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Safer power for your family
Your switchboard protects every person and every appliance in your home. If yours still has ceramic fuses, only one safety switch, or breakers that trip for no obvious reason, it's worth a look. An upgrade makes your home safer and ready for air conditioning, induction cooking, heat pumps, batteries and EV chargers. We assess your board on site and give you clear options at fixed prices before any work starts.
Signs your switchboard needs an upgrade
• Ceramic fuses instead of circuit breakers
• No safety switches (RCDs), or only one for the whole house
• Breakers or safety switches that trip regularly
• A board that feels warm, buzzes or smells like burning
• Lights that flicker when big appliances start
• No spare space for new circuits
• An old backing panel that may contain asbestos
Spotted one or more of these? It doesn't always mean a full upgrade. Sometimes it's one faulty breaker, and we'll tell you which.
Why upgrade your switchboard?
A modern switchboard does more than stop fuses blowing. Circuit breakers trip faster and more reliably than old rewireable fuses, and safety switches on every circuit protect your family from electric shock. A new board also gives you clear labelling, so you can find the right circuit in seconds, and spare space for whatever you add next. If you're renovating, selling or planning to go all-electric, upgrading the board first saves paying for the same work twice.
How a switchboard upgrade works
1. Call or send a quote request, with a photo of your switchboard if you can.
2. We inspect the board, the wiring and your supply, and explain what needs replacing and why.
3. You get one fixed price before any work starts, with options where there's a choice to make.
4. We book a time that suits you, install and test the new board, label every circuit and give you the compliance paperwork.
What's included in a switchboard upgrade
• An on-site inspection of your board and wiring, then a fixed-price quote
• Removal of the old board and fuses
• A new enclosure sized for your circuits, with room for future additions
• Modern circuit breakers on every circuit
• RCD safety switch protection on all circuits, often using RCBOs so one fault doesn't cut power to the whole house
• Surge protection where recommended
• Clear labelling of every circuit
• Full testing to Australian Standards and a Certificate of Electrical Safety
• Our 12-month workmanship warranty
Pricing
Every switchboard is different, so we don't quote blind. The cost depends on how many circuits you have, whether you need a new enclosure or meter panel, the type of protection, and whether the old backing panel contains asbestos. Quote inspections are free, you get clear options at fixed prices before we start, and Afterpay is available.
When it's urgent
A board that is hot to touch, smells like burning, shows scorch marks or crackles needs attention straight away. Switch off at the main switch if it's safe to do so, keep clear, and call us on 0433 976 398. We take same-day emergency call-outs 7am–10pm, 7 days, and will make the installation safe first, then talk you through repair or replacement options with a clear price.
Choosing the right protection
Not every home needs the same board. A small unit with a handful of circuits may only need a compact enclosure, while a larger home with air conditioning, a pool pump or a granny flat needs more circuits and space. We size the board for what you have now and what you're likely to add, so you aren't paying for an upgrade again in a few years.
Asbestos backing panels
Many older boards are mounted on panels that contain asbestos. We identify this on inspection and explain what's needed for safe, compliant removal before we quote.
Safety switch (RCD) upgrades
Safety switches cut the power in a fraction of a second when current leaks to earth, protecting people from electric shock. If your home has only one or two, or none, adding RCD protection to every circuit is one of the most worthwhile safety upgrades you can make.
Getting ready for an EV charger or new appliances
A switchboard check is the first step before adding an EV charger, new appliances or extra circuits. If your board needs work, we can do the upgrade and the EV charger install in one visit, so you only deal with one electrician and one fixed price. Planning solar or a battery? We'll get your board ready for your installer.
Not enough capacity?
If you're adding air conditioning, an induction cooktop, a heat pump hot water system or an EV charger, your home may need more than a new board. We check the size of your main supply and how much load your home already draws, and tell you if anything beyond the board needs attention, so the upgrade you pay for actually handles the appliances you're planning.
Repairs, new circuits and sub-boards
We also repair faulty boards, add new circuits for appliances, sheds and granny flats, and install sub-boards. Every job is tested to Australian Standards and we provide the compliance paperwork when we're done.
Home Plus Electrical is family owned and based in Weston Creek, servicing Canberra, Queanbeyan and Googong. Licensed electrician (ACT and NSW). Call 0433 976 398 or request a quote below.
WHAT CANBERRA LOCALS SAY
SWITCHBOARD FAQS
How much does a switchboard upgrade cost?
It depends on the size of your board, the number of circuits and whether asbestos is involved. We inspect for free and give you clear options at fixed prices before any work starts.
How long does a switchboard upgrade take?
Most standard home upgrades are done in a day. We'll tell you how long your job will take when we quote.
Will my power be off?
Yes, for part of the job. We'll let you know when and for how long, and plan around your day as much as we can.
Do I need a new switchboard to install an EV charger?
Not always. If your board has spare space and enough capacity, the charger can usually go straight on. If not, we'll quote the upgrade with your charger install.
What's the difference between an RCD and an RCBO?
An RCD protects a group of circuits against earth leakage. An RCBO combines a safety switch and a circuit breaker for a single circuit, so a fault only trips that one circuit instead of the whole house.
Related services: residential electrical, EV charger installation and RCD testing and thermal imaging. You can also browse all our electrical services, check the areas we service or read what our customers say.
Book your free quote
Book a free on-site quote and get clear options at fixed prices before any work starts. Every job has a 12-month warranty, and Afterpay is available. Call 0433 976 398 7am–10pm, 7 days, or fill in the form and we'll call you back.
0433 976 398
One Point of Contact
You deal with the electrician, not a call centre. The person who quotes your job does your job.
Based in Weston Creek, servicing Canberra, Queanbeyan and Googong.