Switchboard upgrades and repairs

The full details

Your switchboard is the part of the house you only think about when something goes wrong. The lights drop out, a fuse blows, or another electrician mentions that the board is "getting on a bit". At Flowstate Electrical Co we look after switchboards across Warilla, Shellharbour, Wollongong and down to Kiama and Berry, and we keep the job simple: find out what the board is doing, tell you what it needs, and fix it properly.

Kalani is the licensed electrician (NSW licence 450265C) who answers your call and does the work. You will not be passed between a call centre and a stranger on the day.

What a switchboard actually does

Every circuit in your home starts at the board. It holds the main switch, the circuit protection for lights, power points and appliances, and in most modern homes the safety switches that cut power when current leaks to earth. When the board is in good shape you never notice it. When it is old, overloaded or damaged, it becomes the weak link for the whole house.

What is included

• Full switchboard upgrades, replacing ceramic fuses with modern circuit breakers
• Adding safety switches (RCDs) to protect lights and power circuits
• Repairs to burnt, loose or damaged components
• New circuits for ovens, cooktops, pools, saunas and air conditioning
• Clear labelling of every circuit so you know what each switch controls
• Inspection of the meter box and main wiring while the cover is off

Signs your board needs attention

Some warning signs are obvious, others are easy to live with until they cause a problem. Call us if you notice any of the following:

• Rewireable ceramic fuses rather than switches
• A burning smell, scorch marks or warmth around the board
• Fuses blowing or breakers tripping when you run the kettle and microwave together
• No safety switch, or only one covering the whole house
• An asbestos backing panel or a timber board in an older meter box
• Not enough spare space for the new circuits a renovation needs

Our guide on signs your switchboard needs an upgrade goes into each of these in more detail.

How the job runs

1. A quick chat and photos

Text a photo of your board to 0424 400 346 with a line about what is going on. Often Kalani can tell straight away whether it is a repair, an upgrade, or something that needs a closer look.

2. Inspection and a clear quote

On site we check the board, the main cables, the earthing and how each circuit is loaded. You get a clear quote that says what will be done and why, with no jargon to decode.

3. The upgrade

Most homes are without power for part of the day while the board is changed over. We let you know the timing up front so you can plan around the fridge, work calls and school pick up. Every circuit is tested before the power goes back on.

4. Handover

We walk you through the new board, show you how to reset a tripped safety switch, and leave the labels clear and readable. You also receive the compliance paperwork required in NSW for the work.

Older Illawarra homes

A lot of homes around Warilla, Barrack Heights, Port Kembla and Berkeley were built between the 1950s and 1970s. Many still have their original boards, often mounted on a backing panel that may contain asbestos. We deal with these boards often, and we treat the backing panel with the care it needs. In one job a customer told us we found fire hazards in their meter box while we were there for something else, which is exactly why we look at the whole box and not just the part we were called for.

If you live near the water in Windang, Shellharbour or Kiama Downs, salt air can corrode terminals and outdoor meter boxes faster than you would expect. A board that looks fine from the front can tell a different story with the cover off. Read more in our guide to meter box hazards in older Illawarra homes.

Planning a renovation or new appliance

A new kitchen, pool or sauna usually means new circuits. If the board is already full or still running on fuses, it makes sense to sort it first. See why we suggest a switchboard upgrade before renovating and our page on renovation and new home electrical.

Related services

• Rewiring for older homes and renovations
• Emergency electrician when the board fails after hours
• Pool and outdoor power circuits

Talk to Kalani

We are open 24 hours for emergency call outs and cover Shellharbour, Lake Illawarra, Wollongong and the Kiama coast. Call or text 0424 400 346, and send a photo of your switchboard if you can. You can also reach us through the contact page.