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Here’s a fun fact: half of Canberra was built before microwaves were invented.
And those charming old houses in Ainslie, Campbell, and Red Hill? Their switchboards were designed for a time when the height of electrical luxury was a Hills Hoist and a Sunbeam toaster.
Now you want to plug in a car that pulls more power than your entire house used in 1965.
Yeah, that’s gonna be a problem.
Last month in Turner, a homeowner got their shiny new Tesla delivered. Beautiful car. Massive battery. Seller assured them any electrician could install a charger, easy as.
They called for a quote. The electrician took one look at their switchboard and just shook his head.
“Mate, that’s not a switchboard. That’s a museum piece.”
Ceramic fuses. Cloth-wrapped wiring. No safety switches. The full 1960s experience.
Trying to add an EV charger to that? Like trying to run Netflix through a black and white TV. Not happening.
Walk to your switchboard right now. Go on. Have a look.
If you see any of these, you’ve got problems:
Ceramic fuses (the white plug-in ones)
These were brilliant in 1962. Now? They’re a fire waiting to happen. Can’t handle modern loads. Zero safety features. Plus try finding replacements at 10pm on a Sunday.
Black or dark brown board
That’s asbestos, mate. Common in pre-1980s Canberra homes. Not immediately dangerous if undisturbed, but any electrical work means it needs to go.
No safety switches
Those test buttons that say “push every 3 months” (that nobody ever pushes)? If you don’t have them, your switchboard’s not just old – it’s non-compliant.
Crackling or buzzing sounds
Electricity should be silent. If your switchboard sounds like breakfast cereal, that’s arcing. Bad news.
Burning smell
This one’s obvious. If it smells like an electrical BBQ, stop reading and call an emergency electrician.
Certain Canberra suburbs are affected more than others. The pattern’s pretty clear:
Inner North (Ainslie, Braddon, Turner, O’Connor)
Built 1920s-1960s. Original switchboards everywhere. Beautiful character homes with electrical systems that pre-date the Beatles.
Inner South (Red Hill, Forrest, Griffith, Narrabundah)
Same era, same problems. Plus these ex-government houses often have additions that were… creatively wired.
Older parts of Woden and Belconnen
1970s construction. Right on the cusp. Some are fine, some are disasters. Bit of a lottery.
The newer suburbs? Gungahlin, Molonglo, anything built after 2000? You’re probably fine. Skip to the end.
Your house electrical system is like a highway. Everything’s cruising along fine with your normal traffic – lights, TV, fridge, whatever.
Then you add an EV charger. That’s like adding a road train to a suburban street.
The numbers that matter:
See the problem? You’re now pulling 50-60 amps regularly. On a 63-amp system designed when colour TV was science fiction.
Something’s gotta give. Usually the main breaker. Usually at dinner time. Usually in winter.
Young couple, just bought a 1940s cottage. Gorgeous place. Original everything, including the electrics. Wanted a Tesla charger installed.
The quote included:
Total damage? $4,800. The charger installation was only $1,200 of that.
They were genuinely surprised. But here’s the thing – that upgrade was happening eventually anyway. The EV charger just forced the issue.
Older gentleman, lived there since 1978. Never had electrical problems. Why upgrade?
Got an MG4. Tried to charge it. Main breaker tripped immediately. Reset it. Tripped again.
Electrician found the main cable was heating up like a bar heater. Insulation literally melting inside the wall.
That’s not an inconvenience. That’s a house fire waiting to happen.
Not all doom and gloom. Lady in Yarralumla, house from the 1960s but switchboard upgraded in the ’90s. Clean, modern, plenty of capacity.
EV charger went in same day. No drama. $1,650 all done.
The difference? Someone had already invested in the upgrade. She was just reaping the benefits.
Right, let’s demystify this. A switchboard upgrade isn’t rocket science, but it’s not a DIY job either.
Step 1: The Assessment
Electrician opens your old board. Makes concerned noises. Takes photos. Documents everything.
Step 2: The Planning
Step 3: The Big Day
Step 4: The Good Bit
Everything works better. Lights stop flickering. Breakers stop tripping. You can run the kettle and toaster simultaneously. Revolutionary.
Switchboard upgrade costs in Canberra:
Yeah, it stings. But consider:
Plus that ACT Government Sustainable Household Scheme? Covers switchboard upgrades if they’re part of an EV charger or solar installation. Interest-free. Up to $15,000.
Suddenly doesn’t seem so bad.
Seen plenty of dodgy operators offer to install EV chargers on old switchboards.
“Just upgrade the main breaker,” they say. “She’ll be right.”
No. She won’t.
That’s like putting racing tyres on a car with no brakes. Looks good until you need to stop.
One place in Curtin tried this approach. Charger worked great. For three weeks. Then the main cable underground failed.
Repair bill? Extremely expensive. Plus a week without power. In July.
Cheap? Not really.
Simple test. Answer these:
Three or more ticks? You need an upgrade. No ifs, buts, or maybes.
Here’s something the pessimists won’t tell you:
Upgrading your switchboard is the best electrical investment you can make. Better than fancy lighting. Better than home automation.
Why?
Because everything else depends on it. It’s your electrical foundation. Get it right, and suddenly your whole house works better.
That cottage in Ainslie with the museum-piece switchboard? After the upgrade, the owners couldn’t believe the difference. Lights brighter. Appliances running properly. No more mystery trips.
“Should’ve done it years ago,” they said.
Everyone says that.
So your old Canberra home needs a switchboard upgrade for EV charging. Now what?
First: Get a proper assessment. Not a quote over the phone. An actual electrician looking at your actual switchboard. Watts Needed does these for free.
Second: Bundle the work. Doing an upgrade? Perfect time to add extra circuits, outdoor power points, or prep for solar. Saves money long-term.
Third: Check the ACT rebates. Seriously. Free money from the government. Don’t leave it on the table.
Fourth: Use a proper electrician. Your mate’s cousin who “does a bit of electrical” isn’t touching your switchboard. This is serious business.
Old Canberra homes are beautiful. Character, location, established gardens. The lot.
But their switchboards? They’re older than pavlova and about as useful for running modern electronics.
Want an EV charger? Fantastic. But if your switchboard’s still running on 1960s technology, that upgrade needs to happen first.
Yes, it costs money. Yes, it’s disruptive. But it’s also an investment in your home’s safety, functionality, and future value.
Plus, once it’s done? You can charge your EV, run your air con, and make toast. All at the same time.
Living the dream.
Call 040 150 0541 to get your switchboard assessed. Or keep playing electrical roulette.
Your choice. But that burning smell? That’s not your imagination.
