Sydney Switchboard Specialists
Your go-to switchboard electrician for Sydney homes. We've upgraded thousands of switchboards and we're out doing it again almost every day, week after week, for more than 10 years. We're confident in our pricing, our service and the board we leave behind, and that's exactly why homeowners keep choosing us.
Book a quote and we'll tell you exactly what your switchboard needs, in plain terms.
Lifetime Workmanship & Cabling Warranty
Every board we install and every cable we run is backed for life. See what's covered
Switchboard work is something we do every week
Russo Electrical has been upgrading switchboards in Sydney homes for more than 10 years. We see what lasts, what fails and what creates problems for the next electrician. That experience shapes how we assess, install, test and label every board. You can see this standard of work up close in our Gladesville switchboard upgrade case study.
"Brenton and Mitch did an amazing job updating my cabling and switchboard panel. Very professional and top quality job. I would highly recommend them!"
Pat, switchboard upgrade customer
Real Sydney switchboard upgrades
These are completed Russo Electrical jobs, not stock images or renders. Each board was assessed, upgraded, tested and clearly labelled for the home it protects.
See more of our switchboard work
We document real jobs so homeowners can see the standard of work before choosing an electrician. No shortcuts, no half-finished boards. View recent switchboard upgrades, fault finds and the details behind each installation.
Does your switchboard need upgrading?
Not every old board needs replacing. But some combinations are worth looking at sooner rather than later, particularly in homes that have had extensions, renovations or new high-load appliances added over the years.
Ceramic rewireable fuses instead of modern circuit breakers
No safety switches (RCDs), or RCDs on only some of the circuits
A full board with no spare ways left for new circuits
Breakers that trip repeatedly, or fuses that keep blowing
Scorch marks, a burning smell, buzzing, or warm switches
Planning an EV charger, induction cooktop, solar or air conditioning
A note on older boards and asbestos
Switchboards installed before the mid-1980s sometimes use backing boards containing asbestos. If we identify a suspected asbestos backing board during assessment, it is not something to disturb, drill or cut into.
We will tell you what we've found and what the correct next step is. Removal of asbestos material must be handled by an appropriately licensed removalist, and we'll factor that into the scope and sequencing rather than working around it.
From rewireable fuses to individually protected circuits
Many older fuse boards protect against overload only, and exact protection varies by installation. A modern board adds residual current protection, which is what detects the small leakage currents involved when a person contacts a live part.
Older fuse board: rewireable fuses, no RCD protection, no spare ways
Upgraded board: main switch, individual breakers, RCD protection, room to grow
What a switchboard upgrade covers
Scope varies with the property. Not every home needs every item below, and the assessment tells us which ones apply.
New board and enclosure
A modern enclosure sized for your current circuits with deliberate spare capacity for what you're likely to add later.
Circuit breakers and RCDs
Rewireable fuses replaced with individual circuit breakers, plus residual current protection appropriate to the circuits.
Main switch and isolation
A clearly identified main switch so the whole installation can be isolated quickly when it matters.
Consumer mains assessment
We check whether the existing consumer mains are adequate for the board and the loads, and flag it if they aren't.
Circuit identification and labelling
Every circuit tested, identified and clearly labelled, so the next person working on it isn't guessing.
Testing and Certificate of Compliance
The installation is tested on completion, with a Certificate of Compliance issued for the work carried out.
An overload device and a safety switch are not the same thing
A fuse or circuit breaker is there to protect the wiring from drawing more current than it should. A residual current device does something different: it detects current leaking to earth, which is the situation that arises when a person becomes part of the circuit. A board can be perfectly functional and still have no RCD protection at all.
Assessment first, scope second
- We assess before we quote. Board condition, protective devices, available space and consumer mains all get checked, not assumed.
- We plan for what's next. If an EV charger, induction cooktop or air conditioning is on your list, we build in the spare ways now rather than revisiting later.
- We're upfront about asbestos. If a backing board is suspect, we say so and sequence the job correctly instead of disturbing it.
