Why the switchboard matters
Air conditioners, EV chargers and solar systems each need their own circuit, protected at the switchboard. When new circuits are added, Queensland rules require safety switch protection on them. On a modern board that is a quick job. On an older board there may be no room, no compatible way to add protection, or wiring that should not be extended.
Signs your board is probably ready
- Plastic circuit breakers rather than ceramic fuses
- Safety switches (RCD or RCBO, with a test button) already protecting the circuits
- Spare space on the rail for new breakers
- No signs of heat, scorching or buzzing
Signs it will probably need work
- Ceramic fuses you pull out to replace fuse wire. These boards are well past their best.
- No safety switches, or one switch covering several power circuits.
- No spare space, or breakers squeezed in where they do not belong.
- An old meter board panel. Many older Queensland meter boards were made with materials that may contain asbestos, which has to be handled correctly.
- Signs of heat: discoloured breakers, a warm board, a burning smell. Call an electrician now, whatever you are planning.
What each upgrade asks of the board
- Split system air con: a dedicated circuit sized to the unit. Larger units, or several units, add up quickly on an older supply.
- EV charger: a dedicated circuit and the right safety switch protection. The charger must also fit within your home's supply limit. See our home EV charger guide.
- Solar and batteries: an inverter connection at the board and network approval from Energex. Your installer arranges the approval, but the board still has to be suitable.
Check before you buy
A ten-minute look at the switchboard before you commit to the equipment saves the classic install-day problem: the installer arrives, the board cannot take the new circuit, and the job stops. If you already have a quote for the equipment, send us a photo of the switchboard and the quote and we will tell you what the board needs.
From our job sheets
A good share of our switchboard upgrades happen alongside something else. Recent examples include a main switchboard upgrade done in the same visit as a new 7 kW air conditioner in Scarborough, a board upgrade with new RCBO protection and earthing done as a weekend call-out on the peninsula, and new protection fitted to free up room for extra circuits. Doing both jobs in one visit is usually cheaper than two separate trips.
What it costs with us
Switchboard work is quoted in writing after we see the board, because the price depends on what is there. Our switchboard cost guide explains what moves the price. See also switchboard upgrades, split system installation and EV chargers.