Lighting and downlights
LED downlights, outdoor and sensor lighting, dimmers, pendants and feature lighting.
Melbourne's eastern suburbs
Switchboard upgrades and safety switches
An old switchboard is the one part of a house that can hurt you without any warning. Ceramic fuses do not trip fast enough to save a person, and a board with no safety switches is no longer up to the Australian standard. We replace old boards with a modern switchboard, RCD protection on every circuit and space for whatever you add next.
What we do
What the job can include
- Replacing ceramic fuse and rewireable fuse boards with a modern switchboard
- RCD safety switches on every circuit (lights, power, oven, hot water, air conditioning)
- Circuit breakers sized to the wiring they protect
- Surge protection to guard appliances and electronics from spikes
- Clearing defect notices from your distributor or a building inspector
- Boards sized for solar, a battery, an EV charger or a three-phase upgrade
- Labelling every circuit so the next person knows what is what
Good to know
Before you book
What a safety switch does
An RCD cuts the power within milliseconds when current leaks to earth, which is what happens when a person is getting a shock. A circuit breaker only protects the wiring; a safety switch protects you.
Rental properties
Victorian rental minimum standards require a modern switchboard with circuit breakers and safety switches on every circuit. Landlords also need a licensed electrical safety check every two years.
How long it takes
A straightforward like-for-like upgrade is a half-day job with the power off for a few hours. Boards that need a new meter panel or mains work take a full day, and we tell you before we start.
How it goes
Quote first, then the work
-
Tell us the job
Ring, or send the form with what you need and your suburb. Photos help.
-
Get a fixed quote
Small jobs are priced over the phone; bigger ones after a quick look. Either way, in writing.
-
We do the work
Booked for a time that suits you, done by a licensed electrician, tested before we leave.
-
COES and tidy-up
We clean up, walk you through what was done and email your Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Questions
Switchboard upgrades: common questions
How do I know if my switchboard needs upgrading?
If it has ceramic fuses, a wooden or bakelite backing, no safety switch test buttons, or it is tripping and you do not know why, it is time. Any board older than about 25 years is worth a look, and we will tell you honestly if it is fine.
Do you need to turn the power off?
Yes, for a few hours while the new board is fitted and tested. We book a time that suits you, give you notice, and get essentials like the fridge back on as early in the job as we safely can.
Will a new switchboard fix my tripping problem?
Often, but not always. Frequent tripping can be a faulty appliance or a wiring fault rather than the board. We test before we recommend anything, so you are not paying for a board when the cause is a $40 kettle.
Does the meter need changing?
Usually not. Smart meters belong to your distributor and stay where they are. If the meter panel itself is damaged or too small for the new board, we arrange that as part of the quote.
Also
All services Other work we do
Melbourne's eastern suburbs
Need switchboard upgrades sorted?
Tell us the job and your suburb. You will have a fixed quote before anyone books a day in.