How to tell if your switchboard needs upgrading

Warning signs you can spot without touching anything

Most of these signs are visible from the outside or show up in day-to-day life. You do not need tools to notice them, and you should not use any.

• Rewireable ceramic fuses (the kind you pull out) rather than switch-style circuit breakers.
• No safety switches, or only one safety switch covering part of the house.
• Breakers that trip often, or fuses that blow when you run the kettle, heater and microwave together.
• Lights that dim or flicker when a large appliance starts.
• A burning or hot plastic smell, discolouration, scorch marks or buzzing near the board.
• A board that feels warm to the outside touch, or a cover that is cracked or missing.
• Old boards with a black backing panel, which in some older homes may contain asbestos. Do not drill, cut or disturb it.

Why older switchboards struggle with modern homes

A home built thirty or more years ago was usually wired for a handful of circuits. Today the same house might run split system air conditioners, a dishwasher, multiple TVs, computers and phone chargers at once. When demand outgrows the original design, you tend to see nuisance tripping, blown fuses and overloaded circuits.

Older boards were also installed before safety switches were common. A safety switch is designed to cut power quickly when it detects electricity leaking to earth, for example through a faulty appliance. Our switchboard upgrade page explains how a modern board with circuit breakers and safety switches can improve protection for your household.

When an upgrade is often worth discussing

Even if nothing seems wrong, some situations are a natural time to have the switchboard checked:

• You are planning a renovation, kitchen upgrade or extension that adds new circuits.
• You want to add a split system air conditioner or other large appliance.
• You have just bought an older home and do not know the board’s history.
• An insurer, buyer or property manager has asked about the electrical condition of the home.

What a licensed electrician will check

When you book an assessment, the electrician will look at the age and type of the board, how many circuits there are and what they supply, whether safety switches are fitted and working, the condition of the wiring entering the board, and any signs of heat damage. They can then explain whether a repair, an additional safety switch or a full upgrade makes sense.

If you are unsure about the wider condition of your wiring, an electrical safety inspection is a good first step. It looks at the whole property, not just the switchboard. Homeowners in Eltham, Montmorency and Greensborough with older homes often book both together.

How to prepare before your electrician visits

A little preparation helps the visit go smoothly and gives you a more accurate quote:

1. Clear access to the switchboard, including any cupboard or meter box door.
2. Write down which circuits trip, when, and what was running at the time.
3. List any planned additions, such as air conditioning, an induction cooktop or a renovation.
4. Take a photo of the closed board so you can describe it when you call for a quote.

Frequently asked questions