Switchboard Upgrades
Replace that old fuse board with a modern, fully RCD-protected switchboard - fixed-quoted, installed in a day, certified on completion. From $1,899 including GST.
Your home's electrical heart, brought up to standard
Your switchboard is the hub every circuit in your home runs through and if it still has ceramic rewireable fuses, no RCDs, or a “board full” sticker from three renovations ago, it was designed for a house that owned one heater and a kettle.
Today's homes run heat pumps, induction cooktops, spa pools, home offices and increasingly an EV in the garage. The board is where all of that either works safely - or doesn't.
Fast quote tip: text a clear photo of your open board to 022 519 5500 and we'll usually price it within a working day.
What a switchboard upgrade costs in NZ
Every upgrade includes removal and disposal of the old board, a new compliant enclosure, individual RCBO protection on every circuit (the modern standard – a fault on one circuit no longer blacks out half the house), full testing to AS/NZS 3000, clear circuit labelling and your Certificate of Compliance.
| Scope | Typical price (incl. GST) |
|---|---|
| Standard upgrade, up to 12 circuits, full RCBO protection | $1,899 – $2,500 |
| Larger homes / more circuits / meter-area tidy-up | $2,500 – $3,500 |
| Complex: mains upgrade, earthing corrections, relocation, asbestos panel removal | $3,500 – $5,000+ |
Power is typically off for 2–4 hours; most jobs are done in 4–8 hours, one visit.
The honest caveat: old boards sometimes hide surprises — loose neutrals, undersized cables, missing earths, decades of DIY. Our quote states its assumptions plainly, and if we open the board and find something, work stops until you’ve seen it and approved the fix. Nobody gets a mystery invoice.
Asbestos note: many pre-1980s NZ boards are mounted on asbestos-containing backing panels. We identify these upfront and manage removal safely and compliantly — a known cost, not a nasty discovery.
7 signs your switchboard is due
If any of these sound familiar, it's an upgrade conversation.
Ceramic or rewireable fuses
The giveaway of a 40+ year-old board with none of the protection modern rules require.
No RCDs / safety switches
RCDs cut power in milliseconds when electricity leaks to earth (i.e. through a person). Older boards simply don't have them.
Frequent tripping or blown fuses
The board telling you it can't carry the modern load.
Flickering lights
Especially when the oven, hot water or heat pump kicks in.
Heat, buzzing or burning smells
At the board - turn things off and call us today, not next week.
“No room for new circuits”
Quoted extra for a new circuit because the board's full? That's an upgrade conversation.
Adding an EV, heat pump, spa or induction
All need dedicated capacity and modern protection - and insurers and pre-purchase inspectors increasingly flag old boards too.
The electrification upgrade: EV chargers, heat pumps & solar-ready
This is why most of our switchboard work happens now: a 7kW EV charger is like adding three ovens to a board designed in the Muldoon era.
We size the new board for what's coming, not just what's there - dedicated EV circuit provision, capacity for heat pump installation, and solar/battery-ready configuration so the next upgrade doesn't mean another board. Doing the switchboard at the same time as the EV charger or heat pump install saves a second call-out and a second power shutdown.
What happens on the day
One visit for almost all homes.
Photo assessment or site visit → fixed quote
Text us a clear photo of your open board (022 519 5500) and we'll usually price it within a working day.
Scheduled shutdown
We coordinate the power-off window (2–4 hours) around your day - early starts available so the Wi-Fi is back before anyone's meeting.
Out with the old, in with the new
Old board out, new enclosure in, every circuit onto its own RCBO, terminals torqued, everything tested and labelled.
Certification & walkthrough
Certificate of Compliance issued, and a two-minute tour of your new board — which switch does what, and what to do if something ever trips.
FAQs
How much does a switchboard upgrade cost in NZ?
Typically $1,500–$3,000 for a standard home; $3,000–$5,000+ where mains, earthing, relocation or asbestos removal are involved. Our from-price is $1,899 with the inclusions listed above, fixed-quoted before we start.
How long does it take, and will I lose power?
Usually 4-8 hours on site, with power off for 2-4 of those. One visit for almost all homes.
Are old fuse boards actually dangerous?
They lack RCD protection - the single biggest electrical-safety advance of the last 40 years - and aging connections and DIY history add fire risk. “It's worked fine so far” is exactly how these stories start.
Is RCD protection legally required?
Current wiring rules require RCD protection for new circuits and most altered work; a full-board RCBO upgrade brings every circuit up to that standard at once, which is why it's what we quote by default.
Do I need a switchboard upgrade for an EV charger or heat pump?
Often, yes - both need dedicated circuits and enough spare capacity. We assess the board as part of every EV charger and heat pump quote, and tell you straight either way.
Will I get a certificate?
Always - a Certificate of Compliance on completion. Keep it with your house documents; insurers and buyers ask.
Text us a photo, get a price
Snap your switchboard (cover open if it's safe to do so) and text it to 0800 519 5500 - fixed quote within a working day, Auckland and Palmerston North.