Is Your Old DB Box Putting Your Home at Risk? Here’s Why You Should Upgrade

Did you know that many house fires in Malaysia are caused by outdated and overloaded distribution boards (DB boxes)? In areas like Shah Alam, numerous homes were built decades ago, back in the 1960s and 1970s, and many of these houses still have the original DB boxes installed. Imagine how old and worn out these systems are! Most of these older DBs feature plastic casings and rely on outdated MCB and ELCB technology. In fact, some of the older MCBs may fail to trip when circuits are overloaded, allowing hazardous electrical currents to flow unchecked. This is a hidden fire risk that many homeowners might not even be aware of.

Many households have just one power outlet per room. To compensate, people often connect multiple devices using double extensions with 5-gang sockets, sometimes powering up to 10 gadgets from a single point. This is an extremely risky setup, overloading a single socket can cause overheating, melting of plugs or wiring, and in the worst cases, lead to electrical fires.

Imagine if a fire were to break out in the middle of the night while everyone is asleep. By the time anyone notices, it might be too late to act. Upgrading your old DB box isn’t just about meeting modern electrical safety standards, it’s about safeguarding your family when they are most vulnerable.

Understanding the DB Box

A DB box, or distribution board, is a crucial part of any electrical system, responsible for distributing and managing electricity throughout a building. It contains key safety components such as the Main Switch, Surge Protection Device (SPD), Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB), and Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB), all of which work together to ensure that electrical power is delivered safely and reliably.

For our installations, we typically use metal enclosures, commonly known in Malaysia as metal clad DB boxes—because of their superior durability, resistance to heat, and improved fire protection. We recommend reputable brands like EPS, Maxguard, and Hager, which are well-known for meeting strict electrical standards and offering long-term performance and safety.

Key Components Inside a DB Box

1. MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers)
   We typically use C6 MCBs for lighting and fan circuits, and C16 MCBs for power socket circuits.
   Function:
   Automatically trips to disconnect power in case of an overload or short circuit, protecting the wiring and connected devices.

2. RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) / ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)
   While the term “ELCB” is still commonly used, it is now considered outdated. The correct modern term is RCCB, which has replaced ELCBs in most installations.
   We use 40A 30mA RCCBs for power sockets, and 40A 100mA RCCBs for lighting and fan circuits.
   Function:
   Detects any imbalance between the live and neutral currents, and trips to prevent electric shock or fire due to leakage.

3. Main Switch
   We install a 63A double pole isolator as the main switch.
   Function:
   Allows manual shutdown of the entire DB box during maintenance, repairs, or emergencies.

4. Busbars
   Function:
   Acts as a central conductor, distributing power from the main switch to the individual MCBs.
   Material:
   Usually made of copper due to its excellent conductivity and reliability.

5. Surge Protection Device (SPD)
   Installed together with the grounding (earthing) system for better effectiveness.
   Function:
   Protects the electrical system and appliances from voltage surges caused by lightning strikes or fluctuations in the power supply.

6. Enclosure (Plastic or Metal Clad DB Box)
   Function:
   The outer casing that holds and protects all internal components. It ensures user safety, insulation, and protects against dust, moisture, and heat.
   Material:
   Typically made from durable metal for fire resistance, or high-grade plastic for electrical insulation.

There are various components from different brands used inside a DB box. We typically install products from EPS, Maxguard, ABB, or Hager, depending on the customer’s budget and requirements. However, we do not accept projects with extremely tight budgets, as we refuse to compromise on safety and quality.

When you choose genuine, high-quality MCBs and RCCBs, you can expect them to perform reliably for up to 20 years with proper installation and maintenance.

We strongly discourage mixing low-grade or incompatible components. Doing so creates a “rojak” setup a DB box that may appear fine on the surface but can pose serious safety risks due to inconsistent performance and lack of proper protection.

