Prepared by Home Triage Australia. Updated 6 November 2026. General guidance, not a diagnosis. Not independently reviewed by a qualified tradesperson. How these guides are prepared.
What to do now
Do not remove covers, replace fuses, touch internal parts or approach a wet board. Smoke, arcing, burning smells or visible heat damage need urgent help. For fire, smoke or immediate danger, get to safety and call 000.
If anyone reports a shock or tingle from taps or metal fittings, contact the local electricity distributor immediately. Do not operate the switchboard to investigate or turn the power off; it may also be unsafe. Seek medical advice after an electric shock.
Fault, missing protection or planned upgrade?
A faulty circuit elsewhere can trip a device at the board. Age, repeated trips and unusual sounds do not establish that the whole switchboard needs replacement. A licensed electrician should distinguish a fault requiring repair from a proposed upgrade and explain the evidence.
| What you have noticed | Useful information for the professional |
|---|---|
| Heat, burning smell, damage or arcing | Describe the warning signs from a safe location and request urgent advice. Do not touch the board to check its temperature. |
| Repeated tripping | State when it happens and what loses power. The fault may be in an appliance or circuit, rather than the board itself. |
| Old equipment or a new appliance planned | Ask for a condition and protection assessment, including the circuits affected by the proposed work. A photograph or the board’s age alone cannot establish compliance or safety. |
A safety switch is not the same as a circuit breaker
Circuit breakers and fuses protect against overloads and short circuits. Safety switches provide additional protection against electric shock by detecting current leakage; some devices combine these functions. Surge protection is different again.
A licensed electrician can explain which circuits have which protection. Safety switches do not prevent every electric shock, so their presence never makes damaged equipment safe to use. Follow the relevant authority and manufacturer’s routine testing instructions only when the installation is safe; this fault guide is not a testing procedure.
Compare the proposed work, circuit by circuit
Ask the quote to separate assessment, immediate fault repair and optional or required upgrade work. “Switchboard upgrade” on its own does not explain what will be changed.
- Which circuits and protective devices are included, and which remain unchanged?
- Are the enclosure, wiring alterations, labelling and any supply coordination included?
- How long might power be unavailable, and who needs to be notified?
- Are access, making good, testing, required documentation and GST included?
Illustrative comparison: replacing one diagnosed faulty device and replacing an enclosure with several circuit alterations are different scopes. Ask the contractor to show the difference before comparing the totals.
Older switchboard panels may contain asbestos. Tell the contractor about an older board; do not drill, scrape or remove material to identify it. Ask whether assessment and specialist handling are included if needed. This guide does not quote a national replacement price.
Questions for the electrical contractor
- What observed defect or test finding supports the recommendation?
- Which work is needed to make the installation safe, and which is a separate improvement?
- Does your licence cover the proposed work, and will another party need to coordinate the supply?
- How will additional faults or suspect materials be handled and priced?
- What test results and completion documents will you provide?
Find official electrical licence registers →
Tenants should report faults promptly. Owners and strata managers should confirm who can authorise non-emergency work on shared equipment; that question should not delay an urgent safety response.
Sources and review status
Prepared by Home Triage Australia. Updated 6 November 2026. The linked public sources were checked for this update. General guidance, not a diagnosis or an inspection of your home. Not independently reviewed by a qualified tradesperson. State-specific guidance is labelled; use your local authority for rules and contacts.
Run this problem through the checker, then contact a suitable professional of your choice.
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