If your lights flicker when the kettle’s on, the safety switch trips during a storm, or your old fuse box still has those little ceramic plugs—your switchboard is trying to tell you something. In Wollongong and across the Illawarra, many homes and businesses still run on ageing electrical infrastructure that simply wasn’t built for today’s loads: induction cooktops, air-con, EV chargers, solar systems, servers, and a house full of always-on devices.
Upgrading your switchboard is one of the most effective ways to boost safety, reliability, and compliance—especially in our region’s mix of post-war cottages, coastal apartments, and newer estates.
Quick refresher: what your switchboard actually does
Your switchboard is the control hub that distributes electricity from the street to each circuit in your property (lighting, power points, hot water, oven, AC, EV charger, etc.). Modern boards use circuit breakers and safety switches (RCDs/RCBOs) to protect people and property. Importantly, a safety switch only protects the circuit it’s installed on, which is why best practice is to have RCD/RCBO protection on every final sub-circuit.
Why this matters in NSW
- Level 2 works & compliance: In NSW, certain upgrade tasks—like work on service lines, consumer mains, and metering/connection—require a Level 2 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) authorised to work between the network and your point of attachment/supply.
- Service & Installation Rules (SIR): Upgrades must align with the Service and Installation Rules of NSW, the recognised industry code that distributors follow for customer connections and installations.
- Safety switches save lives: NSW guidance is clear: one RCD isn’t enough—each circuit should have its own safety switch to reduce electric-shock and fire risk.
- Fire risk is real: Fire and Rescue NSW responds to ~4,500 residential fires each year; around 40% are caused by electrical faults/appliances.
13 unmistakable signs you need a switchboard upgrade
- You still have ceramic fuses (re-wireable fuses)
These offer limited protection and can overheat. Modern boards use circuit breakers and RCD/RCBOs that trip fast to protect people and wiring. NSW guidance recommends safety switches on individual circuits rather than a single device. - Frequent breaker trips or blown fuses
Regular tripping when you run multiple appliances indicates overloaded circuits or undersized consumer mains. - Flickering or dimming lights
If lights dip when the microwave, heater, or vacuum starts, your board may be struggling to maintain stable supply or you may have loose connections. - Burn marks, scorching or a ‘hot’ smell near the board
Heat, discolouration or a burning smell are urgent red flags—get it checked immediately. - Buzzing, crackling, or humming from the switchboard
Noises can signal loose terminations or failing components. - No (or not enough) safety switches
Older installations sometimes have one safety switch attempting to cover multiple circuits. That’s not adequate—safety switches only protect the circuit they’re on. - You’ve added load (renovations, granny flat, EV charger, big AC, pool, or workshop tools)
Upgrades increase demand—your old board may not have spare ways or capacity to add compliant RCD/RCBO protection. - You received an electrical defect notice
If Endeavour Energy or an inspector flags a defect (damaged service lines, unsafe equipment, non-compliant metering enclosure), rectification often involves Level 2 works and a switchboard upgrade to meet current rules. - Your property predates the 1990s
Many Illawarra homes built before the 90s lack RCDs on all circuits and may have outdated consumer mains and earthing that don’t align with current standards. - Asbestos-containing meter/switchboard panels
Older boards may contain non-friable asbestos backing. Specialist handling controls apply, and an upgrade is often the safest long-term solution. - Corroded or damaged enclosures (coastal homes, salt air)
In suburbs like Austinmer, Thirroul, Port Kembla and Shellharbour, coastal exposure can corrode steel enclosures and terminals—degrading safety and reliability. - Nuisance trips in wet weather
Moisture ingress into old boards, conduits or outdoor circuits can cause earth leakage that modern RCDs will correctly detect—pointing to old wiring/boards needing an upgrade. - You’re preparing for solar, batteries or EV charging
Future-proofing often means fitting a modern board with RCDs/RCBOs on all circuits, SPD (surge protection) where appropriate, labelled capacity for PV/battery/EV circuits, and compliant metering space per NSW SIR.
Wollongong-specific realities we see on the job
- Older housing stock in suburbs like Corrimal, Fairy Meadow, Warrawong and Towradgi often still have ceramic fuses and shared RCDs.
- Coastal corrosion accelerates wear on meter boxes and main switches—especially in exposed façades.
- Lifestyle load growth: multiple split-systems, induction cooking, home offices, gaming/streaming gear, and EVs—all add up on circuits that were never designed for it.
- Compliance catch-ups in extensions and granny flats: adding new circuits triggers the need for modern protection across the installation per NSW rules.
What’s actually involved in a professional switchboard upgrade?
While every property is different, a quality upgrade typically includes:
- Isolate and make safe (Level 2 isolation if service work/metering is involved).
- Replace the old board with a compliant enclosure and DIN-rail gear.
- Individual RCBOs (or RCD + MCB) on each circuit, with clear labelling. NSW guidance emphasises having a safety switch per circuit.
- Check/upgrade the consumer mains & earthing to meet current capacity and disconnection requirements (per NSW SIR).
- Surge protection (where specified or recommended), especially for sensitive electronics and solar systems (per project scope).
- Metering space & compliance in line with the distributor’s requirements.
- Asbestos-aware work practices if legacy panels are present—following published guidance.
- Testing & certification, then re-energise and provide documentation.
Safety, compliance and real-world risk
- Electrical fires remain a leading cause of house fires in NSW, with ~40% of home fires attributed to electrical faults/appliances. A modern, RCD-protected installation dramatically reduces risk.
- Each circuit needs its own safety switch to actually protect that circuit—one RCD on the board doesn’t protect the others.
- Only Level 2 ASPs are authorised for service line, meter and connection works—common inclusions in substantial switchboard upgrades.
When to upgrade (rule of thumb)
- Your home is pre-1990s and has never had a full switchboard upgrade. You’re renovating, adding heavy loads (EV charger, big AC, induction cooktop), or installing solar/batteries.
- You’ve noticed any of the signs above (trips, flicker, burning smells, buzzing, corrosion, water ingress).
- You’ve received a defect notice or failed an inspection.
Ready for a safer, future-proof switchboard?
Book a local, no-fuss inspection with Stuart Johnston Electrical. We’ll assess your current board, earthing and consumer mains, explain your options in plain English, and quote a compliant upgrade that suits your home or business today—and what you’ll add tomorrow.
Need a hand today?
Call Stuart Johnston Electrical — your trusted Wollongong & Illawarra switchboard upgrade specialists since 1995.
FAQs:
How do I know if my board is “old”?
Ceramic fuses, bakelite switches, cloth-insulated wiring, no labels, or no visible RCD test buttons are giveaways. Homes built before the 1990s commonly need upgrades to meet modern protection expectations.
Do I need RCDs on every circuit?
NSW guidance: a safety switch only protects the circuit it’s on—best practice is one per circuit (often via RCBOs).
What about asbestos in meter boards?
Older meter boards may contain asbestos. Licensed electricians follow strict safety controls when working on them, and upgrading is often the safest long-term solution.
Will I need Level 2 work?
If the job involves consumer mains, service lines, metering or connection to the network, a Level 2 ASP is required.
How much does it cost?
Costs vary with scope: number of circuits, condition of consumer mains/earthing, asbestos management, metering changes, and any solar/EV provisions. After a site check, we provide a fixed, itemised quote.