What a switchboard upgrade involves
Your switchboard is where power from the street is split into the circuits that run your lights, power points, oven, hot water and air-con. On an older home, that board might still use rewireable ceramic fuses, have no safety switches at all, or be mounted on a backing panel that’s seen better days.
An upgrade means we remove the old gear and fit a new enclosure with circuit breakers and safety switches (RCDs or combined RCBOs) protecting every circuit. We label each circuit clearly, test everything, and make sure the board has spare room for things you might add later.
Depending on the job, we may also update the main switch, the earthing system and the main neutral and earth connections. If the meter panel itself needs work, we coordinate with your energy retailer and the network so the meter side is sorted properly.
Signs your board needs replacing
Some boards are obviously tired. Others look fine from the front but have problems behind the cover. These are the common signs we see on Gold Coast and Brisbane homes:
- Ceramic fuses with fuse wire instead of circuit breakers
- No safety switches, or only one covering the power points
- Scorch marks, a burning smell, buzzing or warm spots on the board
- Fuses blowing or breakers tripping when you run a few appliances at once
- No spare space for a new circuit, such as an oven, air-con or pool pump
- Rust or corrosion inside the enclosure, common close to the beach
- An old backing board that may contain asbestos
If a few of these sound familiar, have a read of our blog post on the signs you need a switchboard upgrade, or just get in touch and we’ll take a look.
Solar, batteries and EV chargers
A lot of our switchboard work starts because someone wants to add something new. Solar inverters, home batteries, EV chargers, ducted air-con and induction cooktops all need dedicated circuits, and older boards often have no room left and no safety switch protection to extend.
When we plan an upgrade, we ask what you’re likely to add over the next few years. It’s far cheaper to leave space and cabling allowances now than to open the board up again later. If you’re planning a renovation at the same time, we’ll fold the board into that plan with our new homes and renovations work.
Asbestos backing boards and older homes
Many homes built before the late 1980s have switchboards mounted on backing panels that can contain asbestos. We don’t drill, cut or break those panels. Where one is present, we arrange for it to be handled and removed safely and in line with Queensland or NSW requirements before the new board goes in.
Older homes can also have wiring issues that show up once the new board’s safety switches are in. Deteriorated cable insulation, shared neutrals between circuits or a leaky outdoor light can cause a new RCD to trip. We test circuits as part of the job and let you know if anything needs attention, rather than leaving you with a board that keeps tripping.
How long it takes and what we need from you
Most straightforward residential board replacements are done in a single day. The power will be off for part of that time, so we’ll give you a rough window in advance. Plan around fridges and freezers, and let us know if anyone at home relies on powered medical equipment.
From you, we need clear access to the board and meter box, a heads up about pets, and a quick chat about what you’d like the board to handle in future. If the job involves meter changes, there may be extra lead time while the network or retailer schedules their part.
What affects the cost
We don’t price switchboards off a flat rate, because no two homes are the same. The main things that affect your quote are:
- How many circuits you have and how many need safety switch protection
- Whether the meter panel, main switch or consumer mains need replacing
- Whether asbestos is present and needs to be dealt with first
- Faults found on existing circuits once they’re tested
- Extra circuits you want added now, like an EV charger or air-con
We give you an upfront written quote before any work starts, so there are no surprises. If we find something unexpected once the old board is open, we stop and talk to you before going further.
Compliance and paperwork
All our switchboard work is done to AS/NZS 3000, the Wiring Rules, and tested before we leave. You’ll receive a certificate of testing and compliance for the work, which is worth keeping for insurance, sale or rental purposes. If you’re a landlord, a new board is a good moment to also look at our rental property electrical checks, including smoke alarms.