Switchboard upgrades
Switchboard upgrades in your area
Old ceramic fuses out, safety switches on every circuit in. The single best safety upgrade you can make to an older home.
Draft — confirm with Bryce that this service is offered before publishing.
Overview
The short version
Your switchboard is the one thing standing between a fault and a fire. If it still has ceramic fuses, a single safety switch for the whole house, or no safety switches at all, it's overdue.
A modern board puts a safety switch on every circuit, so a fault in the kitchen trips the kitchen — not the whole house — and cuts power in milliseconds. It also gives you the spare capacity that air conditioning, induction cooking, solar and EV chargers all need.
Bryce labels every circuit, tests everything, and sends the certificate of compliance through with the invoice.
What's included
What you get
- Full switchboard replacement with circuit breakers and RCD safety switches
- Extra circuits for new appliances, air conditioning or EV chargers
- Surge protection
- Circuit labelling so you know what each switch does
- Coordination with your energy retailer if a meter change is needed
- Certificate of compliance on completion
Sound familiar?
Problems we sort out every week
- Ceramic fuses or a board that has not been touched in decades
- No safety switches, or only one for the whole house
- Breakers that trip when you run more than one appliance
- Adding a pool, air con, induction cooktop or EV charger
- An insurer or solar installer asking for a board upgrade
Pricing
What affects the price
Every job is quoted as a fixed price before work starts. These are the things that move it up or down — tell us about them and the quote will be closer to the mark.
- Number of circuits and safety switches required
- Whether the board enclosure can be reused or needs replacing (asbestos-backed boards need proper disposal)
- Adding circuits at the same time — air con, oven, EV charger, pool
- Surge protection and any meter-related work coordinated with your retailer
- Access and condition of the existing mains and earthing
Time on site
Half a day to a full day. Power is off for part of that and you'll be told exactly when.
Get a fixed priceHow it works
Four steps, no surprises
Call or send a photo
Tell Bryce what you're after. A photo saves a site visit for most jobs.
Fixed-price quote
You get a clear price and what it covers. No call-out surprises.
Book a time
Brigitte locks in a time that suits you. Bryce turns up when he says.
Done and certified
Work tested, area left tidy, certificate of compliance sent through.
FAQs
Switchboard upgrades: common questions
How do I know if my switchboard needs upgrading?
Ceramic fuses, no safety switches, a wooden backing board or regular tripping are all signs. Send us a photo of the board and we will tell you honestly whether it needs doing.
How long does a switchboard upgrade take?
Usually half a day to a day. Power will be off for part of that time and we will tell you when.
Is a switchboard upgrade required for solar or an EV charger?
Often. Both need spare capacity and safety switches on the new circuit. We will check before you commit to either.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. Every switchboard job comes with a certificate of compliance, which you will need for insurance and when selling.
Will I lose power for the whole day?
No. Power is off for a few hours while the board is swapped over. Bryce will give you a window in advance so you can plan around fridges and work-from-home.
Can you just add a safety switch instead of replacing the board?
Sometimes. If the board is otherwise sound, adding RCDs to the existing circuits is a cheaper step. Send a photo and Bryce will tell you honestly which makes sense.
“Bryce was very responsive to my request and very prompt by being on time. He outlined exactly what he was going to do and answered any questions that I had before, throughout and after the process. The job was completed in the time frame that he speculated and was very reasonable with his pricing. Would definitely recommend BE Electrical and will be calling him back for more work.”
Free quotes · Mon–Sun, 7am–7pm
Need switchboard upgrades in your area?
Call Bryce for a straight answer, or send a few details and Brigitte will come back to you with a quote.