Understanding what happens during a switchboard upgrade helps you prepare for the day, know what questions to ask your electrician, and confirm afterwards that the work was done properly. This guide walks through the process step by step — from the initial site visit to the final compliance certificate.

It is part of our complete switchboard upgrade guide for Sydney homeowners. For cost information, see our switchboard upgrade cost guide.

Landmark Electrical performs switchboard upgrades across Greater Sydney. NSW licence REC 377159C. Free on-site assessment. Call 0405 091 456.

Step 1: Initial Site Assessment

Every switchboard upgrade starts with a site visit. A licensed electrician opens the meter box, inspects the existing board, and records:

• The type of board — ceramic fuse, MCB, or combination; single-phase or three-phase
• The number of circuits and whether any are overloaded or non-compliant
• The condition and size of the consumer mains cable (the cable from the street pit to the meter)
• Whether the backing board appears to contain asbestos — critical for pre-1990 Sydney properties
• The available space in and around the meter box for the new enclosure
• Whether there are spare circuit ways or whether the new board will need to be larger

The electrician photographs the existing board for the quote and takes measurements if a new enclosure of a different size is required. This assessment takes 20–40 minutes and, with Landmark Electrical, is free of charge.

If asbestos is suspected, the electrician will treat the backing board as asbestos-containing material and arrange for either sampling (to confirm) or direct removal by a licensed asbestos removalist. No work on the board proceeds until the asbestos status is resolved.

Step 2: Quote and Scheduling

Based on the assessment, the electrician provides a written, itemised quote covering:

• Labour (hours and rate)
• Materials (new board enclosure, MCBs, RCDs or RCBOs, surge protection device)
• Asbestos removal if required (separate line item)
• Any additional work identified — undersized circuits, damaged wiring, consumer mains work
• CCEW (should be included in labour rate, not a separate charge)

The upgrade is then scheduled for a time when the occupants can be without power for the estimated job duration. Most standard residential upgrades take 4–6 hours.

Step 3: Preparing for the Day

Before the electrician arrives, there are a few practical steps worth taking:

• Save any work on computers and shut them down — power will be off for several hours
• Check the contents of your fridge and freezer — a 4–6 hour outage will not cause food spoilage in a modern fridge if you keep the door closed, but it is worth noting the start time
• Charge your phone before the work begins — you will need a charged phone during the outage
• Clear access to the meter box — remove any garden furniture, bikes, or storage that blocks access to the meter box and the surrounding work area
• Note any circuits that power medical equipment — tell the electrician before work begins if any household member relies on electrically powered medical equipment

Step 4: Mains Isolation

Before any work on the switchboard begins, the licensed electrician isolates the mains supply. This is done by turning off the main switch (which kills power to all circuits), and in some cases by contacting the network operator (Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy) to temporarily disconnect the service at the street pit — necessary for some consumer mains work.

Only licensed electricians and Level 2 Accredited Service Providers are permitted to work on or near energised electrical infrastructure. All work inside the switchboard is performed with the mains isolated.

Step 5: Removing the Old Board

With the mains off, the electrician removes the existing switchboard components. This involves:

• Disconnecting all circuit cables from existing fuses or MCBs — carefully, because the cable labels on old boards are frequently wrong or missing
• Removing the old enclosure (fuse board, MCB board, or combination panel)
• If the backing board contains asbestos — double-bagging the material in sealed plastic, labelling it as asbestos waste, and setting it aside for disposal at a licensed waste facility
• Cleaning and preparing the wall surface for the new enclosure

Asbestos removal during a switchboard upgrade, for material under 10 m², can be performed by a licensed electrician who holds the appropriate asbestos removal certification. Landmark’s electricians are trained and certified for this work — we do not need to subcontract to a separate removalist for standard switchboard backing boards, which keeps scheduling simpler and total cost lower.

