Switchboard electrician · St Kilda East & Melbourne
Switchboard Upgrade Melbourne: Replacements & Repairs by a Licensed Switchboard Electrician
Need a switchboard upgrade in Melbourne? Old fuse box, power that keeps tripping, or no room for air-con, an EV charger or solar? I’m Dean, a licensed switchboard electrician based in St Kilda East. With my small local team, I handle switchboard upgrades, switchboard replacement and repairs across Melbourne, from ceramic fuse boxes in older St Kilda and Elwood homes to 3-phase boards for larger houses and shops. You get a fixed quote before any work starts, and I stay accountable for the job until the final certificate is in your hands.
Licence No. 34219
COES on every job
24/7 for switchboard faults
Want typical prices first? Read my switchboard upgrade cost guide.
Licensed
34219
Electrician
Fixed quote, no surprises
We inspect the board, explain what it needs in plain words and put the price in writing first.
Fixed quote
Price in writing before work starts · typical prices
2–4 hours
Most single-phase home upgrades
AS/NZS 3000
Wired to the Australian Wiring Rules
Small local team
Led by Dean, based in St Kilda East
Due for an upgrade
Does your switchboard look like this?
Crowded wiring, worn breakers and no spare space are common signs an old board needs work.
01 Is it time?
Do You Need to Upgrade an Old Switchboard?
Most boards we replace in Melbourne were installed decades ago, long before air-con, induction cooktops and EV chargers. If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to upgrade your old switchboard (also called an electrical panel or fuse box) or at least have it checked.
Not sure what you’re looking at? Send us a photo of your switchboard and we’ll tell you whether it needs work, at no cost.
Ceramic fuses
Old screw-in or rewireable fuses instead of circuit breakers.
No safety switches
No RCDs to cut the power if someone gets a shock.
Power keeps tripping
The board trips when the kettle, heater and air-con run together.
Heat or burning smell
Warm, discoloured or scorched parts. Call straight away.
No room for new circuits
Nowhere to add air-con, a cooktop, solar or an EV charger.
Flickering or dimming lights
Lights dip when big appliances switch on.
02 What we do
Electrical Switchboard Upgrade Services in Melbourne
Every board is different, so our switchboard upgrade services aren’t a one-size package. We look at your home or business, how you use power and what you’re planning next, then recommend the right electrical switchboard upgrade, replacement or repair.
Fuse Box to Circuit Breaker Upgrade
A circuit breaker upgrade swaps old ceramic fuses for modern breakers that trip safely instead of overheating. It’s the most common switchboard upgrade we do in older St Kilda, Elwood and Caulfield homes.
Most popular
Switchboard Replacement
For damaged, burnt or overcrowded boards, switchboard replacement means a full new switchboard installation: a new enclosure, clearly labelled circuits and room to grow.
Homes & apartments
Switchboard Repairs
Not every board needs replacing. For switchboard repairs, we find the failed breaker, RCD or connection and fix it. If a repair isn’t safe, we’ll tell you why and quote the upgrade instead.
Fault-finding
Switchboard Safety Upgrades (RCDs)
An RCD safety switch cuts the power in milliseconds if current leaks to earth, for example through a person. A switchboard safety upgrade adds RCDs to your power and lighting circuits to current standards.
Shock protection
3-Phase Switchboard Upgrade
For larger homes, ducted air-con, pool equipment and shops that need more power than a single-phase supply can give. We’ll check what your property is connected to first.
Larger homes & business
Switchboard Upgrades for Solar, Batteries & EV Chargers
Planning solar panels, a home battery or an EV charger? Most older boards don’t have the space or capacity. We’ll get your board ready so the new system connects safely.
Future-ready
03 Switchboard emergency
Emergency Switchboard Repairs: Burning Smell or Sparks?
A hot, buzzing or smoking switchboard is an emergency. Don’t wait until morning. We handle emergency switchboard repairs and upgrades in St Kilda, Elwood and nearby suburbs 24/7. Do this now:
If it’s safe to reach, turn off the main switch. Don’t touch anything that is hot, wet or smoking.
