Switchboard upgrades · Greater Melbourne
Switchboard upgrades, done properly and certified.
Old ceramic-fuse board with no safety switches? Circuits tripping, or adding ducted aircon or an EV charger the board was never built for? Thunderman replaces it with a compliant switchboard — an RCD on every circuit, a Certificate of Electrical Safety lodged with Energy Safe Victoria, and a free quote before any work starts.
Quick answer
A switchboard upgrade replaces an old or unsafe electrical board — typically 1970s–80s ceramic rewireable fuses with no safety switches — with a compliant switchboard: a main switch, RCD (safety switch) protection on every final sub-circuit, and dedicated RCBOs for high-load circuits like the oven, air conditioning and any EV charger. In Victoria it is prescribed electrical work, so it must be carried out by a licensed electrician and certified with a Certificate of Electrical Safety lodged with Energy Safe Victoria. Thunderman (REC 28523) upgrades switchboards across Greater Melbourne, strongest across the northern and north-western corridor. Every job is quoted free and up-front — no headline price, a real quote for your actual board.
When to upgrade
Signs your board has had its day.
- Ceramic rewireable fuses instead of circuit breakers
- No safety switches (RCDs) on the board
- Circuits that trip, or lights that flicker under load
- Scorch marks, a burnt smell, or heat at the board
- Adding ducted aircon, an induction cooktop or an EV charger
- A renovation, or a rental that needs to meet the minimum standards
One of these is worth an inspection; two or three usually means an upgrade. Yiannis will tell you straight whether the whole board needs replacing or a smaller fix will do — he won't sell you a full switchboard you don't need.
What's involved
Strip the old, fit compliant, certify it.
- 1. Assess and quote. Yiannis checks the board, the main isolator and earth, the supply and the cabling condition, and gives you a free, up-front quote for the actual scope.
- 2. Out with the old. The ceramic fuses and old enclosure come out, with the power safely isolated for that part of the job.
- 3. In with a compliant board. A new enclosure with a main switch, an RCD (safety switch) on every final sub-circuit, and dedicated RCBOs for the high-load circuits — oven, aircon, EV charger — all clearly labelled.
- 4. Test and certify. The installation is tested to AS/NZS 3000, and a Certificate of Electrical Safety is lodged with Energy Safe Victoria under REC 28523. That certificate is yours to keep.
At a glance
| Licence | REC 28523 (Energy Safe Victoria) |
|---|---|
| On completion | Certificate of Electrical Safety lodged with Energy Safe Victoria |
| Standard | AS/NZS 3000 — RCD (safety switch) protection on final sub-circuits |
| Service area | Greater Melbourne, strongest across the northern + north-western corridor |
| Quote | Free, up-front, before any work starts |
| Phone (Yiannis direct) | 0434 254 474 |
What it costs
A real quote beats a headline number.
You'll see switchboard upgrades advertised "from" a set figure. The honest truth is that no two boards are the same job: a single-phase board with sound cabling is a very different scope to a three-phase board, or one where the main earth, the meter box or the mains also need attention. Rather than quote a teaser that changes the moment someone opens the board, Thunderman looks at your actual switchboard and gives you one free, up-front number you can rely on. If you'd like a rough idea of what moves the price before you book, the switchboard upgrade cost-drivers guide walks through it. For the full residential picture, see residential electrical services, and if you're in the area, switchboard upgrades in Craigieburn are Yiannis's most common local job.
Switchboard upgrades — common questions
How much does a switchboard upgrade cost in Melbourne?
It depends on what the board actually needs, which is why Thunderman quotes it free and up-front rather than putting a headline number on a website. The real drivers are whether the supply is single- or three-phase, how many circuits get their own RCD or RCBO, the condition of the existing cabling and main earth, and whether the meter box or main isolator also needs work. Send a photo of your board on 0434 254 474 and you'll get a free, no-obligation quote for your actual switchboard — not a teaser price.
Do I need to upgrade my switchboard?
The clearest signs are ceramic rewireable fuses instead of circuit breakers, no safety switches (RCDs) on the board, circuits that trip or lights that flicker under load, scorching or a burnt smell at the board, or a plan to add a big new load like ducted air conditioning, an induction cooktop or an EV charger. Any one of those is worth a look. A licensed electrician can tell you in a short inspection whether an upgrade is genuinely needed or whether a smaller fix will do — Thunderman won't sell you a full board you don't need.
Is there a rebate for a switchboard upgrade in Victoria?
A switchboard upgrade on its own is not a rebated item — be wary of anyone implying otherwise. Where it can be partly covered is when the upgrade is a necessary part of another rebated job: a solar and battery install, or a Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) measure that needs a compliant board to proceed. Yiannis is solar-accredited (SAA), so if your upgrade sits alongside solar or battery work he can tell you honestly what is and isn't claimable.
How long does a switchboard upgrade take?
A standard single-phase domestic board is usually a one-day job, with the power off for part of it while the old board comes out and the new enclosure, main switch, RCDs and RCBOs go in and get tested. A three-phase board, or one where the cabling or main earth also needs attention, can run longer. Yiannis tells you the expected time when he quotes, so you can plan around the power being off.
Do you provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety?
Yes. A switchboard upgrade is prescribed electrical work, so it must be certified — Yiannis lodges a Certificate of Electrical Safety with Energy Safe Victoria, carrying his REC 28523. That certificate is your proof the work was done by a licensed electrician and tested to standard; keep it for insurance, for a future sale, and for any rental compliance record.
Are the old ceramic-fuse boards actually dangerous?
They're not compliant with current standards and they leave a real safety gap. A ceramic rewireable fuse protects the wiring from overload, but it does not protect a person from electric shock — that's the job of a safety switch (RCD), which those old boards don't have. Combined with a modern household load they were never designed for, that's why they're the single most common upgrade Yiannis does across Melbourne's older suburbs.
Send Yiannis a photo of your board for a free quote.
Text or call 0434 254 474 with a photo of your switchboard, or send a message through the contact form. You'll get a free, up-front quote — no headline price, no obligation.