Step 6: Installing the New Board

The new switchboard enclosure is fixed to the wall. The electrician then installs the components in order:

1. Main switch — rated to the mains cable capacity (typically 63A or 100A for residential)
2. RCDs or RCBOs — protecting circuit groups or individual circuits as required by AS/NZS 3000:2018
3. MCBs — one per circuit, rated to the connected cable gauge (6A for lighting circuits, 16A or 20A for power circuits, 32A for dedicated high-load circuits)
4. Surge Protection Device (SPD) — Type 2 SPD for whole-home surge protection
5. Circuit terminations — each circuit cable is re-terminated to its new MCB or RCBO; this is where circuit mapping occurs

Circuit mapping — recording which breaker controls which part of the house — is done at this stage. In older homes where existing labels are wrong or missing, the electrician identifies each circuit by systematically connecting and testing them. This takes longer but results in a correctly labelled board that is genuinely useful to the homeowner.

Step 7: Testing

Before the mains are restored, the electrician tests the installation to confirm it is safe and compliant with AS/NZS 3000:2018 and AS/NZS 3017 (the testing standard). Tests performed include:

• Insulation resistance test — confirms the insulation on all circuit wiring has not deteriorated to a level that would allow current to leak to earth; performed at 500V DC for circuits up to 1000V AC rating
• Continuity of protective conductors — confirms the earth wire is continuous through all circuits and that earth terminal connections are sound
• Earth fault loop impedance — confirms that in the event of a fault, enough current will flow to trip the associated breaker within the time required by the Wiring Rules
• RCD trip time and operating current — every RCD or RCBO is tested to confirm it trips within 300 milliseconds at 30 mA leakage current, as required by AS/NZS 3017; RCDs that fail this test are replaced
• Polarity check — confirms that active and neutral are correctly connected at all outlets

Test results are recorded and will be included with the CCEW documentation.

Step 8: Restoring Power and Commissioning

Once all tests pass, the mains are restored. The electrician confirms that all circuits are working correctly — lights turn on, power points have voltage, high-load circuits are functioning — and walks you through the new board layout, explaining what each labelled breaker controls.

The test button on each RCD or RCBO is demonstrated: pressing it should immediately cut power to the protected circuits and require a manual reset. This confirms the safety switch is functioning and demonstrates how to reset it in the event of a future trip.

Step 9: CCEW Submission

The licensed electrician submits the Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work via the BCNSW eCert portal. This is mandatory from 1 July 2026 — paper forms are no longer accepted. The CCEW records:

• The work carried out and the standard it was installed to (AS/NZS 3000:2018)
• The contractor’s licence number (NSW REC 377159C for Landmark Electrical)
• Test results confirming the installation is safe
• The date and address of the work

You will receive a digital copy of the CCEW via email or the eCert portal. Keep it with your property records.

For full details on NSW compliance requirements, see our guide on switchboard compliance in NSW.

How Long Does a Switchboard Upgrade Take?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stay in my house while the switchboard is being upgraded?

Yes. There is no need to vacate. Power will be off for the duration of the work — typically 4–6 hours for a standard upgrade. Keep children and pets away from the meter box area during the work, but the rest of the house is accessible.

What happens if the electrician finds something unexpected — like additional faulty wiring?

If the electrician discovers additional non-compliant work during the upgrade — old wiring that is damaged or undersized, circuits that do not match their labels, or deteriorated insulation on specific cables — they should stop work and advise you before proceeding. Additional work beyond the original quote scope requires your approval before it is carried out. Reputable contractors will not proceed with out-of-scope work without your written agreement and a revised quote.

Will my power be off the whole time?

Yes, from the start of board removal to the completion of testing — typically 4–6 hours. Power is restored as soon as all test results confirm the installation is safe.

Do I need to notify my energy retailer about a switchboard upgrade?

No. You do not need to notify your energy retailer. The network operator (Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy) is notified only if the work involves the consumer mains or service connection — which is Level 2 ASP work that your electrician will coordinate if required.