Switchboard Installation in Sydney: What Homeowners Need to Know

What This Article Covers

A quick overview before you dive in:

• When a home needs a new switchboard installed, from replacing an old board or adding a sub board to a renovation or new appliances such as an EV charger, and what to do first if the board smells of burning, buzzes or shows scorch marks.
• Where a switchboard can go, which rules and decisions affect the spot, and what moving a board to a new spot typically costs, with the conditions behind the price.
• Why switchboard installation is a job for a licensed electrician in NSW, and what the rules require of a new board.
• How to get ready for installation day, including how long the power is usually off.
• What you should have once the work is done, from labelled circuits and a compliance certificate to resetting and testing your safety switches.
• Answers on asbestos backing boards, the network paperwork and our workmanship warranty.

A new switchboard is a bigger job than it looks from the outside. Where it goes, how it's sized and who installs it all affect how safe your home is and what it can run in future. Whether you're replacing an old board, renovating or adding a sub board, it helps to know what to expect before you book.

This guide is based on the switchboard upgrades in Sydney we carry out at Impulse Electrical Enterprise, based in Strathfield and working across the Inner West and greater Sydney.

When a Home Needs a New Switchboard Installed

• Replacing an old or unsafe board. Ceramic fuses, or a board with no room for safety switches or new circuits, can point to a new board. Scorch marks need urgent attention (see below). Repeated tripping needs checking first, because a safety switch that keeps tripping has usually found a fault, and some faults can be fixed with a repair. Our guide to the warning signs of an old switchboard explains what to look for.
• A renovation or extension. New kitchens, bathrooms and extra rooms can mean new circuits, and an old board may have no room for them.
• Adding a sub board. A sub board is a smaller board supplied from the main one. It can make sense when a garage, extension or outbuilding needs its own circuits.
• Moving the board. A renovation sometimes means the board has to move to a new spot.
• New appliances. Adding an EV charger, solar, a battery, an induction cooktop or ducted air conditioning can mean new circuits, and the existing board may not have the space or capacity for them.

If your board smells of burning, buzzes or shows scorch marks, don't wait to plan an installation. If there's smoke or fire, get everyone out and call triple zero (000) first. Otherwise, if you can safely reach the switchboard, switch off the main switch, don't touch anything that is scorched, melted or wet, and call our emergency electrician line, which is answered 24/7. We confirm the call-out price on the phone before we send anyone, make the fault safe, and quote any repair or upgrade for you to approve.

Where a Switchboard Can Go

You can't put a switchboard just anywhere. The board itself has to meet the wiring rules (AS/NZS 3000). The NSW Service and Installation Rules cover how your home connects to the network, and under them the network operator can decide where the service equipment at that connection goes. If your meter or incoming supply is mounted with your switchboard, those rules affect where the board can go too, so your electrician confirms the spot before any work starts.

In general, a good location is:

• Easy to reach, so the power can be switched off quickly in an emergency.
• Kept clear of furniture and storage, so the switchboard door can open fully.
• Dry, away from areas where water or moisture can reach it.

Moving a board to a new spot adds work, because the cabling and sometimes the meter position change too. If the new board goes in the same spot, a full board replacement typically costs $1,200 to $4,000+ + GST. A switchboard relocation typically costs $7,000 to $11,000+ + GST. If the meter or the connection has to move too, network, metering provider and Level 2 Accredited Service Provider costs may apply, and your written quote states which of these it includes. Prices assume suitable existing wiring and reasonable access to the board. Extra equipment, new circuits and other work are quoted separately, and your final price is confirmed in a free, fixed quote before any work starts. Our switchboard upgrade cost guide explains the other price ranges.

Why Installation Is a Job for a Licensed Electrician

Installing a switchboard is not a DIY job. In NSW, anyone doing electrical wiring work must hold an electrical licence, and a mistake at the switchboard can cause an electric shock or a fire.

A new board also has to meet rules a homeowner wouldn't be expected to know. When a switchboard is replaced, the wiring rules require safety switches (RCDs) on the final circuits it supplies. When the work is done, the electrician submits a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) through the BCNSW eCert portal, and a copy is sent to you. We also take care of the network paperwork, whether your home is supplied by Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy.

At Impulse Electrical Enterprise, every job is completed or supervised by licensed electricians, and apprentices may attend. Our director, Matthew Neil, supervises every job.

Getting Ready for Installation Day

On installation day, expect the power to be off for about three hours to a full day in a typical home, depending on the work. We tell you in advance when it will go off. Moving the board or removing an asbestos backing board can add time. A few things make the day easier:

• Clear the area around the board so there's room to work safely.
• Keep the fridge and freezer closed while the power is off, and charge phones and laptops beforehand.
• Tell us when you book if anyone at home relies on powered medical equipment, so we can book a day that suits you. Make sure the equipment has enough battery charge for the whole time the power is off, or plan to be somewhere else.
• Expect to reset some things afterwards, such as clocks, timers and wi-fi equipment.

What You Should Have When the Work Is Done

• Safety switches (RCDs) protecting the circuits the new board supplies, and every circuit clearly labelled so you know what each switch controls.
• A tested installation. Every circuit should be tested before the power goes back on.
• Your copy of the CCEW, sent to you once it's submitted through the eCert portal. Keep it with your home's records.
• A walk-through of the new board. Before leaving, our electrician shows you where the main switch, circuit breakers and safety switches are and what each one does, how to spot a tripped safety switch, and how to reset it when it's safe to. Switch a tripped safety switch back on once. If it trips again straight away, or you see any sign of damage, leave it off and call an electrician, because it has usually found a fault.

After that, the NSW Government advises testing each safety switch at least every six months by pressing its test button. For a full check with a written report, our safety switch testing service tests every switch on the board for $99 + GST per switch. Replacement safety switches and any extra work are quoted separately.

Questions About Switchboard Installation in Sydney

What if my old switchboard has an asbestos backing board?

Some older switchboards are mounted on a bituminous backing board that contains asbestos, and NSW asbestos guidance lists these boards as made before 1987. It's worth asking about before you book, because removal can add time and cost to installation day. If we find one, you can engage your own appropriately licensed asbestos removalist, or we can help coordinate a suitable specialist, and we explain the options before the work is booked. Don't drill, cut or otherwise disturb a backing board that may contain asbestos. The type of asbestos and the work involved decide whether a removal licence is legally required and, if so, which type.

Who looks after the network paperwork?

We do. If your installation needs paperwork with Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy, or Level 2 work on the network side, we arrange it and show it in your quote, so you only deal with one company. Level 2 work is done by an Accredited Service Provider (Level 2), who can install, repair or maintain the service lines between your home and the network.

Is the installation covered by a warranty?

Yes. Our workmanship is covered by our warranty, and products and parts come with a 2 to 7 year manufacturer's warranty, depending on the product. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law always apply.

Plan Your Switchboard Installation

Tell us what you're planning, whether it's a replacement, a renovation, a sub board or a new EV charger. Call 0481 228 836 or request a free quote, and we'll give you a fixed price before any work starts. Our phones are answered 24/7.