How much does a DB box replacement cost?

DB box replacement cost: published rates

The table below shows each company's published rate as printed, linked to its source.

FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY

Published DB box replacement rates

For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published DB box replacement rates from 4 companies run from S$280 to S$320 per job, to replace or upgrade the DB box. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a quote.

See 5 published DB box replacement rates and sources

Lowest matching advertised rate per company, in SGD as published. "From" marks a starting price and ranges are shown in full. Check the source for minimums, GST and inclusions.

Company	Service as listed	Rate	Source
SC Electrician	Main Distribution Board (DB Box) Replacement	S$280 to S$480 per job	scelectrician.sg
Electrician24 Singapore	DB Box Upgrade	S$300 to S$600 per job	electrician24.sg
Lito Electrical Service	DB box replacement 2 ROOM	From S$320 per job	litoelectrical.com
Repair.sg	Distribution board supply and install	From S$320 per job	repair.sg
Mr Electrician Pte Ltd	MCB & DB Box SP 40A 18P	S$450	mrelectrician.sg

5 companies publish a DB box replacement line. 4 of them price it per job, and their lowest published rates run from S$280 to S$320 per job. The scope, as printed, is to replace or upgrade the DB box. Because the company count is even and the two middle rates differ, there is no single middle rate.

The printed lines differ in wording and form:

• "Main Distribution Board (DB Box) Replacement" is printed as S$280 to S$480 per job.
• "DB Box Upgrade" is printed as S$300 to S$600 per job.
• "DB box replacement 2 ROOM" and "Distribution board supply and install" are each printed as from S$320 per job.
• The fifth line, "MCB & DB Box SP 40A 18P", reads S$450, printed without a unit.

These are each company's lowest published lines, not quotes. Your final quote depends on which parts are replaced and the state of the wiring behind the board. Where a line shows a range, ask which end your job falls at. To see the companies that list this job, go to DB box replacement.

What is in a DB box

Your DB box is the distribution board in your home. HDB's guide to electrical accessories and wiring calls it the consumer unit (CU) and says it distributes electricity in the flat. It holds:

• double pole miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), one of which is the CU main switch
• an RCCB
• single pole MCBs, each protecting one circuit
• terminals

HDB says MCBs protect against overheating of cables and appliances. When an overload or short circuit causes an overcurrent, the MCB trips and cuts supply to that circuit. The RCCB cuts off electricity in the flat when it detects an earth current leakage (HDB).

A distribution board replacement may swap some or all of these parts, so check what each quote lists. To learn what the switches and labels in your own box mean, see how to read your DB box.

When a replacement or upgrade is needed

• The RCCB fails its test. Pressing the RCCB's test button (labelled T) should switch it off. If it does not, it may be defective. HDB suggests testing it monthly and advises engaging a licensed electrician to replace an RCCB that malfunctions (HDB).
• There is no RCCB. EMA says all residential premises must have an RCCB or ELCB with a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30mA. HDB flats built before 1985 did not come with one unless the owner installed it later, and owners without one should engage an LEW to install it (EMA).
• Your main switch rating. HDB says blocks completed since 1994, or upgraded under the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) or Home Improvement Programme (HIP), have a 40amps main switch for higher electrical loading (HDB).
• You are adding points. HDB sets no limit on the number of additional 13amps power points, lighting points or fan points, subject to the existing main switch rating (HDB).

Before you compare quotes on db box upgrade cost, ask an LEW whether your current main switch rating suits the appliances and points you plan to add.

Who does it and the testing

EMA's electrical safety guidance requires electrical works at consumers' premises to be carried out by LEWs. These works include repair or replacement of the electrical installation, and the LEW inspects and certifies that the installation is safe before supply is turned on. EMA also says new wiring, rewiring and extensions must be tested by an authorised officer from SP Services Ltd before supply can be turned on.

EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. EMA's page on engaging licensed workers lists the repair or replacement of consumer control units or circuit breakers as LEW work. For a fuller list, see work that needs an LEW.

HDB says altering or adding a socket outlet, RCCB, ELCB, MCB or main switch needs no HDB permit. When electrical renovation work is complete, HDB says you apply to SP Services for testing through your LEW (HDB).

Comparing quotes

When quotes for the same job differ, these questions help you compare them:

• Which parts are replaced: the main switch, the RCCB, the MCBs or the whole board?
• Are testing and the SP Services submission included in the price?
• Will the old wiring be checked? HDB gives the estimated lifespan of a PVC electrical cable as about 25 years and says an LEW can check the wiring and advise whether it needs replacing (HDB).
• Does the quote show the LEW's licence number?

If the wiring needs replacing too, see the HDB rewiring cost guide. For other electrical jobs, compare electrician costs, or browse electricians with their published prices and sources.

Questions