Old DB Boxes Can’t Keep Up with Modern Power Demands

In the past, many families had their young children sleep in the same room as their parents. Now that the kids have grown and moved into their own rooms, each space is often filled with air conditioners, computers, printers, TVs, iPads, iPhones, and sound systems. This change in lifestyle means more electrical devices are running simultaneously across the house, putting a much heavier load on the home’s aging electrical system. If the DB box hasn’t been upgraded to support these new power demands, the chances of circuit tripping, overheating, or even fire increase dramatically.

Since the Movement Control Order (MCO), working from home has become the norm. Many families now have each member working in separate rooms. Picture a household with two children, a wife, and a husband, each using air conditioners, computers, and multiple devices at the same time. This creates a substantial load on the electrical system, especially when the DB box hasn’t been modernized to handle it.

Many of these devices are often plugged into power extensions that all feed from a single wall socket. This setup greatly increases the risk of overload, which can cause overheating, frequent tripping, or worse, electrical fires, particularly if the DB box is old and outdated. On top of that, the rise of modern appliances like autogate systems, air fryers, juicers, water purifiers, large washing machines, ovens, and more only adds to the strain, making an upgrade absolutely necessary to keep your home safe and efficient.

Typical Issues Homeowners Encounter with Aging DB Boxes

We’ve assisted many homeowners in Shah Alam and throughout the Klang Valley who are dealing with issues caused by old or overloaded DB boxes. As homes get older and electrical usage rises, problems such as frequent circuit trips, unsafe wiring, and increased fire hazards become increasingly common.

12 Common Signs Your DB Box Needs an Upgrade

1. Your home is several decades old
   If your house is 20 to 50 years old, chances are the DB box was never designed to handle modern, high-powered appliances.
2. Power cuts out during storms or heavy rain
   This usually means your DB box lacks adequate surge protection or earth leakage devices to safeguard against electrical faults caused by weather.
3. DB trips when you switch on the air conditioner
   Overloaded circuits or outdated circuit breakers often cause the DB to trip when running high-demand appliances like AC units.
4. Using the washing machine causes power outages
   Older distribution boards may struggle to support appliances with heavy power consumption, leading to frequent trips.
5. Kitchen appliances cause your DB to trip
   Upgrades like hoods, ovens, or cooktops can overload old electrical systems if the DB box hasn’t been updated accordingly.
6. Vacuum cleaner trips the circuit
   Sudden spikes in power demand may trigger worn-out breakers or imbalanced circuits, causing unexpected shutdowns.
7. You keep adding more electrical devices
   With more gadgets such as TVs, chargers, air fryers, computers, and water purifiers, your outdated DB box may not be equipped to handle the increased load.
8. Tangled or messy wiring inside the DB box
   Poor wiring organization makes fault-finding harder and raises the chances of short circuits or electrical fires.
9. No labels or circuit separation
   Without clear labels or individual breakers for each circuit, identifying and isolating faults becomes difficult and risky.
10. Missing Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)
    A lack of ELCB increases the risk of electric shock, especially in damp areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
11. Multiple wires connected to a single breaker
    Connecting two or more wires to one MCB can cause overheating and poor electrical contact, which is unsafe.
12. Burning or unusual smells near the DB box
    Any burning odor around your breakers indicates overheating or loose connections and requires immediate inspection to prevent fire hazards.

Contact Us for DB Box Upgrades, Electrical Troubleshooting, and Earthing & Grounding Solutions

If your DB box in Shah Alam frequently trips, looks old, struggles to handle your appliances, shows any of the common warning signs, or doesn’t have enough space for additional power points, it’s a clear sign you need to act now.

Whether it’s a minor repair or a full DB box replacement, we’re based in Shah Alam and ready to deliver safe, reliable, and professional electrical services with minimal disruption.

Beyond DB upgrades, we also provide a comprehensive range of electrical solutions from earthing and grounding systems, electrical fault diagnosis, new home wiring checks, autogate wiring, Megger insulation testing, full home wiring and rewiring, to Lightning Strike Trap (LST) installation and surge protection.

For expert advice or to schedule a service, contact Alex at 012-870 2699 today.