Switchboards
Hundreds of switchboard upgrades completed throughout Brisbane. Your switchboard is the heart of your electrical system — if it's outdated, your home or business could be at risk. We bring switchboards up to current safety standards with expert upgrades and installations.
Hundreds
Switchboard Upgrades
Across Brisbane homes and businesses
RCDs
Safety Switches
Your first line of defence against electric shock
100%
Current Standards
Every upgrade meets the latest Australian Standards
Our Services
Switchboard Services
Switchboard Upgrades
If your switchboard still uses old ceramic fuses, rewireable fuses, or lacks modern safety switches, it's time for an upgrade. We replace outdated switchboards with modern units featuring residual current devices (RCDs), miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), and surge protection. An upgraded switchboard is the foundation of a safe and reliable electrical system for your home or business.
Safety Switch Installation
Safety switches (RCDs) are your first line of defence against electric shock. They monitor the flow of electricity through a circuit and cut power within milliseconds if they detect current leaking to earth — such as when a person accidentally touches a live wire. Queensland law requires safety switches on all power circuits in domestic dwellings, and we strongly recommend them on lighting circuits too.
Safety Inspections & Testing
Not sure if your switchboard is up to current standards? We provide thorough electrical safety inspections that assess the condition of your switchboard, check for compliance with current regulations, identify potential hazards, and provide clear recommendations. Our inspection reports give you a complete picture of your electrical system's safety status and what, if anything, needs attention.
Surge Protection
Power surges caused by lightning strikes, grid fluctuations, or switching of large loads can damage sensitive electronics, appliances, and even cause fires. We install whole-of-house surge protection devices at the switchboard level to shield your entire property from harmful voltage spikes. This is especially important for homes with expensive electronics, home offices, or solar power systems.
Warning Signs
Does Your Switchboard Need Upgrading?
Many Queensland homes and businesses have switchboards that are decades old and no longer meet current Australian safety standards. An outdated switchboard is more than an inconvenience — it's a genuine safety hazard that increases the risk of electrical fire, electric shock, and damage to appliances and equipment. If you notice any of these warning signs, contact us for a professional assessment.
What We Replace It With
When we upgrade your switchboard, we don't just swap like-for-like. We install a modern switchboard designed for your current needs and future growth, featuring:
RCD Safety Switches
Protection on all power and lighting circuits against electric shock.
Circuit Breakers (MCBs)
Modern miniature circuit breakers replace old fuses for reliable overcurrent protection.
Surge Protection
Whole-of-house surge protection to safeguard electronics and appliances.
Spare Capacity
Room for future additions like solar, EV chargers, or air conditioning without another upgrade.
Clear Labelling
Every circuit clearly labelled for easy identification and faster fault-finding.
Where We Work
Switchboard work we deliver
Switchboard jobs fall into six repeatable patterns across Brisbane. Whichever applies to you, the approach is the same — safe, fast, certified.
Residential Upgrades
Ceramic-fuse, rewireable, and pre-1990 boards replaced with modern RCD-protected units. Single-day job with power restored before dark.
Commercial Distribution Boards
Office, retail, hospitality, fitness venue upgrades. Correct phase balancing, surge protection, after-hours work to avoid trading disruption.
Industrial Switchboards
Workshop and manufacturing distribution. 3-phase main boards, motor starter panels, emergency stop integration, variable speed drive feeds.
Pre-Purchase Safety Inspections
Before you commit to a character home: switchboard age, wiring condition, RCD coverage, bonding and earthing, remediation cost estimate.
Post-Flood Remediation
Water-damaged boards replaced and the entire installation re-certified for Energex reconnection. Flood-affected Brisbane homes a specialty.
Meter Relocations
Coordinated with Energex — temporary disconnection, new meter panel preparation, meter transfer, reconnection. Usually 1–2 site visits.
What to Expect
Most switchboard upgrades take a single day
Site visit & board assessment
On-site inspection of existing board — age, capacity, RCD coverage, circuit labelling, compliance gaps. Photos taken for the quote package.
Energex coordination
For any supply-side work (meter change, relocation, supply upgrade) we lodge the Energex application and schedule the temporary disconnection window.
Installation day
Power off for 2–4 hours typical. Old board removed, new board mounted, every circuit rewired to its labelled MCB, RCD-protected, and tested.
Testing & RCD commissioning
Every circuit tested for correct earth-fault clearance. Each RCD push-button tested and operational trip-time verified. Results recorded.
Compliance & Standards
Regulations that apply to your switchboard
Switchboard work is one of the most regulated areas of electrical installation. The key instruments:
- AS/NZS 3000:2018 — Wiring Rules. Requires RCD protection on all new power and lighting circuits, modern overcurrent protection, and labelled distribution.
- Renovation trigger rule — any new circuit added to a property must be RCD-protected. If the existing board can't provide this, an upgrade is triggered.
- Ceramic fuse requirement — while not explicitly banned, ceramic-fuse boards cannot accept new circuits under AS/NZS 3000 and are treated as end-of-life.
- QLD Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 — licensed work only, Certificate of Electrical Safety required.
- Energex Connection Policy — governs supply-side work, meter changes, and relocations.
- Insurance implications — most insurers now require RCD-protected boards for full coverage. Older boards can invalidate claims.
What Affects Your Quote
How we price switchboard work
Every switchboard job is quoted fixed-price after a site visit. The variables that drive the price:
Circuit count & board size
Smaller older homes typically have fewer circuits; larger modern homes or commercial tenancies need bigger enclosures and higher-rated components.
Location & access
Indoor laundry cupboard vs verandah-mounted (weatherproofing) vs heritage-overlay constraints affect scope.
Energex coordination
Straight board swap vs meter relocation vs 3-phase supply upgrade — each adds coordination scope.
Add-ons
Surge protection, spare-circuit provisioning for future EV/solar, whole-of-house earthing upgrade.
Certification & inspection
Certificate of Electrical Safety is always included for any regulated work; pre-purchase inspection reports available as a separate scope.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs my switchboard needs upgrading?
Are safety switches (RCDs) mandatory in QLD?
How long does a switchboard upgrade take?
Do you install whole-home surge protection?
Can you upgrade a switchboard in a strata unit?
Ready to Get Started?
Your switchboard is the most important safety device in your home. If it's outdated, don't wait for a problem to occur. Contact Jentech Electrical today for a free switchboard inspection and upgrade quote.