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Switchboard Upgrade Cost in Sydney

We replace the old enclosure, fit RCDs on every circuit, and lock the price before we isolate the supply.

Network distributor authorisations

Get My Switchboard Quote

How big is your board?

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[ COST ]

What a switchboard upgrade costs in Sydney

Price depends on the size of your board and your supply type. More circuits means a bigger enclosure and more time on site. Use the calculator at the top for a from-price, or check the bands here.

From $1,300*

Small board

1–6 circuits

A compact single-phase board. We replace the enclosure and fit RCDs on every circuit.

From $2,000*

Medium board

7–10 circuits

A typical family home. More lights, a second air con, or a board that is already close to full.

From $2,700*

Larger board

11–14 circuits

A fuller single-phase board: bigger households, EV chargers, solar, or multiple outbuildings.

From $3,800*

Three-phase or larger

15+ circuits

A bigger board or three-phase supply. Reworking the meter box or sub-mains is this job too. It takes more breakers, a larger enclosure, and more time on site.

Custom quote*

Custom solution

Commercial or complex jobs

Commercial switchboards, multiple boards, or underground service work. We scope it on site and provide a tailored fixed quote.

* Prices are a rough guide based on circuit count. We set the final number after we see the board, because the enclosure, access, and any meter box or sub-mains work can change it. We lock a fixed written quote before we isolate the supply.

[ OVERVIEW ]

What happens when we upgrade your switchboard?

Older overloaded residential switchboard that needs an upgrade

Your switchboard feeds every circuit in the place. The main switch, circuit breakers, and safety switches (RCDs) all sit in that box. If they are missing, worn out, or there is no spare room, the wiring behind it is not properly protected.

Plenty of Sydney houses still run 1970s or 1980s boards: ceramic fuses or old breakers, no shock protection, and no space for air con, an EV charger, or solar. We replace the enclosure, rewire the incoming supply, fit new breakers and RCDs, and label every circuit. Switchboard work is licensed in NSW. You get a CCEW, we lodge it with Fair Trading. Contractors Licence 493243C.

[ SYMPTOM CHECKLIST ]

Common reasons we get called to a switchboard

  • Ceramic fuse box with no safety switches. Common on Northern Beaches cottages and older North Shore houses
  • A breaker or fuse that keeps blowing on the same circuit
  • Putting in an EV charger, solar, or ducted air con and the board hasn't got the spare circuits
  • A defect notice from the electricity distributor
  • A reno or extension that needs extra circuits from the board you've got
  • A building inspection flagged the switchboard when you were buying or selling
  • Buzzing, heat, or discolouration near the meter box
  • The board is full. You can't add a circuit without taking one out

Book a licensed look if the board is more than 20 years old or it doesn't have safety switches on every circuit. We do switchboard upgrades across Sydney every week.

Upgraded switchboard panel with safety switches installed in a Sydney home
[ EDUCATION ]

What you need to know before booking

RCBOs: safety switch and circuit breaker in one

An RCBO is a safety switch (RCD) and a circuit breaker in one unit. Leak to earth, including through a person, and it cuts power in milliseconds. An overload trips it before the cable overheats. A short circuit gets stopped before it can melt wiring and start a fire. A lot of new Australian boards use them because AS/NZS 3000:2018 points that way, and they take less space than a separate RCD and MCB pair when the box is already tight.

Circuit breakers vs ceramic fuses

Ceramic rewirable fuses have to be rewired by hand after a fault. They do not protect you from shock, and the wrong gauge wire can over-fuse the circuit so it never blows when it should. A modern breaker trips on its own and you reset it with a switch. Each one is rated to a set current, so nobody can slip in a fuse that is too heavy. New work has to be done this way.

Single-phase vs three-phase boards

Most Sydney homes are single-phase 230V. Three-phase gives you three times the current. You see it on bigger houses, workshops, and some commercial sites. If you are adding heavy loads, more than one EV charger, or a workshop, we will say whether you need three-phase or whether a single-phase board upgrade is enough. No point paying for capacity you will not use.

How much capacity do you actually need?

If you are replacing the board, size it for what you will add later, not just what is on it now. Air con, EV charging, solar, and hot water each want their own circuit. We look at current and planned loads and size the new board so you are not back in two years for another upgrade.

[ NETWORK AUTHORISATION ]

Certifications & Accreditations

ACCREDITATION / 01

AUSGRID

Network distributor authorisation
ACCREDITATION / 02

ENDEAVOUR ENERGY

Network distributor authorisation
ACCREDITATION / 03

ESSENTIAL ENERGY

Network distributor authorisation
ACCREDITATION / 04

LEVEL 2 ASP

Accredited service provider · Lic 6855
ACCREDITATION / 05

SAA ACCREDITED

Solar accreditation Australia
ACCREDITATION / 06

NSW CONTRACTORS

Electrical contractors licence · 493243C
[ CLIENT TRANSMISSION ]

