Switchboard upgrade for a 1980s brick home in Capalaba

Before

After

What was wrong

• The home still had its original 1980s ceramic fuse board — no safety switches (RCDs) on any circuit, which is a real shock risk by modern standards.
• Fuses were blowing every time the kettle, toaster and air conditioner ran together, and the homeowner was re-wiring fuses in the dark.
• The board had no spare capacity, so the family couldn't add the EV charger or extra air conditioning they were planning.

What we installed

• A new 12-pole switchboard with individual safety switches (RCDs) on every circuit
• A new main switch and surge protection to guard appliances against storms and grid spikes
• Re-labelled circuits and spare capacity for a future EV charger and air conditioning
• Full testing and certification to AS/NZS 3000, with the certificate issued to the homeowner

The result

The whole job was done in a single day, with power back on by mid-afternoon. The homeowner now has safety switches protecting every circuit — if a fault occurs, power cuts in a fraction of a second instead of relying on a fuse wire.

With spare capacity in the new board, the family has since booked in their EV charger installation. No more trips to the garage with a torch.

Related

• Switchboard Upgrades & Safety Switches
• Electrician Capalaba