An old switchboard is more than an inconvenience — it's a safety risk. JBP Electrics replaces ceramic fuse boards and upgrades outdated switchboards across Melbourne, with full certification on every job.
Ceramic fuse boards, rewireable fuses and switchboards without safety switches are still common in older Melbourne properties. They were fine for the electrical loads of their era — but modern homes run air conditioning, heat pumps, EV chargers, dishwashers, and multiple high-draw appliances simultaneously. The old infrastructure wasn't designed for it.
Worth checking: When selling a property or making a home insurance claim, insurers and conveyancers will sometimes ask about electrical compliance. Having a current Certificate of Electrical Safety on file puts that question to rest quickly.
Older rewireable fuses provide no real protection against overload and can't be reset like a circuit breaker.
Safety switches cut power in milliseconds if there's a fault. Without them, a wiring fault can be fatal. Victorian regulations require them.
Could be an overloaded circuit or an underlying fault. We can inspect and determine whether you need a new circuit or whether there's something else going on.
Adding a room, kitchen or laundry almost always requires additional circuits. That means a switchboard assessment first.
All three require switchboard integration. If your board is old, the upgrade usually happens at the same time.
High-draw appliances need a dedicated circuit. We check switchboard capacity before any new circuit goes in.
Every switchboard upgrade is different depending on the age of the property, the existing wiring and what you want the board to support. At minimum, a full upgrade includes:
If the consumer mains need upgrading or the metering needs to be updated, we coordinate directly with your distributor (United Energy, Jemena, etc.) so you don't have to.
We come out, assess your existing switchboard and what you need, and give you a clear price before any work starts.
The switchboard is replaced with the power off — usually a half to full day job depending on the scope. We let you know what to expect upfront.
Every circuit is tested before we leave. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety — keep it for your records, your insurer and when you sell.
A switchboard upgrade done properly lasts decades. Done cheaply, it creates problems.
REC 20297. Every switchboard upgrade is notifiable work — it must be done by a licensed electrician and certified. We handle both.
Issued on completion of every job. Insurers, conveyancers and buyers will ask for it — you'll have it.
We assess on site and give you a price before touching anything. No surprises on the invoice.
We size the new switchboard for where your home is going — solar, battery, EV, AC — not just what's there today.
Based in Upwey, servicing Melbourne's eastern suburbs, inner suburbs and surrounds. We know the area and the older housing stock.
Call 0409 522 647 and you reach Jarrad. No call centre, no scheduler. We call back the same day.
How long does a switchboard upgrade take?
Most residential switchboard upgrades take half a day to a full day. Power is off during the work. We confirm the timeline when we quote so you can plan around it.
Do I need to be home?
Yes — we need access to the switchboard and internal areas of the home, and you'll need to sign off on the completed work.
Will I need a new meter?
Sometimes. If the existing metering equipment is outdated or needs to be moved, we coordinate with your electricity distributor. We handle that side of it.
How much does a switchboard upgrade cost?
It varies depending on the size of the property, the number of circuits, and what the board needs to support. Call us on 0409 522 647 for a site assessment and quote.
