A switchboard upgrade replaces an old fuse board with a modern board fitted with circuit breakers and safety switches (RCDs). It is the single biggest safety improvement you can make to an older Melbourne home. Electrical Powerhaus upgrades and repairs switchboards across Melbourne from our base in Box Hill, with a fixed written quote before we start and a Certificate of Electrical Safety when the job is done.
What does a switchboard actually do?
Your switchboard is where power from the street is split into the circuits that run your lights, power points, oven, hot water and air conditioning. Each circuit has a protective device that switches it off if something goes wrong. On an old board that device is a ceramic fuse with a strand of wire inside it. On a modern board it is a circuit breaker paired with a safety switch.
The difference matters. A fuse or breaker protects the cable from overheating when too much current flows. A safety switch watches for current leaking to earth, which is what happens when electricity passes through a person, and cuts the power in a fraction of a second. Most homes built before the 1990s were wired with no safety switch protection at all, or with one switch covering only the power points.
Signs your switchboard needs an upgrade
Book an inspection if you notice any of these:
- Ceramic fuses you can pull out, or fuse wire wrapped around the holder
- No safety switches, or only one covering a few circuits
- Circuits that trip or blow regularly, especially with heaters or air conditioning running
- Scorch marks, a burning smell, buzzing or a board that feels warm
- An asbestos backing panel, common in boards installed before the late 1980s
- No spare room for new circuits for solar, a battery, an EV charger or a renovation
Older boards are not automatically dangerous, but they were designed for homes with a fridge, a kettle and a few lights. Modern homes run split systems, induction cooktops, dryers, home offices and car chargers, often at the same time. If you are planning to add any of those, it is worth checking the board first. Our guide to whether circuit breakers wear out explains what happens to protective devices as they age.
What a switchboard upgrade includes
- Testing the existing wiring before anything is changed
- A new enclosure with circuit breakers and safety switches on every circuit, as current Australian wiring rules require for new work
- Main switch, neutral and earth links replaced, with the main earth checked
- Every circuit labelled clearly so you know what is what
- Surge protection and spare capacity added where you want them
- Full testing, then a Certificate of Electrical Safety lodged for the work
We use quality components, including Hager equipment, and we leave the meter box neat. If your board sits on an asbestos panel, we can arrange for the panel to be removed and replaced safely as part of the job rather than drilling into it.
How much does a switchboard upgrade cost in Melbourne?
The price of a switchboard upgrade depends on how many circuits your home has, whether the meter panel or main cable also needs replacing, whether there is asbestos, and how much of the existing wiring passes testing. A small unit with a handful of circuits is a very different job to a large family home with air conditioning, a pool and solar. That is why we inspect first and give you a fixed price in writing, so the number you approve is the number you pay. Our call-out is free, and new customers get 15% off their first service. For typical ranges across common upgrades, see our guide to the cost of electrical upgrades in Melbourne.
How long does it take?
Most residential switchboard upgrades take between half a day and a full day. The power is off for part of that time, and we plan the work so you are not left without power overnight. If testing finds a faulty circuit, we explain what we found and what it will cost before doing anything extra, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
Is it mandatory to upgrade an old switchboard in Victoria?
Victoria does not force every homeowner to replace an old board that still works. An upgrade becomes necessary when the existing board cannot safely take new work. If you add circuits, renovate, install solar or a battery, or fit an EV charger, the new work has to meet current standards, which includes safety switch protection. A board that is damaged, overheating or failing testing should also be replaced straight away.
Landlords are in a different position. Rental properties in Victoria need an electrical safety check by a licensed electrician every two years, and an unsafe switchboard found during that check must be fixed. See our electrical safety and compliance page for how rental checks work. You can confirm our contractor licence, REC-034378, on the Energy Safe Victoria public register.
Switchboard repairs
Not every problem needs a new board. Sometimes a single breaker has failed, a connection has worked loose or a safety switch has stopped tripping when tested. We find the fault, replace the faulty part and test the whole board so you know where it stands. If a repair would cost more than it is worth on a board that is near the end of its life, we tell you honestly and leave the decision with you.
Switchboard upgrades across Melbourne
We work from Box Hill across Melbourne’s east and inner suburbs, the bayside and north. Some of our busiest areas for switchboard work are the period homes of Boroondara, post-war homes in Whitehorse and the older streets of Glen Eira. Check the full list of suburbs on our areas we service page, and see real before and after photos in our work gallery.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my switchboard has safety switches?
Look for devices marked RCD, RCBO or safety switch with a small T or test button. If your board only has pull-out ceramic fuses or plain breakers with no test buttons, it has no safety switch protection and an upgrade is worth considering.
Will I lose power during a switchboard upgrade?
Yes, for part of the day. We keep the outage as short as possible and plan the work so your power is back on before we leave.
Can you upgrade a switchboard that has asbestos behind it?
Yes. We do not drill or cut into asbestos panels. We arrange for the panel to be removed and replaced safely as part of the upgrade.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade for solar or an EV charger?
Often, yes. Both add new circuits and load, and the new work must meet current standards. We check your board and supply first and tell you exactly what is needed.
Do you provide a certificate after the work?
Yes. In Victoria, prescribed electrical work like a switchboard upgrade needs a Certificate of Electrical Safety, and we lodge one for every job.
Book a switchboard inspection on 03 6358 2028. Call-outs are $0, quotes are fixed and written, and new customers get 15% off their first service. For an electrical emergency at any hour, call 0432 220 069.
Real work from the Powerhaus crew
Every photo is one of our jobs, taken by our team.
