The Job

We recently attended a home in Hurstville where the customer was preparing to have a home battery system installed, but their existing meter board needed to be upgraded before the new battery installation could go ahead.

With solar and battery systems becoming more common, the existing electrical infrastructure sometimes needs to be upgraded first to ensure the meter board, consumer mains and earthing system are suitable for the new equipment and meet the applicable electrical requirements.

After assessing the existing installation, we completed the required meter board and electrical supply upgrades to prepare the Hurstville property for its new battery system.

What We Did

The electrical upgrade included:

• Removal of the existing meter board equipment where required
• Supply and installation of a new steel meter enclosure
• Preparation of the new enclosure for the required electrical and metering equipment
• