Petaling Jaya DB Box Upgrade, Earthing and Surge Protection Services
Petaling Jaya is one of the oldest and most developed residential areas in the Klang Valley. Many homes here were built over 60 years ago, and quite a number are still running on the original distribution board (DB) boxes installed during the 70s and 80s.These old DB boxes often have plastic enclosures and rely on outdated MCB and ELCB systems. In some cases, the MCB doesn’t even trip during an overload, allowing dangerous current to keep flowing, silently overheating the wiring and increasing the risk of fire.
Besides the DB box, many houses in Petaling Jaya still have the original power switches that were installed when the homes were first built. These old switches were not designed to handle today’s high-power appliances. Some of them are already loose, cracked, or discoloured due to heat. Damaged switches can easily cause short circuits or electric shocks, especially if they are overloaded or get wet.
We also see that many PJ homes have only one power socket in each room. To fix this, people often use extension cords with 5-hole adapters and plug in too many devices at once. This is very dangerous. It can cause the socket to overheat, melt or even catch fire.
In 2025, with higher electricity demand from air conditioners, induction cookers, and EV chargers, these old systems can no longer cope. That’s why we provide professional DB box upgrade services in Petaling Jaya, ensuring your home’s electrical system is up-to-date, safe, and compliant with modern standards.
What Is a DB Box?
A DB box, also known as a distribution board, is the main control point where electricity is distributed to different parts of your home. Inside the box are important safety components such as the main switch, surge protection device (SPD), residual current circuit breaker (RCCB), and miniature circuit breakers (MCBs). These parts work together to ensure electricity flows safely, protect your appliances from power surges, and help prevent electrical fires.
In our Petaling Jaya DB boxes installations, we use metal-clad DB boxes for improved fire safety, heat resistance and durability. We also use trusted brands like EPS, Maxguard, ABB, and Hager, which are known for their high quality and long-term reliability.
Key Components Inside a DB Box
1. MCBs (Miniature Circuit Breakers)
We use C6 MCBs for lights and fans and C16 MCBs for power sockets.
If there is an overload or short circuit, the MCB will trip and cut off the power to prevent danger.
2. RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker)
We install 40A 30mA RCCB for power points and 40A 100mA RCCB for lights and fans.
The RCCB will trip and stop the electricity if it detects current leakage to prevent electric shock.
3. Main Switch
We use a 63A double pole switch as the main control switch in the DB box.
You can turn off all the electricity from here during maintenance or emergency.
4. Busbars
We use copper busbars to distribute electricity from the main switch to all the MCBs.
Copper is a good conductor and lasts long, so it helps the system run safely and smoothly.
5. SPD (Surge Protection Device)
We install SPD together with earthing to protect the house from high voltage during lightning or power surge.
The SPD will divert the extra voltage away from your appliances to prevent damage.
6. DB Box Enclosure
We use metal DB boxes for better safety especially in older Petaling Jaya homes.
Metal is stronger and more heat resistant than plastic, and can help reduce the risk of fire.
Why Many Petaling Jaya Homes Are Facing DB Box Problems Today
Today, many families in Petaling Jaya use more electricity than before. As children grow up, they have their own rooms with air-cond, computer, TV, iPad, printer and speakers. At the same time, parents are working from home and using their own air-cond, laptops and other devices. It is now very common for the whole family to use a lot of electricity at the same time.
Since the MCO period, many people in PJ are used to working and studying from home. Parents attend online meetings while children join online classes or watch videos. This means electricity is being used almost the whole day. But if your DB box is still the same one from 20 or 40 years ago, it may not be able to handle this heavy load. This can lead to power tripping, unstable voltage or even fire.
Just like yesterday, one customer in Taman Paramount called us because their air-cond kept tripping the power. Their DB box was already more than 20 years old and not designed to handle the newer air-cond unit they had installed. After we upgraded the DB box and replaced the MCBs, the problem was solved.
We also notice many PJ homes still using one wall socket for too many appliances. Some plug in 3 or 4 items using extension cords and multi-plug adapters. This is very dangerous. The socket can overheat, burn or even catch fire — especially if your DB box is already old and worn out.
Modern homes in PJ use more high-powered appliances like autogates, air fryers, microwave ovens, robot vacuums, washing machines, dryers and smart home systems. If your electrical system is old and not upgraded, it can become overloaded easily.
Don’t wait for a problem to happen. Now is the right time to check and upgrade your DB box and earthing system to protect your home and your loved ones.
Common Problems Faced by Homeowners in Petaling Jaya with Old DB Boxes
We’ve helped many homeowners in Petaling Jaya and nearby areas who experience problems with old or overloaded DB boxes. Many PJ homes were built decades ago, and as time goes on, electrical demands have increased a lot. This causes common issues like frequent power tripping, unsafe wiring and even fire risk.
If you live in PJ and your house is more than 20 years old, take a look at these signs that your DB box may need an upgrade:
12 Warning Signs Your DB Box May Be Outdated
- Burning smell from the DB box or MCB
This is a serious warning sign. It may be due to loose connections or overheating — and needs urgent inspection before it causes a fire. - Multiple wires in one MCB
This unsafe practice causes poor connections or overheating, especially under heavy load. - Power trips during lightning or heavy rain
This could mean your DB box doesn’t have proper surge protection or earth leakage safety features. - House is over 20–50 years old
Your current DB box may not be designed to handle modern appliances like air-cond, washing machines, or ovens. - DB trips when you switch on the air-cond
Overloaded circuits or weak MCBs are a common cause, especially in older DB setups. - Washing machine causes the power to trip
High power appliances like washers or dryers can trip older DBs that are not upgraded. - Kitchen hood, hob or oven trips the DB
Kitchen upgrades without matching electrical upgrades can lead to power tripping. - Vacuum cleaner trips the power
This may be due to sudden surges in power that older breakers cannot handle well. - More appliances added over the years
From air fryers to water filters to multiple TVs and laptops — most older DBs were never built for today’s load. - Messy or tangled wiring inside the DB box
This makes troubleshooting harder and increases the risk of overheating or short circuit. - No labels or proper MCB separation
Without labels and individual circuits, finding faults is risky and time-consuming. - No ELCB (Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker)
Without this, the risk of electric shock is much higher — especially in wet areas like bathrooms or kitchens.
DB Box, Earthing System & Surge Protection for Home and Business
If your DB box keeps tripping, looks outdated, can’t support your current appliances, shows signs of wear, or no longer has space for additional circuits, it may be time to upgrade.
We provide DB box repairs and full upgrade services with a focus on safety, compliance, and long-term performance.
Our team also offers full electrical and earthing system services across the Klang Valley, covering Petaling Jaya, Cheras, Shah Alam, Damansara, Ampang and surrounding areas.
Services include new home wiring inspections, complete house rewiring, electrical fault diagnostics, autogate wiring, Megger insulation testing, and professional earthing installations. We are also specialists in lightning surge protection for residential and commercial properties, including the installation of Lightning Strike Trap (LST) systems.
We serve homes in Section 17, SS2, Taman Paramount, Bandar Utama and nearby Petaling Jaya areas. All work is done safely, neatly and follows proper electrical standards with no shortcuts. For enquiries, inspection bookings or quotations, contact Alex at 012-870 2699.
