What the job involves

The switchboard feeds every circuit in the house, so an upgrade touches everything downstream of it. No two boards are quite the same, but the work usually covers:

Replacing an old fuse board, or a board that has run out of space
Adding safety switches to protect the circuits
Setting the board out so there is room for new circuits later, such as an EV charger, a new oven or a renovation
Labelling the circuits so you can tell which is which
Restoring power and checking each circuit works before we pack up

The power is off for part of the job. We'll give you an idea of how long when we quote, so you can plan the day around it. Fridges and freezers will want to stay shut.

When people call

An older board doesn't automatically need replacing. We'll look at what you have and tell you what we find. The usual reasons people ring:

A renovation, new appliance or EV charger is coming and the board has no space for another circuit
The house still has an old fuse board and they want it brought up to date
They have bought a home without safety switches on the power point circuits
They own a rental that needs safety switches
A safety switch keeps tripping. That is often a fault somewhere in the house rather than the board itself, and finding it is covered under home maintenance and repairs

What you need to know

Queensland has clear rules about safety switches, set out by the Electrical Safety Office:

Rental homes need safety switches on power point circuits within 90 days after a tenancy starts.
When a home is bought without a safety switch on power point circuits, one must be installed within 90 days of the transfer.
Only a licensed electrician can install a safety switch.
The Electrical Safety Office suggests safety switches on all circuits and testing them every three months.

More broadly, electrical work in Queensland must be done by a licensed electrician, and DIY electrical work is illegal. A switchboard is not a weekend project.

Jamie's happy to talk solar and batteries and give advice. Installing the system itself isn't one of P4's listed jobs, so if a board upgrade is part of a solar or battery project, that side needs a different contractor.

What you get

12 months workmanship warranty, plus the manufacturer's warranty on products
An invoice and a certificate for the electrical work

Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.

Common questions

Can you price a switchboard upgrade over the phone?

Every job is quoted, and the quote depends on the board you have. A clear photo of your switchboard and a quick description of what you want to add helps us work out what we need to see.

Do I need a whole new board just to get safety switches?

That depends on the board you have. We'll look at it and quote the option that makes sense for the house, and explain why.

How long will the power be off?

For part of the job, not all of it. How long depends on the size of the board and what is changing, and we'll give you an idea when we quote.

I've just bought a house. What do I need to do?

If it has no safety switch on the power point circuits, one must be installed within 90 days of the transfer. Send us a photo of the board and we can tell you where you stand.

A new board often comes before an EV charger or a renovation. P4 works across Logan, Ipswich and the southside of Brisbane.

Switchboard upgrades