LIT ELECTRICAL TASMANIA

Switchboard Upgrades

If your home still has a ceramic fuse board or rewirable fuses, it's time for an upgrade. Modern switchboards with safety switches and circuit breakers protect your family from electrical shock and fire, and give your home the capacity it needs for today's appliances.

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What's Included

  • Assessment of existing switchboard and wiring condition
  • Supply and installation of new switchboard enclosure
  • Safety switch (RCD) installation on all circuits
  • Circuit breaker upgrades to replace old fuses
  • Circuit labelling and documentation
  • Compliance testing and certificate of safety
  • Safe removal and disposal of old switchboard

Many Hobart homes built before the 1980s still have original switchboards with ceramic fuses or rewirable wire fuses. These boards lack safety switches (RCDs) entirely, meaning there's no automatic protection against electrical shock. Homes built before 2000 may have circuit breakers but still no safety switches — a common gap that puts families at risk. Older switchboards also frequently can't handle the electrical load of modern appliances like heat pumps, induction cooktops, and EV chargers.

A switchboard upgrade brings your home into compliance with AS/NZS 3000:2018 (the Wiring Rules), which is the current Australian and New Zealand standard for electrical installations. We replace your old fuse board with a modern switchboard fitted with RCDs on all circuits and properly rated circuit breakers. If your home has an asbestos-backed switchboard — common in pre-1980s Hobart properties — we follow safe removal procedures and can coordinate asbestos disposal through licensed handlers.

We upgrade switchboards across Hobart's suburbs, from heritage homes in Battery Point and West Hobart through to post-war housing in Moonah, Glenorchy, and Claremont. Whether you're upgrading for safety, adding capacity for a renovation, or need to pass an electrical inspection before selling, we'll assess your current setup and provide a clear, fixed-price quote for the work.

Cost depends on the size of the new board, number of circuits, whether asbestos is present, and the condition of existing wiring. A straightforward upgrade in a standard three-bedroom home is at the lower end. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my switchboard needs upgrading?
If you can see ceramic fuses, rewirable fuse wire, or a bakelite board, it's overdue for replacement. Even if you have circuit breakers, check whether you also have safety switches (RCDs) — they're the ones labelled with a test button. No test button means no RCD protection.
What if my switchboard has asbestos?
Many switchboards installed in Hobart homes before the 1980s used asbestos-containing backing boards. We identify these during our assessment and follow safe removal procedures. The asbestos material is disposed of through licensed waste handlers — it's all included in the job.
How long does a switchboard upgrade take?
A standard residential switchboard upgrade takes about half a day. Power will be off for most of that time, so we recommend planning around it. More complex jobs — like homes with very old wiring or large numbers of circuits — may take a full day.
What affects the cost of a switchboard upgrade?
The main factors are the number of circuits in your home, whether asbestos is present in the existing board, and the condition of your wiring. If wiring needs repair or replacement to meet current standards, that adds to the scope. We always provide a clear quote before starting.
Will a switchboard upgrade fix my tripping problems?
Often, yes. Frequent tripping usually means circuits are overloaded or there's a fault. A new switchboard with properly rated breakers and dedicated circuits for high-draw appliances resolves most tripping issues. If there's an underlying wiring fault, we'll find and fix that too.

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