Your switchboard works hard. Make sure it's keeping up.

Most Sydney homes still run on outdated switchboards that weren't built for modern electrical loads. We'll assess, upgrade, and future-proof yours — cleanly and correctly.

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Call 1300 830 260

What is a switchboard, and why does it matter?

Your switchboard is the nerve centre of your home's electrical system. It distributes power to every circuit — lights, powerpoints, appliances — and houses the safety switches and circuit breakers that protect your home from faults and fire.

Older switchboards use ceramic fuses, which don't trip like modern circuit breakers. They fail silently, offer minimal protection, and simply weren't designed for the demands of today's homes: EV chargers, reverse-cycle air conditioning, induction cooktops, home offices.

An outdated switchboard isn't just inconvenient — it's a compliance and safety issue. In many cases, insurance policies won't pay out for electrical fires traced back to an old-style fuse board.

7 signs your switchboard is ready to be renewed

You don't need to be an electrician to spot these. If any of these sound familiar, it's worth having us take a look.

01

You still have ceramic fuses

If your board has round, screw-in fuses rather than plastic circuit breakers, it's at least 30–40 years old. Ceramic fuses don't trip — they burn through, offering almost no protection in the event of a fault.

02

Breakers trip regularly

An occasional trip is normal. If it's happening frequently — especially under normal loads — your switchboard may be undersized for the circuits it's running, or a breaker is failing.

03

No safety switches (RCDs)

Safety switches (Residual Current Devices) cut power in milliseconds if they detect a fault to earth. Australian standards now require them on all power and lighting circuits. If yours doesn't have them, you're not protected.

04

Lights flicker or dim

Flickering lights can point to a loose connection, overloaded circuit, or a failing neutral in the switchboard itself — none of which should be ignored.

05

A burning smell near the board

Any burning smell, discolouration, or scorch marks on or around your switchboard is a red flag. Switch off and call us. Don't wait on this one.

06

You're adding high-draw appliances

Safety switches (Residual Current Devices) cut power in milliseconds if they detect a fault to earth. Australian standards now require them on all power and lighting circuits. If yours doesn't have them, you're not protected.

What a switchboard upgrade involves

Every upgrade starts with an honest conversation — no upselling, no scare tactics. Here's what we typically do.

Full switchboard assessment

We inspect your existing board, circuits, and load profile before recommending anything. You'll get a clear picture of what's needed and why.

Removal of old fuse boards

We safely decommission ceramic fuse boards and porcelain-style panels, ensuring all circuits are properly isolated during the changeover.

Installation of a new consumer mains board

We install a modern, correctly rated switchboard with appropriately sized circuit breakers for each circuit in your home.

Safety switch (RCD) installation

All power and lighting circuits get safety switch protection as required under AS/NZS 3000 — not just the circuits the minimum standard requires.

Single and 3-phase upgrades

We upgrade both single-phase domestic boards and three-phase commercial and industrial switchboards — homes, offices, workshops, and strata properties.

Capacity upgrades for new loads

Adding an EV charger, solar system, or major appliance? We'll ensure your board has the headroom to handle it safely, including upgrading the mains supply if needed.

Labelling and compliance certificate

Every circuit is clearly labelled, and we issue a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) for all switchboard upgrades — your legal record of compliant work.

Clean-up and handover

We leave your home the way we found it — clean, tidy, and with no mess left behind. That's our Clean-Up Guarantee, on every job.

Why Homeowners and Businesses Trust Arconex

18+ years of electrician experience
Lifetime guarantee on Arconex electircal work.
Eric from Arconex is a Bronze Master electrician.

Deliberately Different

We solve difficult electrical problems others can’t!

Experts, no sales pitch, just straight talk

Honest advice you can trust

Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee

Backed by our 100% “It Stays Fixed” Guarantee

Spotless Work

Our Clean-Up Guarantee means we leave no mess behind

On-Time Response:

24-hour emergency electrician Sydney support when you need it

Power & Switchboards

  • We provide upgrades and repairs to existing switchboards. We repair and replace single and 3 phase switchboards in homes, offices and industrial properties and can make sure you are protected.

