Residential / General electrical
Switchboard upgrades
Make room for the way you use power today. We assess ageing switchboards, circuit protection and the capacity needed for new equipment.
Local electricians · Clear advice · Ongoing support
Signs your board needs attention
- Ceramic rewireable fuses instead of circuit breakers. If you have ever twisted fuse wire around a porcelain carrier, the board predates modern safety standards.
- No safety switches, or only one covering part of the house. We assess the protection on your circuits and explain any improvements needed.
- No spare ways. A full board means there is physically nowhere to land a new circuit.
- Breakers that repeatedly trip, or visible signs of heat damage. Do not remove covers or touch internal components.
- Buzzing, crackling, scorch marks or a burning smell. Keep clear and contact an electrician. If there is smoke or fire, move to safety and call 000.
- A quote for solar, a battery or an EV charger that came back with “switchboard upgrade required”.
What an upgrade involves
We replace the old board with a modern enclosure, fit circuit breakers and RCDs to the current standard, label every circuit properly, and leave spare capacity for whatever comes next. Where the mains or the meter arrangement also need work, we will tell you before we start rather than halfway through.
Most residential board changes are a day, and the power is off for part of it. We will give you a realistic window so you can plan around it.
Why it matters before solar or a battery
A solar system needs its own protected circuit at the board, and a battery usually needs more than that. An EV charger needs a dedicated high-current circuit and enough headroom in the main supply to run it without nuisance tripping. Doing the board first means the rest of the work goes in cleanly, and it is why we check your board during the free assessment for solar and battery storage.
Check your circuit protection. Safety switches reduce the risk of electric shock. We assess the protection installed on your circuits and the requirements for any proposed electrical work.
Good to know
Your questions, answered.
How much does a switchboard upgrade cost?
It depends on the size of the board, the condition of the mains and whether the meter arrangement needs changing. We quote it properly after looking at the board rather than guessing over the phone.
Will my power be off all day?
Not usually all day, but it will be off for a solid part of it. We let you know the window in advance so you can plan around fridges, freezers and anyone working from home.
Can you upgrade the board at the same time as installing solar?
Yes, and it is often the most efficient way to do it. One visit, one lot of downtime.
Do I have to upgrade if my board still works?
Not always. A board that is safe, has RCD protection and has spare capacity can stay. We will tell you honestly if yours is fine.
Let’s talk about your project.
Tell us your suburb, priorities and the work you have in mind. We’ll help you take the next step.