- We coordinate network-side work. Where the job involves the service mains or point of attachment, that requires an appropriately accredited service provider, and we organise it as part of the scope.
What actually happens on the day
Assess the board
We inspect the existing board, protective devices, wiring condition, available space, consumer mains and backing board.
Scope and quote
You get a clear written scope covering what's being replaced, what's staying, and anything that needs a specialist or network approval.
Arrange the outage
Power is off for part of the job. We agree timing in advance so you can plan around it, particularly for home offices or medical equipment.
Install and transfer
The new board is installed and circuits transferred across, identified and labelled as we go.
Test and certify
All circuits and RCDs tested, the board handed over and explained, and your Certificate of Compliance issued.
What affects the cost of a switchboard upgrade?
There's no honest single price without seeing the board. The main factors are:
- Number of circuits and how many need individual protection
- Condition of the existing wiring at the board
- Whether the consumer mains need upgrading
- Single-phase or three-phase supply
- A suspected asbestos backing board requiring licensed removal
- Board location, access and enclosure size
- Any network-side work on the service mains
- Spare capacity you want built in for future circuits
Send us a clear photo of the open switchboard and the meter area, and we can tell you what else we'd need to know to quote it accurately.
Switchboard upgrades in our Sydney service area
Russo Electrical works across the areas we genuinely service.
Inner West
Five Dock, Drummoyne, Concord, Rhodes, Homebush, Burwood, Ashfield, Leichhardt, Balmain and surrounding suburbs.
Lower North Shore
Switchboard upgrades in Gladesville, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Ryde and surrounding suburbs within our service area.
Eastern Suburbs
Subject to the property location and job scope. Get in touch to confirm coverage.
We don't advertise switchboard upgrades across all of Greater Sydney. If you're unsure whether your suburb is covered, contact us before booking.
Straight answers before you book
How do I know if my switchboard needs upgrading?
The clearest indicators are ceramic rewireable fuses rather than circuit breakers, no safety switches, or a board with no spare ways left. Repeated tripping, scorch marks, buzzing or a burning smell warrant attention sooner. An assessment tells you where you actually stand.
Do I legally have to upgrade an old switchboard?
An existing installation that was compliant when installed isn't automatically required to be brought up to current standards just because the standards have changed. However, new and altered circuits must meet current requirements, which is why adding a circuit often triggers work at the board. Requirements also differ for rental properties.
How long does an upgrade take, and will I lose power?
Many residential upgrades are completed within a day, though condition, circuit count and any additional work affect this. Power will be off for a portion of the job. We agree the timing with you in advance so you can plan around home offices, medical equipment or refrigeration.
What's the difference between a circuit breaker and a safety switch?
A circuit breaker protects the wiring from overload and short circuit. A safety switch (RCD) detects current leaking to earth, which is the scenario where a person contacts a live part. They do different jobs, and a board can have breakers but no RCD protection.
What if my switchboard contains asbestos?
Backing boards in some older installations contain asbestos. If we identify a suspected asbestos board, we won't disturb it. We'll explain what we've found and arrange for it to be handled by an appropriately licensed removalist as part of the sequencing.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade before installing an EV charger?
Not always. It depends on your board's spare capacity, protective devices and available supply. Load management can sometimes avoid an upgrade. See our EV charger installation page for how we assess this.
Should I upgrade to three-phase at the same time?
Only if there's a reason to. Three-phase can suit homes with high combined loads or specific equipment, but many households don't need it. Because it involves the incoming supply, it's a larger job than a board replacement alone, so we'll tell you honestly whether it's warranted.
Will I get documentation for the work?
Yes. We issue a Certificate of Compliance for the electrical work carried out, and the board is labelled so circuits are clearly identified. Both are worth keeping for insurance, sale or future work.
Other ways we help Sydney homes run better
Not sure whether your switchboard needs replacing?
Send us clear photos of the switchboard and meter box. We will explain what you have, whether an upgrade is justified and what the next step should be.