Home · Dungog, Gresford & the Hunter

Switchboard upgrades.

If your switchboard has ceramic fuses, a single safety switch covering the whole house, or no safety switch at all, it's doing less to protect you than a modern board would. An upgrade replaces the fuses with RCD protection and puts a safety switch on every circuit, so a fault on the shed circuit doesn't take out the kitchen, and a fault that could hurt someone trips in a fraction of a second.

Call 0418 282 806 Request a free quote

New Clipsal switchboard with a main switch and a combined safety switch and breaker on every circuit, with a double power point above

In short

A switchboard upgrade replaces old ceramic fuses with RCD protection on every circuit, so a fault trips fast and only takes out the circuit it's on. We upgrade switchboards across Dungog, Gresford and the Hunter.

Licence: NSW 403289C
Based: Dungog
Quotes: Free, price agreed first
Certificate: Lodged for every job

It's the single best safety improvement most older homes in the district can make, and it's usually the first thing Kayden is asked about when someone buys an older place.

What the job involves

A new enclosure if the old one is asbestos-backed, cracked or too small
Circuit breakers for every circuit, labelled so you can tell what's what
Safety switches (RCDs) on every circuit
Surge protection if you want it, which matters on long rural lines
Testing every circuit and a written record of what's on the board

When you need it

Ceramic or wire fuses, or a board you have to rewire a fuse on
Only one safety switch, or none, on the board
Breakers that trip for no reason, or a board that gets warm
You're adding a shed, air conditioning, a cooktop or an EV charger and the board is full
An insurance or pre-purchase inspection has flagged it

What changes the price

Whether the enclosure can stay or needs replacing
The number of circuits
Whether the mains or meter need work, which can involve the network provider
Asbestos-backed panels, which need handling and disposal

What NSW requires

In NSW, new circuits and most alterations require safety switch protection, which is why an upgrade usually puts RCDs on everything
Older boards with asbestos panels must be removed and disposed of properly
A Certificate of Compliance is lodged for the upgrade

What Kayden needs from you to quote

A photo of the board with the lid open, and one of the meter box
A list of what you're planning to add to the house in the next few years

Questions about switchboard upgrades

How do I know if my switchboard needs upgrading?

Ceramic fuses you have to rewire, only one safety switch or none, breakers that trip for no reason, a board that's warm to touch, or no room for new circuits. A photo of the board with the lid open is enough for Kayden to tell you.

Is a safety switch the same as a circuit breaker?

No. A circuit breaker protects the wiring from overload. A safety switch, or RCD, protects people: it cuts power in a fraction of a second if current leaks to earth, for example through someone touching a faulty appliance. A modern board has both.

Will the power be off during the upgrade?

Yes, for part of the job while the old board is swapped out. Kayden tells you how long before he starts, so you can plan around the fridge and freezer.