A ceramic fuse box isn’t illegal, and it won’t fail the moment you look at it, but it lacks the single most important safety feature a modern home needs: safety switches (RCDs). An RCD cuts power in milliseconds when current leaks to earth, which is what stops a fault from becoming a fatal shock. Old rewireable ceramic fuses simply can’t do that, which is why upgrading is strongly recommended.
How a fuse box differs from a modern switchboard
- Ceramic fuses protect the wiring from overload, but offer no protection for people.
- A modern switchboard combines circuit breakers (protect wiring) with RCDs/safety switches (protect people), and often surge protection too.
- Modern boards are built for today’s loads (air-con, induction cooktops, EV chargers) that an old board was never sized for.
Warning signs it’s time to upgrade
- Rewireable ceramic fuses (the white fuse holders with fuse wire)
- No safety switches on the board
- Fuses that blow often, or breakers that trip when you run a few appliances
- Scorch marks, a burning smell, or a warm board
- Flickering lights or buzzing from the switchboard
- An asbestos backing panel behind the board (common in older homes)
What an upgrade involves
We replace the old board with a compliant, RCD-protected switchboard sized for how your home actually runs, wired to AS/NZS 3000 and left neatly labelled. Where the work requires it, the WA electrical safety certificate paperwork is lodged for you. A typical upgrade runs $1,500–$3,500. See our switchboard upgrade cost guide.
If you’ve got ceramic fuses and you’re not sure where you stand, request a callback and we’ll take a look.