Switchboard Upgrades
RCD protection, safe earthing and a board that matches how your home actually runs
A lot of homes around Mandurah still have the switchboard they were built with. In the older suburbs that often means ceramic fuses, no RCD protection at all, or RCDs covering only some of the circuits. Boards from the 1990s and early 2000s are usually part way there but rarely meet what is required now.
Current standards require RCD protection on every power and lighting circuit, and it becomes a legal requirement the moment you sell or rent the property. Beyond compliance, the circuits without protection are the ones that can actually hurt somebody.
A switchboard health check is $49. We go through the board, test the RCDs, check the earthing, and tell you plainly what is compliant and what is not. If work is needed you get a proper quote, not a vague figure.
What an upgrade involves
Full RCD coverage
RCDs protecting every power and lighting circuit, not just the ones that happened to get them originally.
Replacing ceramic fuses
Old rewirable fuses swapped for modern circuit breakers that actually trip when they should.
Earthing check and upgrade
Main earth and bonding checked against current standard and brought up to spec where needed.
Clear labelling
Every circuit traced and labelled properly, so you are not guessing which breaker does what.
Room to add later
Spare capacity so solar, an EV charger or air conditioning can be added without starting again.
Compliance certificate
Electrical safety certificate on completion, which matters when you sell, rent or insure.
Common questions
How do we know if my switchboard needs upgrading?
Age is the usual giveaway. If the board looks original to the house and the house is not new, it is worth having checked. A health check tells you exactly where you stand for $49, and you get a straight answer either way.
How long does a switchboard upgrade take?
Most are done in a day. Power is off for a good part of it, so it is worth planning around. You will know the likely timing before we start.
Is it a legal requirement?
Two RCDs covering all power and lighting circuits are required when a property is sold or rented in WA, and mains powered smoke alarms alongside them. Plenty of older homes fall short on one or both.
My power keeps tripping. Is a new board the fix?
Sometimes, but not always. Tripping has a number of possible causes and a new board is not automatically the answer. We find the actual cause first rather than selling you something you may not need.