How to Choose a Switchboard
A quick decision guide to specifying a switchboard — phase configuration, protection, enclosure and whether to order a pre-wired board.
Single or three phase?
Start with the supply. Single phase suits most homes and light commercial. Three phase is triggered by high-demand equipment — ducted air conditioning, EV chargers, pool heat pumps and workshops — and changes the main switch, service protection and metering pre-wire.
Get the protection schedule right
List the main switch rating and every protective device — RCBOs, MCBs and RCDs — with its rating. The schedule drives the busbar arrangement and the enclosure size, so a clear schedule means an accurate build.
- —Main switch rated to the supply.
- —RCBOs or RCD/MCB pairs on final circuits.
- —Service protection — SPD or MPD — on a main switchboard.
Specify the enclosure
Choose the enclosure size, material and IP rating for the environment and the mounting method. Indoor clean positions suit powder-coated steel; exposed and coastal positions need higher IP ratings and stainless steel.
Consider a pre-wired board
A pre-wired board arrives assembled, labelled and tested — a mount-and-terminate job that removes the most common defects. EVO fabricates custom and pre-wired boards in Sydney; send your schedule with a quote request and we will build and test it before dispatch.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I need a three-phase switchboard?
When high-demand equipment such as ducted air conditioning, EV chargers or workshop plant pushes maximum demand toward the limit of a single-phase supply. Three phase spreads the load and future-proofs the installation.
What information does a switchboard quote need?
The supply details, the main switch and protective device schedule with ratings, the metering requirements, and the enclosure size, material, IP rating and mounting method.
Is a pre-wired board better than building on site?
For most jobs, yes. It arrives assembled, labelled and tested, which removes common defects and turns board building into a mount-and-terminate job — especially valuable on volume housing.
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Keep Reading
The Complete Guide to Switchboards
A trade reference on switchboards — main switchboards, distribution boards, single versus three phase, pre-wired kits, compliance and how to order a custom board.
Switchboard Compliance: AS/NZS 61439 Basics
What the AS/NZS 61439 series means for main switchboards, and what to check before a board goes to site.
Why Australian-Made Switchboards Are Worth It
Lead times, spec changes and compliance — the practical case for locally fabricated switchboards over imported assemblies.