Keep everyone away from the board. If there is fire or heavy smoke, get out and call 000.
Call Dean on +61 418 281 517. We’re available 24/7 for switchboard faults across St Kilda and nearby suburbs.
For other urgent faults, see our 24/7 emergency electrician service.
04 Recent work
Recent Switchboard Upgrades in St Kilda East & Melbourne
Real jobs, photographed by our team. No stock photos here.
Fuse box to circuit breakers
Old fuse panel replaced with a modern enclosed board with breakers and RCDs.
Switchboard upgrade, Melbourne
Outdated board replaced, with every circuit clearly labelled.
New board, St Kilda East
Weatherproof enclosure with RCD protection and a dedicated outdoor circuit.
05 How it works
How Our Switchboard Upgrade Service Works
Clear steps, a written price and a certificate at the end. Here’s what to expect when you book a switchboard upgrade in Melbourne with us.
1
Day 1
Inspect & quote
We look at your board, wiring and what you plan to run, then give you a fixed written quote.
2
Booked day
Power off & remove
We tell you how long the power will be off, isolate the supply and safely remove the old board.
3
2–4 hrs
Install the new board
New enclosure, circuit breakers and RCDs, with every circuit labelled so you know what’s what.
4
Same day
Test & certify
Full testing, a clean-up, and a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) for your records.
Tip: Before upgrade day, plug your fridge into a power point near the board or clear the freezer. Most homes are back on power the same afternoon.
Dean Pahek
Licensed electrician & owner · St Kilda East
Electrical licence 34219
ABN 21 738 327 372
Team Small local team
Based in St Kilda East VIC 3183
Available 24/7 for faults
Insurance Fully insured
06 Who you’re dealing with
Why Choose Dean as Your Switchboard Electrician in Melbourne
“A small team means I know every switchboard job we take on, and I stay accountable for it until the certificate is in your hands.”
Before starting Dean Pahek Electrical, I spent 6 years working with electrical companies across Melbourne. I saw clients get overcharged, kept waiting and confused by jargon, so I set up a business that works differently. Today Dean Pahek Electrical is a small local team of licensed electricians and experienced switchboard upgrade specialists, and switchboard work is a core part of what we do.
Small team, owner-led
A small local team, not a big company. No call centre: you can reach me directly on my mobile.
Affordable, fixed written quote
The price is agreed before work starts. No call-out games and no surprise extras on the day.
Plain-English advice
We explain what your board needs and what can wait, so you only pay for what matters.
Local and fast
Based in St Kilda East, minutes from Elwood, Balaclava and Caulfield.
07 Safety & compliance
Done to Victorian Standards, Certified Every Time
An electrical switchboard upgrade in Victoria is tightly regulated, and it should be. Here’s what that means for you.
Wiring Rules
AS/NZS 3000
Every board is installed to the Australian and New Zealand Wiring Rules.
Certificate
COES included
You get a Certificate of Electrical Safety, lodged with Energy Safe Victoria.
Landlords
Rental standards
Victorian rentals need a board with circuit breakers and safety switches. We can bring yours up to standard.
Older boards
Asbestos checked
Older panels can contain asbestos. We check during the inspection and include safe removal in the quote.
08 Service area
Switchboard Upgrades & Replacement in St Kilda, Elwood, Caulfield & Malvern
We’re based in St Kilda East, so these suburbs are on our doorstep. That means quicker inspections, affordable call-outs and faster help when a board fails.
St Kilda & St Kilda East
Switchboard replacement for period homes and older apartment blocks still on original fuse boards, plus 24/7 emergency switchboard upgrades in St Kilda.
Elwood
Flats and family homes with crowded boards. We upgrade circuit breakers in Elwood homes and handle emergency switchboard repairs when power fails.
Caulfield & Caulfield South
Larger family homes adding air-con, solar and EV chargers. We upgrade old switchboards in Caulfield and do switchboard safety upgrades with RCDs.
