A safety switch on every circuit
RCBOs per circuit, a main switch, surge protection if you want it, and spare ways for what comes next. Enclosure to suit the wall, indoor or weatherproof.
Switchboard upgrades · Brisbane east
Switchboard upgrades, Brisbane.
Old board out, safe board in.
Ceramic fuses and single safety switches replaced with a modern board: a safety switch on every circuit, room for solar, aircon and an EV charger, and the certificate to prove it. Fixed price before we touch it.
100%
Of circuits get a safety switch
12-month
Workmanship guarantee
$20M
Public liability insured
5.0
5-star Google reviews
Is your board one of these?
Seven signs a switchboard is past it
- Upgrade now
Ceramic or rewirable fuses
Fuse wire you replace by hand. No shock protection, slow to blow, and a fire risk when someone fits the wrong wire.
- Upgrade now
No safety switches, or only one
One safety switch covering the power points was the old minimum. Lights, the oven and the hot water are unprotected.
- Upgrade now
Trips constantly or will not reset
Either a fault on a circuit, or an old safety switch that has worn out and is tripping on nothing.
- Upgrade now
Burning smell, scorch marks or buzzing
A loose or overloaded connection cooking behind the cover. This is the one you do not sleep on.
- Plan an upgrade
Black asbestos-backed panel
Common in pre-1990 Brisbane homes. Not dangerous sitting there, but it has to be handled and disposed of properly when the board is replaced.
- Plan an upgrade
No room for solar, aircon or an EV charger
Every new circuit needs its own protection. A full board with no spare ways stalls the next job.
- Upgrade now
An Energex defect notice
Usually triggered by a meter change or a service call. It has a deadline and it does not go away.
Old versus new
What actually changes on the wall
Flip between a 1970s fuse board and the board we fit. Tap a part to see what it does, and trip a safety switch to see how fast it reacts.
Rewirable ceramic fuses
Do you actually need a full upgrade?
Pick what prompted the question
Honest answers. Sometimes the fix is one circuit.
Straight answer
Usually a board upgrade, sometimes just a circuit
What it needs
The inverter needs its own protected circuit and the board has to meet current standards before the installer can connect it.
What usually happens
Boards with ceramic fuses or no spare ways get replaced. A modern board with a spare way and safety switches only needs the new circuit added.
Straight talk
If a solar company quotes a full board on photos alone, get it looked at in person. Half the time a circuit does the job.
What a board upgrade includes
Switchboard upgrades in Brisbane, done to AS/NZS 3000 and certified
Old fuses and panels out, properly
Ceramic fuses removed, asbestos-backed panels handled and disposed of to the regulations, mains connections checked and re-terminated.
Tested, labelled, certified
Every circuit tested, every safety switch trip-tested, printed labels and a schedule in the door, and the certificate of testing and compliance for your records.
How an upgrade runs
From site check to certificate
Step 01
Site check and paperwork
We look at the board, the mains, the meter and what you plan to add. If Energex needs to be involved, we lodge it.
Step 02
Fixed written price
Circuit count, enclosure, surge protection, spare ways and any mains work, all on one price. It only changes if you change the plan.
Step 03
Swap day
Power is off for a few hours while the old board comes out and the new one goes in. We tell you the window and keep to it.
Step 04
Test, label, certify
Every circuit tested, every safety switch tripped, labels and schedule fitted, then the certificate of testing and compliance.
Straight answer on cost
What sets the price of a board
From$1,750
for a typical residential switchboard upgrade, supplied and installed, GST included. Fixed written price before any work starts.
Switchboard quotes in Brisbane range widely, from adding safety switches to a three-phase board with mains work. Ours start from $1,750 for a typical single-phase board, supplied and installed with GST included. Here is what moves the price. One fixed written price after the site check.
- Number of circuits, and how many new ones you want for solar, aircon or an EV charger
- Single phase or three phase
- Whether the mains or the meter are touched, which brings Energex paperwork
- An asbestos-backed panel, which is handled and disposed of properly
Certificate of testing and compliance
Every board we fit is tested and signed off under EC Licence 1502980 with a certificate of testing and compliance, and covered by our 12-month workmanship guarantee.
EC Licence 1502980 · $20M public liability
Google reviews
Five stars from Brisbane locals
I would highly recommend ABS Electrical. Callum is very professional and knowledgeable and provided a excellent and prompt service at a competitive price installing solar system and electrical works.
Gregory Brazier
Google · Sept 2026
Punctual efficient and reasonably priced.
Therese Bretz
Google · Aug 2026
Cal installed a power point for a sauna. Was friendly, punctual and efficient. Will engage him for any future electrical work.
Zoe
Google · July 2026
Cal came out for an emergency loss of power and was prompt, fair pricing, found and solved the problem quickly. He also offered back up assistance if anything changed or lost power again he would be straight back. I would definitely recommend for all your electrical needs. Five star service all the way.
Maria Mazzeo
Google · June 2026
Very accommodating and friendly service.
Sandun
Google · Mar 2026
Cal did a great job putting up some new lights in my shop. Very professional, easy to work with, would definitely recommend.
Caleb Oliver
Google · Mar 2026
I can fully recommend Callum of ABS Electrical for his prompt and trustworthy service he provided today (Sunday). He went about his business in a totally professional manner. I would not hesitate to call him again if I had any electrical issues in the future.
David
Google · Dec 2025
Fast and high quality service at a good price. Highly recommend!
Sam Gooden
Google · Dec 2025
Cal did an excellent job upgrading the old switchboard in my house!
Ivan
Google · Oct 2025
Highly recommended!!! Cal did a fantastic job installing an air conditioner in my unit. Great work and professional service. I'll definitely be using their service again!
