How much does it cost to replace a DB board?
Replacing a DB board in the same position usually lands in the range below, including the board, the breakers, an earth leakage unit and proper labelling. Moving the board somewhere else costs more, because that means new feed cable and chasing walls.
Booked call-outs from R750Emergencies from R2,500
What this costs
| Work | Price |
|---|---|
| DB board replacementNew board, breakers, earth leakage unit and proper labelling, in the same position. | R4,500 – R12,000 |
| Replacement with relocationMoving the board to a new position means new feed cable and chasing walls. | R9,000 – R15,000 |
These are ranges, not quotes. Where your job falls in the range depends on what we find on site. We are not VAT registered, so there is no VAT to add. The price you are quoted is the price you pay.
Call-out rates
A booked visit goes into the next open slot. An emergency call-out is a separate priority service. Both are paid with a 50% deposit online, and the balance after inspection and your agreement.
| Time | Booked visit | Emergency call-out |
|---|---|---|
| Day07:00 – 18:00 | R750 | R2,500 |
| Night18:00 – 07:00 | R1,200 | R3,500 |
What moves the price
How many circuits
A small flat board might have six ways. A family house with a pool, a cottage and an electric gate can need twenty or more, and each circuit needs its own breaker.
Single or three phase
A three phase board costs more in parts and takes longer to balance across the phases properly.
Whether the board moves
Staying in the same position is the cheaper option. A new position needs new feed cable from the meter, which usually means chasing walls.
What the existing wiring is like
If the circuits coming into the board are sound, it is a clean swap. If they are brittle, unmarked or spliced, that has to be sorted out first.
Surge protection
A surge arrester in the board is an optional extra that most Highveld homes are better off having.
How long it takes
Most boards are done in a day. Three phase boards and relocations can run into a second day.
Included
- The new board, breakers and earth leakage unit
- Every circuit identified and labelled, so the next person can read it
- Testing after the swap
- A Certificate of Compliance for the board work
Not included
- Repairing faults further down the circuits, which is quoted once we see them
- A full rewire, if the circuits themselves are past it
- Moving the municipal meter
Questions
Why is the range so wide?
Because a six way single phase board in a flat and a twenty four way three phase board in a house are both called a DB board replacement. The number of circuits and whether the board moves are what decide it. Send a photo of your open board on WhatsApp and we can narrow it quickly.
Do I get a CoC with a new board?
Yes, for the board work. If you need a certificate for the whole installation, that is a full inspection of every circuit in the house and is priced separately.
Can you just add a breaker instead of replacing the board?
Sometimes, if the board has a spare way and the rest of it is sound. That is a call-out rather than a replacement, and it is a lot cheaper. We will tell you honestly which one you need.
My board has no earth leakage. Is that a problem?
An installation has to have earth leakage protection on the circuits that require it. Many older Johannesburg homes do not, and it is one of the most common reasons a CoC inspection fails.
Is there VAT on top?
No. We are not VAT registered, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.
Related services
- DB boardBreakers, earth leakage units, upgrades and new boards, labelled properly.
- What a CoC costsWhat the inspection and certificate cost, and why repairs are priced separately.
- What tripping costs to fixFinding the fault and replacing the unit are two different prices.
- Surge protectionSurge arresters in the DB board to protect appliances in Highveld storms.
We cover Johannesburg, Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Soweto, Midrand, Centurion, Pretoria, East Rand (Ekurhuleni), West Rand. Areas we cover
Need an electrician?
Book a day, night or emergency call-out online, or message us on WhatsApp.