Real feedback

5.0 · 7 Google reviews

See all on Google
The absolute best in the business. Reliable, honest, and truly professional! We cannot recommend Sam enough. He has been our go-to electrician for over six projects now, and he is, without a doubt, the best tradesperson we have ever hired. What sets Sam apart is his consistency. In every single interaction, he has been incredibly reliable, honest, and fair with his pricing. He is a true professional who is always accommodating, regardless of the complexity of the job. Beyond his exceptional technical skills, he is just a genuinely nice person who is a pleasure to have around. We have already been recommending Sam to all our friends, family, and colleagues, and we will continue to do so. If you need electrical work done right, look no further, he is simply outstanding. Thank you, Sam, for everything you have done for us! We look forward to working with you again soon.
elias sodir
Google review
Sam is an absolute legend. He fixed my hot water system this afternoon. He didn’t charge me a lot and he done a great job
Jack Brown
Google review
Sam is professional, courteous and honest. He is upfront with the costs and does everything per the book. He was a pleasure to work with and gave us exactly what we wanted. Highly recommended. Wish every tradie was like Sam
Nagarajan Valanoor
Google review
The absolute best in the business. Reliable, honest, and truly professional! We cannot recommend Sam enough. He has been our go-to electrician for over six projects now, and he is, without a doubt, the best tradesperson we have ever hired. What sets Sam apart is his consistency. In every single interaction, he has been incredibly reliable, honest, and fair with his pricing. He is a true professional who is always accommodating, regardless of the complexity of the job. Beyond his exceptional technical skills, he is just a genuinely nice person who is a pleasure to have around. We have already been recommending Sam to all our friends, family, and colleagues, and we will continue to do so. If you need electrical work done right, look no further, he is simply outstanding. Thank you, Sam, for everything you have done for us! We look forward to working with you again soon.
elias sodir
Google review
[ INFORMATION QUERY ]

Frequently asked questions

01Do I need a licensed electrician to upgrade my switchboard in NSW?

Yes. Switchboard work is licensed electrical work in NSW and must be carried out by a licensed electrical contractor. DIY switchboard work is illegal and will void your home insurance. We hold Contractors Licence 493243C, carry out all switchboard upgrades to AS/NZS 3000 standards, and issue a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) so you have a record for your insurer and for NSW Fair Trading.

02Can you upgrade a fuse box on the Northern Beaches?

Yes. Ceramic fuse boxes in Dee Why, Collaroy, Mona Vale, and the rest of the Northern Beaches are a regular job. Salt air also eats outdoor enclosures, so we often replace the box and the protection devices in the same visit. You get a fixed price before we isolate the supply.

03How long does a switchboard upgrade take?

Most residential single-phase switchboard upgrades take four to six hours from start to sign-off. Three-phase upgrades or more complex jobs with meter box work may take a full day. We schedule a specific time block so you know when power will be off and when it will be restored.

04What are safety switches and do I need them?

Safety switches (RCDs) cut power within milliseconds when current leaks to earth, including through a person. They are the primary protection against fatal electric shock. NSW regulations require RCDs on all final subcircuits (the circuits that feed powerpoints, lights, and appliances) in new and significantly altered switchboards. If your switchboard has no safety switches at all, you are not protected and we strongly recommend an upgrade.

05My circuit breaker keeps tripping. Does that mean I need a new switchboard?

Not always. A circuit breaker that repeatedly trips may indicate an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance, or damaged wiring rather than a board problem. We diagnose the underlying fault first. If the board is old, undersized, or has other safety concerns, we will recommend an upgrade and give you a fixed quote before any work starts.

06Do I need to upgrade my switchboard to install an EV charger or solar system?

Often yes. EV chargers and solar inverters require dedicated circuits and in some cases additional capacity that older switchboards cannot safely provide. We assess your existing board when quoting EV charger installation or solar work and flag any upgrade needed upfront, so there are no surprises on installation day.

07Will the power be off during the switchboard upgrade?

Yes. The main supply has to be off for the duration of the swap. We coordinate the outage window with you before the job. For most residential upgrades the outage is four to six hours. We restore power and test every circuit before we leave.

[ RELATED SERVICES ]

Related Services

EV Charger Installation

We check whether your board can take the dedicated circuit an EV charger needs, and upgrade it when it cannot.

View service →

Solar Installation

We check the board before connecting a new solar system. An upgrade comes first when the existing board cannot take the inverter.

View service →

Safety Switches (RCD)

A new switchboard includes RCD protection on every circuit: the device that cuts power if someone gets a shock.

View service →

Electrical Defect Notice

A switchboard upgrade clears many common conditions on an electrical defect notice.

View service →

Renovation

Upgrade the switchboard first so the renovation has the circuits and capacity it needs.

View service →
< OPERATIONAL SEQUENCE >

Assessment to completion

Licensed electrician inspecting a switchboard during on-site electrical work in Sydney
01

Tell us what you need

Describe your electrical issue or project and we'll schedule a time to assess the situation.

02

We inspect and quote

Our technician examines the work required and gives you a transparent price before anything begins.

03

We complete the job

We finish on time, clean up after ourselves, and ensure everything meets code and your expectations.

/// RESULT

From booking to sign-off

From booking through to final checks, we manage the details so you can get the job finished right.

Get a fixed price for your switchboard upgrade

Old fuse box, a board that keeps tripping, or new loads to add: call us or send the form. We inspect your board, confirm the price, then complete the upgrade across Sydney.

Service area
Greater Sydney and the Illawarra
Hours
Mon–Sun 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
24/7 emergency call-outs
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