Every solar and battery job starts at your switchboard. Here is why we check it on every site visit.

Your switchboard is where solar, a battery and an EV charger all connect to your home. Plenty of Northern Rivers homes still have older boards with no room to spare, old fuses or limited safety switch protection. We find out on the site visit, so there are no surprises or extra costs on install day.

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RCDs and RCBOs, in plain words

An RCD (safety switch) cuts the power in a fraction of a second if current is leaking somewhere it shouldn’t, such as through a person. An RCBO combines a safety switch and a circuit breaker in one device, protecting a single circuit. If one circuit faults, only that circuit trips, so the rest of the house stays on.

What the rules say

The Australian Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000) require 30 mA RCD protection on new and altered final subcircuits in homes. If a switchboard is replaced, the circuits need to be brought up to current requirements. Adding solar, a battery or an EV charger means new work on your board, so we make sure what we touch meets today’s standards.

Signs your board may need work

• old ceramic or rewireable fuses
• few or no safety switches
• no space left for new circuits
• scorch marks, a burning smell, buzzing or breakers that trip often
• an older board with a backing panel that may contain asbestos (we identify it and explain safe options)

If you notice burning smells or scorch marks, call a licensed electrician straight away, whether or not you are getting solar.

Why it matters for solar and batteries

Space and protection. Solar and batteries need their own breakers, isolation and labelling on the board.

Blackout backup. A typical install from us backs up the whole home. Some systems need the board rearranged so backed-up circuits are fed from the battery. If you want some circuits left out, such as an EV charger, that’s set up at the board too. See blackout backup.

EV chargers. A charger needs its own circuit and the right safety switch protection. See home EV chargers.

No surprises on the day

We don’t quote remotely and hope for the best. On the face-to-face site visit before every install, we assess your switchboard, including any RCBO upgrades needed to meet current safety standards. Anything needed goes in your proposal before you say yes, so install day goes to plan.

We also do switchboard upgrades on their own, for homes that aren’t getting solar. More: adding a battery to existing solar, solar repairs and inspections, or solar and battery installation across the Northern Rivers.

Why locals trust us with their switchboard

• Electricians first, not a sales company. Fully licensed NSW electrical contractor (licence 343044C).
• A face-to-face site visit before every install: compliant battery position, switchboard and RCBO check, no surprises on the day.
• Our own in-house team designs every system and does every install. 25 years in solar and large commercial electrical work.
• No subcontractors. We do the work ourselves, backed by a 25-year workmanship warranty on our installation work.

Switchboard and RCBO FAQs

Do I need a switchboard upgrade for solar or a battery?

Not always. It depends on your board’s age, space and protection. We check it on the site visit and include anything needed in your proposal.

What is the difference between an RCD and an RCBO?

An RCD is a safety switch that cuts power if current leaks. An RCBO combines a safety switch and circuit breaker for a single circuit, so a fault only trips that circuit.

Will I find out about switchboard work before install day?

Yes. We assess your board on the face-to-face site visit before every install and put anything needed in your proposal, so there are no surprises on the day.

My board still has old fuses. Is that a problem?

It is worth upgrading. Old rewireable fuses offer less protection and usually mean limited safety switch coverage. We can upgrade the board with or without solar.

What if my switchboard has asbestos?

Some older boards have backing panels that may contain asbestos. We identify it on the site visit and explain the safe options before any work is done.

Get your switchboard checked

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