Balaclava & Elsternwick
Rentals and older units where landlords need a switchboard upgrade to meet Victorian minimum standards.
Prahran, Windsor & South Yarra
Switchboard upgrades for terraces and shopfronts, including 3-phase boards for small businesses.
Malvern & Glen Huntly
Switchboard replacement in Malvern and Glen Huntly homes whose renovations have outgrown the original board.
Also servicing Armadale, Brighton, Toorak, Albert Park and surrounding Melbourne suburbs. See all service areas.
09 Google reviews
What Melbourne Locals Say About Dean
★★★★★
“Electrician Dean Pahek is excellent! A pleasure to deal with. He is a great communicator, with prompt service. We are delighted with the results and great price.”
Yvonne Flanagan
Google review
★★★★★
“For my new residential build, Dean Pahek Electrical completed the electrical plan and associated works. Worked seamlessly with my builder. Very happy with the planning advice and electrical work.”
Cindy Goodwin
Google review
★★★★★
“Dean installed some new powerpoints in our apartment in St Kilda. He was very flexible and wasn’t fussed when we had to reschedule the work. Very friendly and would absolutely recommend him!”
Maite Forero
Google review, St Kilda
Had your switchboard done by Dean?
10 FAQs
Switchboard Upgrade Melbourne FAQs
Straight answers to the questions I get asked most.
Still unsure? Call me and describe your board, or send a photo. I’ll give you an honest answer.
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We inspect your board first, then give you a fixed written quote before any work starts. The price depends on the size of the board, how many circuits and RCDs you need, single-phase or 3-phase supply, and the condition of the existing wiring. There are no surprise extras on the day. If you’d like typical price ranges before you call, see my switchboard upgrade cost guide.
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Both. If a single breaker, RCD or connection has failed and the rest of the board is sound, we repair it. If the board is old, overloaded or unsafe, we’ll explain why a switchboard replacement is the better option and give you a fixed price for both, so you can choose.
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Most standard single-phase upgrades take 2–4 hours. Larger or 3-phase boards can take most of a day. The power is off while the new board goes in, and we tell you the expected time before we start so you can plan around it.
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Often, yes. Older boards usually have no spare space, no RCD protection and not enough capacity for a solar inverter, home battery or EV charger circuit. We check your board and tell you honestly whether it needs upgrading or can take the new circuit as is.
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Victoria’s rental minimum standards require rental homes to have a switchboard with circuit breakers and electrical safety switches (RCDs). If your rental still has ceramic fuses or no safety switches, the board needs upgrading. We can upgrade it and give you the Certificate of Electrical Safety for your records.
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No. In Victoria, switchboard work must be done by a licensed electrician, and the electrician must issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) when the work is finished. DIY switchboard work is illegal, unsafe and can void your home insurance.
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A COES is the certificate a licensed Victorian electrician issues to confirm electrical work has been tested and meets the required standards. You receive one for every switchboard upgrade. Keep it for your insurer, a future sale or your property manager.
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Yes. We upgrade single-phase and 3-phase switchboards for homes, apartments, shops and small commercial sites across Melbourne’s inner south-east. For larger commercial work, see our commercial electrical services.
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Some older switchboards are mounted on panels that contain asbestos. We check this during the inspection. If the panel needs to come out, it is removed safely before the new board goes in, and this is included in your quote so there are no surprises.
11 Get a quote
Book Your Switchboard Upgrade in Melbourne
Get a fixed quote from a licensed switchboard electrician and a small local team that does the job properly. Fill in the form or call Dean, and we’ll get back to you the same day.
Fixed written quote before any work starts
Same-day reply to every enquiry
Licensed, insured and certified with a COES
24/7 for urgent switchboard faults
Quicker quote: text a photo of your switchboard to +61 418 281 517 and we can often price it without a visit.
Licence No. 34219 · ABN 21 738 327 372 · St Kilda East VIC 3183
Request a Free Switchboard Quote
Takes under a minute. We reply the same day.