other electrical services.