Masayo Kojima
Google · June 2025
Excellent service! Cal was punctual, knowledgeable, and got the job done quickly. Very professional and affordable. Highly recommend!
Emily Grace
Google · Mar 2025
A fantastic service! I could not be happier. Cal is friendly, efficient and a great electrician. Highly recommended!
Tracy Dudakov
Google · Mar 2025
I couldn't recommend ABS enough. The person they sent around was outstanding. High quality of work done fast and at very impressive prices. I will definitely be coming back to ABS for any future work required!
Jack McPherson
Google · Mar 2025
Very genuine workers, great service and they saved me money compared to the other quotes I received.
Sam Rowan
Google · Mar 2025
I highly recommend ABS! Cal did a fantastic job installing new ceiling fans, air conditioning, and power points. Work was completed efficiently, and he took the time to explain everything clearly. Cal offered great service, fair pricing, and a friendly attitude. I'll definitely be using ABS again!
Shiho Kagami
Google · Mar 2025
Very helpful. Sorted my electrical issue out quickly. Professional, polite and pleasant. Very happy with ABS' services. Highly recommend.
Amelia Robinson
Google · Mar 2025
Amazing experience with ABS! I had lights, fans and aircons installed. Very professional and knowledgeable. I highly recommend.
Kira
Google · Feb 2025
I've used ABS multiple times for plumbing, electrical, and general repairs. Every job was completed quickly, hassle-free, and at a better price than other quotes. The work has always been reliable with no issues afterward. Highly recommend and will continue using their services.
Nick
Google · Feb 2025
Highly recommend! I went through ABS as I needed a new AC unit installed. The guys at ABS looked after me and got it done quickly and professionally. Couldn't have asked for better service.
Liam Gould
Google · Feb 2025
Great work done by great people. Got a few fans installed, all done very professionally.
Gabe Armstrong
Google · Feb 2025
Common questions
Switchboard questions, answered straight
Send a photo of your board with the door open and we will tell you what it needs before anyone comes out.
Switchboard upgrades start from $1,750, supplied and installed with GST included. The final figure depends on your switchboard's age and condition, whether your mains cabling needs upgrading, and the number of circuits we're bringing up to standard. We give you a full upfront price before any work starts, so there are no surprises on the invoice.
A typical residential switchboard upgrade is a one-day job. Most homes are back on full power by mid to late afternoon. Larger or more complex upgrades (multi-phase, meter relocation, mains rewires) can run into a second day; we'll confirm the timeline when we quote.
The usual signs are ceramic fuses, frequent tripping or blown fuses, lights flickering when appliances start up, scorch marks or a burning smell near the board, and any switchboard older than about 25 years. If you're adding solar, an EV charger, or a new air conditioner, your existing board often needs to be brought up to spec at the same time.Source: Electrical Safety Office Queensland
A safety switch (RCD) detects when electricity is leaking to earth, for example through a faulty appliance or damaged cable, and cuts power within milliseconds. It is the single most important piece of switchboard protection in your home. Current Australian Standards (AS/NZS 3000) require RCD protection on all circuits in a residential property.
Yes, the power to your property needs to be off while we change the board over. For a standard residential upgrade you can expect to be without power for around four to six hours. We plan the outage with you ahead of time so you can pull anything you need from the fridge and freezer, run the dishwasher, and avoid heat-of-the-day disruption where possible.
Yes. Every switchboard upgrade we deliver is compliant with the current edition of AS/NZS 3000 (the Australian and New Zealand wiring rules). The work is carried out and signed off under Electrical Contractor Licence 1502980.
Yes, removing ceramic fuse boards is one of the most common jobs we do. We take out the old fuses, replace them with a properly enclosed modern panel, install a main switch, install RCD protection on every circuit, and upgrade any mains cabling that no longer meets standard. The new board ends up neater, safer, and easier to reset if something does trip.
Yes. After we finish the install we lodge the required Certificate of Electrical Safety (Form 5) with the Queensland Electrical Safety Office, and coordinate any required notifications with Energex if your meter or mains supply has changed. You don't have to deal with any of the paperwork yourself.
Every switchboard upgrade is backed by a minimum 12-month workmanship guarantee. If anything we installed develops a fault inside that window, we come back and fix it at no cost to you. Manufacturer warranties on the components (typically two to five years on breakers and RCDs) sit on top of that.
Yes. ABS Electrical operates under Electrical Contractor Licence 1502980, ARC RSS03 for refrigeration and air conditioning electrical work, and full public liability insurance. Every job is carried out by a licensed electrician and signed off accordingly.
Not always. The inverter or charger needs its own protected circuit and the board has to meet the current standard. A modern board with a spare way just gets the circuit added. A ceramic fuse board, or one with no spare ways, gets replaced first. If an installer has quoted a full board from photos, send us the same photos and we will tell you which it is.
On Brisbane homes built before about 1990, usually yes. It is safe while it sits undisturbed, but it cannot be drilled, cut or thrown in the skip. We remove and dispose of it to the regulations as part of the upgrade, and that is priced into the quote up front.
An RCD is a safety switch that protects a group of circuits. An RCBO is a safety switch and a circuit breaker in one unit, fitted per circuit. With RCBOs a fault on the oven trips the oven circuit only, the rest of the house stays on, and you can see straight away which circuit has the problem. That is what we fit.
Get a fixed price
Send a photo of the board
Door open, one clear photo, plus what you are planning to add. We will come back with what it needs and a fixed price.
- Fixed written quote before any work starts
- Certificate of testing and compliance on every board
- 12-month workmanship guarantee
Get a Fast Quote
Expert licensed electricians. No hidden fees.
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Still on ceramic fuses?
Send a photo of the board or call, and we will come back with a fixed price to bring it up to the standard.