Your Homes Switchboard, the electrical control system
What does a switchboard do?
Your switchboard keeps your home powered, but more importantly, it keeps it safe by shutting things down when something goes wrong.
As our demand on power supply to our home, in turn increases the demand on our homes switchboard. It is therefore important to read early signs of your switchboard needing attention while societies electrical demand is rapidly growing.
How does it work?
Distribution of Power
Electricity comes from the street supply (from the Ausgrid or Endeavour network) into your switchboard, then gets split into different circuits—like lighting, power points, oven, air conditioning, etc.
Protects against overloads and faults
It contains circuit breakers (or older ceramic fuses in older homes) that automatically shuts off power if a circuit draws too much current or there’s a fault. This helps prevent overheating and electrical fires.
Protects family members in the home (safety switches / RCDs)
Modern NSW switchboards must have RCDs (Residual Current Devices), often called safety switches. These detect electrical leakage (like if current flows through a person) and cut power almost instantly to prevent electric shock.
Allows isolation of circuits
You can turn off individual circuits for maintenance or if there’s an issue, instead of shutting down the whole house.
Metering with a Level 2 ASP
The electricity meter is either within or next to the switchboard. It records your power usage for billing back to your retailer such as AGL, Origin, Red Energy etc.
Switchboard Health Check
What are the sings that your switchboard needs an inspection?
Frequent tripping
If circuit breakers or safety switches trip regularly, it usually means overloaded circuits, faulty appliances, or wiring issues.
Old-style fuses (ceramic or wire fuses)
These are common in older homes and don’t provide the same level of protection as modern circuit breakers and RCDs.
No safety switches (RCDs)
If you don’t have RCDs (pictured) protecting your circuits, you’re missing critical protection against electric shock.
Burning smell , discoloration or heat
Any signs of heat damage (pictured) —burn marks, melted insulation, or a burning smell—can indicate loose connections or overloaded circuits and should be checked immediately before it becomes an emergency.
Buzzing or crackling sounds
Switchboards should be silent. Noise can mean arcing or loose connections, which is a fire risk.
Exposed or loose wiring
Any visible single-insulated cables or poorly secured wiring is non-compliant.
Lights flickering or power fluctuations
Could point to loose connections or issues within the board.
Recent major upgrades in the home
If you’ve added things like air conditioning, EV chargers, or electric hot water, your switchboard may not be designed to handle the increased load.
Preparing for solar and battery
What if I plan on getting solar panel and a battery?
Switchboard & Meter Information | Strata Complex
A main switchboard, the electrical control system
What does a switchboard do?
Your switchboard keeps your home powered, but more importantly, it keeps it safe by shutting things down when something goes wrong.
As our demand on power supply to our home, in turn increases the demand on our homes switchboard. It is therefore important to read early signs of your switchboard needing attention while societies electrical demand is rapidly growing (EV chargers, air conditioning etc).
How does it work?
Distribution of Power
1. Electricity comes from the street supply (from the Ausgrid or Endeavour network) into the main switchboard (MSB) which is usually located in the basement or corridor in heritage buildings.
- Each unit has its ownelectricity meter, often grouped in a meter room or cabinet with the purpose to measure each unit’s electricity usage for billing and connection between the MSB and the unit’s switchboard.
- From the MSB (or meter panel),sub main cables run to each individual unit with a purpose to carry power to the unit. Each unit has its own switchboard—this is what the occupant interacts with. The is to distributes power within the unit (lights, GPOs, appliances). This works the same as a standard house switchboard, just fed from the building instead of directly from the street.
Owner Corporation Reasonability or Owner Responsibility
In a NSW strata building, responsibility for the electrical system is split between the Owners Corporation and the individual unit owner, based on whether the equipment forms part of the common property or the lot.
Under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, the Owners Corporation is required to maintain and repair all common property, which generally includes shared electrical infrastructure such as the main switchboard, meter panels, and sub mains supplying each unit.
The individual lot owner is responsible for maintaining the electrical installation within their own unit, including the unit switchboard, safety switches, and all final subcircuits supplying lights, power, and appliances.
For upgrades, or works involving metering, consumer mains an authorised Level 2 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) such as SVP Electrical Services can assist.
Level 2 ASPs are authorised to work on service lines and metering equipment in accordance with network requirements, making them essential for tasks such as meter relocations, upgrades to supply capacity, or works affecting the connection between the street supply and the building’s main electrical infrastructure.
Protects against overloads and faults
It contains circuit breakers (or older ceramic fuses in older homes) that automatically shuts off power if a circuit draws too much current or there’s a fault. This helps prevent overheating and electrical fires.
Protects family members in the home (safety switches / RCDs)
Modern NSW switchboards must have RCDs (Residual Current Devices), often called safety switches. These detect electrical leakage (like if current flows through a person) and cut power almost instantly to prevent electric shock.
Allows isolation of circuits
You can turn off individual circuits for maintenance or if there’s an issue, instead of shutting down the whole house.
Metering with a Level 2 ASP
The electricity meter is either within or next to the switchboard. It records your power usage for billing back to your retailer such as AGL, Origin, Red Energy etc.