Your switchboard is where every circuit in the house starts and where its protection lives. Many Auckland homes still run on rewireable fuses or an early breaker board with little or no RCD protection, and no spare room for the circuits a modern home wants, such as an EV charger, heat pumps or an induction cooktop.
This page is about the board itself: when it is time to replace it, what goes into a new one, and how the inspection and paperwork work. If the cables running out to the rooms are also old, our rewiring page covers that side of the job.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
If the cables in the walls are the problem rather than the board, see house rewiring.
Signs your switchboard is due for an upgrade
Age alone is not a reason to replace a board, but some signs are. Ceramic fuse holders with fuse wire, a board mounted on old timber or asbestos backing, scorch marks, a warm or buzzing board, and no RCDs at all are the common ones. So is a board with every slot full, where adding a circuit means doubling up or squeezing in a sub-board.
WorkSafe lists fuses that blow and breakers that trip for no reason as warning signs, and suggests replacing fuses with plug-in circuit breakers of the same rating where possible, because they are safer and do not need rewiring after a fault.
- Rewireable ceramic fuses
- No RCD protection, or RCDs on power circuits only
- Scorch marks, heat or buzzing
- No space for new circuits
- Unlabelled circuits nobody can identify
What goes into a new board
A modern board gives each circuit overload protection and RCD protection against electric shock. We usually fit RCBOs, which combine a breaker and an RCD in one device, so a fault on one circuit only switches off that circuit rather than half the house. Where a budget board is better value, circuits are grouped under shared RCDs.
From 13 November 2025, the version of AS/NZS 3000 cited in New Zealand law says RCDs providing shock protection must meet Type A requirements, or be Type F or Type B. Every circuit is labelled, and we can add surge protection and spare capacity for future work.
How It Works
Planning for an EV charger, heat pumps or induction
Switchboard upgrades are often triggered by a new appliance. Each EV charging point needs its own dedicated circuit, and WorkSafe's EV charging guidelines call for a Type B RCD, or a Type A RCD with an RDC-DD, on a MEN switchboard. Induction cooktops and larger heat pumps also usually want their own circuits.
Before quoting we check the main supply, the main switch rating and how much load the house already uses, so the new board suits both today's appliances and the ones you are planning. Doing the board and the EV charger in one visit is usually cheaper than two separate jobs.
Inspection, certificates and the law
Main switchboard work carries an extra check. WorkSafe says work on the main switchboard, the main cable and the main earth must be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector, and that the electrician arranges this. We book the inspection as part of the job.
You receive a Certificate of Compliance and an Electrical Safety Certificate, and the inspector issues a record of inspection. Where work is classed as high-risk under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations, it is also recorded on WorkSafe's database within 20 working days. Keep the paperwork with your house records, because insurers and buyers may ask for it.
What happens on the day
The power is off for most of the job, so we agree a start time that suits you and tell you how long to expect. We disconnect the old board, mount the new enclosure, reconnect and label each circuit, then test every one before the power goes back on. Insulation and RCD tests often uncover faulty circuits that the old fuses were hiding, and we tell you before fixing anything extra.
If the meter or the main supply cable has to move, for example during a renovation, we explain what your electricity retailer and lines company need to arrange and roughly how long that takes.
What drives the price
The main factors are the number of circuits, whether you choose RCBOs or shared RCDs, the condition of the existing circuits, whether the board moves, and any extras such as surge protection or new EV and cooktop circuits. Asbestos backing boards need extra care.
We look at your board, or a few clear photos of it, and give you a written, itemised fixed price that includes the inspection and certificates. Our electrician prices guide explains typical cost factors in more detail.
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Switchboard Upgrades
Inspection included
We arrange the licensed inspector and the certificates. You get one price and one point of contact.
Sized for what is next
We plan spare ways for the EV charger, heat pump or cooktop you are thinking about, not just today's circuits.
Every circuit labelled
No more guessing which breaker runs the kitchen. Each circuit is tested and clearly labelled.
Fixed price from photos
Send clear photos of your board and meter and we can usually give you a firm written price.
Switchboard Upgrades FAQs
Do I have to upgrade my old fuse board?
No law forces an existing safe installation to be upgraded. WorkSafe says existing installations can continue and be repaired as long as they are not unsafe. Many owners upgrade for RCD protection and capacity.
What is the difference between an RCD and an RCBO?
An RCD protects against electric shock and can cover several circuits. An RCBO combines RCD and overload protection for a single circuit, so one fault only switches off that circuit.
How long will the power be off?
For a typical house, most of a working day. We tell you the expected time in your quote and plan around fridges and home offices.
Does a switchboard upgrade need to be inspected?
Yes. Work on the main switchboard must be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector. We arrange it.
Do I need a new board for an EV charger?
Not always. It depends on space, the supply and the RCD protection the charger circuit needs. We check before we quote.
Can you move the switchboard during a renovation?
Yes. Moving the main board or meter can involve your retailer and lines company, so we plan it early in the renovation.
Switchboard Upgrades Near You
Find your region or suburb for local switchboard upgrades information:
Related Electrical Services
See the electrician prices guide or every service we offer.