When Should You Upgrade Your Switchboard?

If your home still has ceramic fuses or a switchboard from the 1980s, it’s probably time for an upgrade.

Signs your switchboard needs replacing

Most switchboards last around 25 years. After that, they start causing problems. Here are the common signs:

• Fuses blow regularly. If you’re replacing fuses more than once or twice a year, your switchboard is struggling to keep up with modern demand.
• No safety switches. Older boards don’t have RCDs (residual current devices). These are the switches that cut power in milliseconds if there’s a fault. They save lives.
• You’re renovating or adding appliances. New aircon, a pool pump, or an extra circuit for the shed all need a board that can handle the load.
• Burning smell or discolouration. This is urgent. Call a sparky immediately.

What’s involved in a switchboard upgrade

A standard upgrade takes half a day to a full day depending on the size of your home and the state of your existing wiring. We’ll:

1. Disconnect your power (we’ll let you know exactly when)
2. Remove the old board
3. Install a new board with circuit breakers and safety switches
4. Test every circuit
5. Issue a certificate of compliance

How much does it cost?

Every job is different, but a typical residential switchboard upgrade on the Central Coast runs between $1,200 and $2,500 depending on the number of circuits and condition of existing wiring.

We provide free quotes on all switchboard work. Give us a call on 02 4340 1155 and we’ll come have a look.