  • We can provide solutions to monitor the usage of your electricity, water and gas.

    Knowing your energy usage means you can manage your overall power limits and save money by taking advantage of shoulder and off peak tariffs!

  • We can repair or replace any faulty or dangerous lights, switches, powerpoints or fans.

    We can track down why you have lost power to part or all of your house and get you back up and running quickly and efficiently.

Emergency Electrical Services

  • For those electrical jobs that can’t wait, we provide 7 day emergency serviceemergency across greater Sydney

  • You are home, and suddenly your electrical appliances stop working. We can be there with our stocked vans ASAP to help with your electrical emergencies

Smart Technology

  • We have installed hundreds of EV Chargers across Greater Sydney. We are accredited EV installers for: My Energi, Ocular, ABB, Smappee

  • We install solar panel and connect solar electricity to all premises including commercial, residential and industrial.

  • We are up to date with the latest smart home technologies and can help automate your home

  • Keep your home safe with a fully-integrated alarm and security system that can connect to your mobile.

Home Electrical Equipment Repairs

  • We can improve wifi coverage for your whole house. A wired solution is always the best approach however wifi extenders help in situations where cabling may be difficult.

    We can wire your TV's and computers into the network to free up wifi bandwidth.

    We can also help with managing those tangled cables.

  • High quality audio and video cabling, wall mounted TV's, hidden cables. We pride ourselves on neat and tidy installs.

    Zoned audio, with flush mounted speakers in an entertaining area or water resistant speakers in bathrooms so you can be up to date with the latest news before you've left the shower in the morning.

  • Hot water thermostats, oven elements, rangehoods. We repair what others can't or won't so we can reduce what ends up in landfill. Sometimes things aren't made like they used to be and often it's better to repair than replace.

  • Whether it’s an installation of a new light, a full renovation or just fixing an old one, we can help with lighting and fan installations.

Industrial Electrical

  • We are specialists in food manufacturing equipment replacement and repairs including automation and programming.

  • We can install, repair and upgrade your new or existing equipment.

    From sensors to variable speed drives (VSD's), start/stop stations, emergency stops and safety circuits, we are committed to implementing the latest technology to help keep your business operating at peak efficiency.

  • High speed internet needs the latest in data cabling. Cat5e is decades old and now Cat6A and fibre are the new standard. Is your connection fast enough?

  • We work across Australia and provide new installs and repairs on telco towers including remote/regional work with our offroad vehicles

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 FAQs

  • Most residential upgrades are completed in a single day. Larger or more complex boards — three-phase, high circuit counts, or older homes requiring re-wiring — may take two days. We'll give you a clear timeframe before we start.

  • Yes, your power will need to be isolated during the switchboard replacement — typically for a few hours. We coordinate with Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy for the disconnect and reconnect, and aim to minimise downtime as much as possible.

  • Often yes — but not always. It depends on your existing board capacity and the number of available circuits. We'll assess this as part of the EV or solar installation process, so there are no surprises.

  • It's not legally required unless you're adding new circuits or doing significant electrical work. But if you still have ceramic fuses, no safety switches, or a board that's regularly tripping, we strongly recommend upgrading — for your safety and your insurance coverage.

  • Pricing depends on your existing board configuration, the number of circuits, and whether the mains supply needs upgrading. We provide clear, itemised quotes with no hidden costs. Contact us for a free assessment.

  • Yes. We work with strata managers and owners corporations across the Inner West and wider Sydney. We're familiar with the approval process and can liaise with building management where required.

Not sure if your switchboard needs upgrading?

We'll come and take a look — no obligation, no hard sell. Just honest advice from someone who knows what they're talking about.

Or call us directly: 1300 830 260 · Available 24/7 for emergencies

Ready to power your next project?

Call 1300 830 260 or email hello@arconex.com.au to speak with a commercial electrical specialist today.