Your switchboard (often called a fuse box) is the control centre of your home’s electricity. It distributes power to each circuit, helps protect people from electric shock and wiring from overloads, and lets a licensed electrician safely isolate power for testing or repairs.

Here’s the Quick Answer

Your electrical switchboard distributes power, protects people and wiring, and allows safe isolation. Modern boards use circuit breakers and safety switches (RCDs/RCBOs) to trip quickly on faults, reducing the risk of electric shock and electrical fires. If you’ve still got old ceramic fuses or no safety switches, it’s time to upgrade.

Here’s the Detailed Answer

A modern switchboard contains a main switch, circuit protection (circuit breakers and safety switches like RCBOs/RCDs), neutral and earth bars, and often surge protection, with clear labelling so every circuit (lights, power points, oven, A/C, EV charger, pool) is easy to identify.
Together, these parts keep electricity flowing safely through your home, trip fast on faults, and let electricians isolate sections for maintenance or upgrades. Upgrades are common during renovations, when adding high-demand appliances (induction cooktop, EV charger, spa), or when older boards show signs of wear or non-compliant components.

Electrician in safety vest testing breakers inside a modern residential switchboard

What is a Switchboard (and How is It Different From the Meter)?

  • Switchboard: Houses your main switch, circuit breakers and safety switches that help protect people and wiring.

  • Electricity meter: Measures how much energy you use for billing. It doesn’t provide safety protection.

Core components you’ll see in a modern switchboard

  • Main switch – turns power to the whole property on/off.

  • Circuit breakers (MCBs) – protect wiring/appliances from overloads and short circuits.

  • Safety switches (RCDs/RCBOs) – help protect people from electric shock by tripping on earth-leakage; RCBOs combine RCD + MCB.

  • Neutral & earth bars – correct earthing/bonding of the installation.

  • Busbars & DIN rails – feed and mount devices securely.

  • Surge protection (recommended) – helps protect electronics from voltage spikes.

  • Clear labels – easy identification of each circuit.

What Does a Switchboard Actually Do?

  1. Distributes power across separate circuits so one fault doesn’t cut power to the whole home.

  2. Protects people and property by tripping quickly on faults (shock, overloads, short circuits).

  3. Allows safe isolation so licensed electricians can test, repair or upgrade safely.

  4. Supports compliance with modern wiring and insurer expectations.

Why Safety Switches (Rcds/rcbos) Matter

Circuit breakers protect wires and appliances. RCDs/RCBOs are designed to help protect people. If electricity flows somewhere it shouldn’t (e.g., through a person), an RCD/RCBO trips extremely quickly. The best practice is RCBO protection on every final sub-circuit.

Signs Your Switchboard May Need an Upgrade

  • Old ceramic/porcelain fuses instead of modern breakers/RCBOs.

  • No safety switches or only one RCD covering the whole house.

  • Frequent tripping, flickering lights, buzzing, or burning smells.

  • Crowded board with add-ons or mismatched gear.

  • Warm or discoloured enclosure, brittle wiring, or asbestos backing panel (common in older boards).

  • New loads added (A/C, induction cooktop, spa, EV charger, solar/battery) without expanding protection.

  • Poor or missing labels on circuits.

Common Upgrades We Recommend

  • Replace fuses/breakers with RCBOs on each circuit (shock + overload protection).

  • Add surge protection to help shield sensitive electronics.

  • Re-arrange and re-label circuits for clarity and future maintenance.

  • Upgrade mains capacity/service fuses when needed for new high-demand loads.

  • Replace damaged/non-compliant enclosures/backing boards, tidy wiring.

  • Verify earthing & bonding and install MEN links correctly.

How to Reset a Tripped Safety Switch or Breaker (Safely)

  1. Turn off and unplug appliances on the affected circuit.

  2. Reset the tripped device to ON.

  3. Plug appliances back in one by one. If it trips again, you’ve likely found the culprit.
    Stop and call a licensed electrician if it won’t reset, becomes hot, or you see/smell burning. Do not open the panel or attempt repairs yourself.

Why Choose Fox Electricians?

  • Licensed, local & friendly Sydney team (Eastern Suburbs and surrounds).

  • Fast response and tidy workmanship.

  • Clear advice on safety and compliance—no jargon.

  • Up-front quotes over the phone where possible.

Need your switchboard checked or upgraded?
Call 0416 177 025 or get in touch with Fox Electricians — we’ll take care of everything for you.

FAQs

Is a switchboard the same as a fuse box?
Essentially yes. “Fuse box” is the older term. Modern switchboards use circuit breakers and RCBOs instead of re-wireable fuses and include safety switches for shock protection.

How often should my switchboard be checked?
Every 2–3 years is a good guide or sooner if you’re renovating, adding high-demand appliances, noticing frequent trips, or buying/selling a property.

Do I need a switchboard upgrade for an EV charger or new kitchen?
Often yes. High-demand circuits usually need a dedicated RCBO and sometimes a mains upgrade. A licensed electrician should assess capacity, protection and compliance first.