Is it time to upgrade your switchboard?
Signs your switchboard needs an upgrade
Many Auckland homes still run on the board that was fitted when the house was built. That is not automatically a problem, but these are the signs that it is time to have it looked at:
- Rewireable ceramic fuses (the kind with fuse wire inside) instead of circuit breakers.
- No RCDs, or RCDs that only cover some of the circuits.
- Fuses that blow or breakers that trip regularly, particularly when several appliances run at once.
- Scorch marks, a burning smell, buzzing or crackling, or parts of the board that feel warm.
- No spare space for the new circuits you want to add.
- Circuits that are not labelled, so nobody knows what each fuse or breaker controls.
If you notice scorching, a burning smell or sparking, treat it as urgent rather than something to plan for later.
Planning a heat pump, EV charger or solar system?
Adding a heat pump, an electric vehicle charger, an induction cooktop or a solar system usually means new dedicated circuits. If the existing board has no room for them, or its protection is not suited to the extra load, upgrading the switchboard is often the sensible first step. Doing it at the same time as the new work means one visit, one shutdown and one set of paperwork. If a heat pump is on your list, our heat pump installation page explains how we wire them in.
Why RCD protection matters
A residual current device (RCD) compares the current flowing out along a circuit with the current coming back. If some of it is leaking to earth, for example through a person touching a faulty appliance, the RCD switches the circuit off very quickly. Fuses and circuit breakers protect the wiring from overload and short circuits, but they are not designed to protect people from electric shock in that way.
The wiring rules require RCD protection on most new and altered circuits in a home, so a switchboard upgrade is the natural time to bring it in across the whole house. RCDs have a test button, and we will show you where it is and how to use it.
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How a switchboard upgrade works
What the work involves
1. Assessment. We look at the existing board, the circuits it supplies, the main earth and the cable that feeds it, and we talk through anything you plan to add in the next few years.
2. Planning. We lay out the new board with the circuits grouped sensibly, RCD protection arranged so a single fault does not black out the whole house, and spare space for future circuits.
3. Installation. The old board is removed and a new enclosure, main switch, circuit breakers and RCDs are fitted and every circuit is labelled. Most of the work has to be done with the power off, so we agree a time with you in advance.
4. Testing and certification. Each circuit is tested before the power is restored, and you receive the certificates described below.
Some older switchboard backing boards contain asbestos, particularly in houses built or altered before the mid-1980s. That needs to be checked before anyone drills into or breaks up an old board, and if asbestos is present the board has to be removed using safe work methods.
The certificates you should receive
Switchboard work is prescribed electrical work, which means it must be done by a licensed electrical worker and certified. You should receive a Certificate of Compliance, which records that the work was done by a licensed electrician, meets the safety standards set by law and has been tested, and an Electrical Safety Certificate, which confirms the installation is safe to connect to the power supply. If the job includes work on the mains (the cable between the point of supply and your main switchboard), it is classed as high-risk work and must also be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector, who issues a Record of Inspection.
WorkSafe's guide to getting electrical work done explains what these documents mean and how to check that an electrician holds a current practising licence. Keep your certificates with the property records, as they are useful when you sell, insure or renovate.
Switchboard upgrade or full rewire?
A new switchboard does not replace the wiring behind the walls. In older homes the cables themselves can be the weak point, particularly where the insulation has become brittle with age. We test the existing circuits as part of the upgrade, and if the results suggest that some or all of the house should be rewired, we will tell you plainly and explain the options, from replacing individual circuits to a full rewire. You can read more about the work we do in homes on our residential electrical services page.
What affects the cost and timing
Every switchboard is different, so we price the job after seeing it. The main factors are:
- The size of the property and the number of circuits.
- Whether the main cable, main earth or meter board also need work.
- Where the board is and how easy it is to get to.
- Whether asbestos is present in the old board.
- How many new circuits you want to add at the same time.
- Whether the work needs an independent inspection.
The fastest way to a firm price is for us to look at the board and talk through what you need.
Switchboards for businesses
Shops, offices, warehouses and workshops often outgrow their distribution boards as equipment is added. We upgrade and extend commercial boards, add circuits for new machinery and fit-outs, and plan the work around your trading hours where we can. See our commercial electrical services for the wider range of work we do for Auckland businesses.
When it cannot wait
If your switchboard is sparking, smoking or smells of burning, keep people away from it, switch off at the main switch only if it is safe to do so, and call us. We are available for call outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Find out more about our 24/7 emergency electricians.