Switchboard upgrades
Still got ceramic fuses and a bit of fuse wire? That board was fine in 1975. It is not now. We replace it with a modern one carrying a safety switch on every circuit, so a fault trips the power instead of finding a person.
Signs the board is overdue
Most people never think about the switchboard until something goes wrong. These are the ones worth acting on early.
- Ceramic fuses with fuse wire. No safety switch protection at all. Nothing cuts the power fast enough to matter.
- Breakers tripping regularly. Usually an overloaded circuit, or a fault that keeps getting reset instead of fixed.
- One safety switch for the whole house, or none. A single fault kills power everywhere and you are left guessing what caused it.
- Scorch marks, buzzing, or a burning smell at the board. Stop using it and call. This one is not a next-month job.
- Adding air conditioning, a pool, a granny flat or an EV charger. New load usually needs a board with the room and capacity for it.
- Buying or selling. An old board turns up on the inspection report and gets used to knock the price down.
NSW landlords have obligations around electrical safety and smoke alarms. A modern board with an RCBO on every circuit is the simplest way to cover it, and the safety check and alarms can be done the same visit.
What the upgrade involves
Nothing mysterious. A day of work, done properly, with the power off for part of it.
Look at what is there
We check the existing board, the incoming supply, how the circuits are split, and whether the wiring behind it is safe to reconnect. Older homes around Westmead and Wentworthville often have circuits added over the years and never labelled.
Price it before starting
You get a price and an explanation of what is included. If something behind the board changes the job, we stop and talk to you rather than adding it to the invoice at the end.
Install and test
Old board out, new enclosure in, circuits reconnected onto individual RCBOs, everything labelled so it makes sense to a human. Then every circuit gets tested.
Certificate of Compliance
You get a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work on completion. Keep it. Insurers and conveyancers ask for it.
What you end up with
- A safety switch (RCBO) on every circuit, not one for the whole house
- Circuits labelled clearly, so you know which breaker is which
- Spare capacity for whatever comes next: air con, EV charger, a renovation
- A board that meets current AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules
- A Certificate of Compliance for your records
Common questions
How do I know if my switchboard needs upgrading?
If you still have ceramic fuses with fuse wire, no safety switches, or breakers that trip regularly, the board is due. Rewiring, adding air conditioning, or installing an EV charger usually needs an upgrade too. Send a photo of the board and we will tell you straight.
How long does it take?
A straightforward domestic board is usually a day, with the power off for a few hours in the middle. Older homes with unlabelled or shared circuits can run longer, and we tell you that before starting rather than after.
Do I need safety switches by law?
Safety switches are required on new and altered circuits under the wiring rules, and are strongly recommended on every circuit in the house. Any board we install gets RCBO protection on each circuit as standard.
Will my power be off all day?
No. Power is only off while the old board comes out and the new one goes in. We give you a window beforehand so you can plan around it, which matters if you work from home or have someone sleeping during the day.
What does it cost?
It depends on the size of the board, the number of circuits, and the condition of the existing wiring. We look at it and give you a fixed price before any work starts, so there are no surprises on the invoice.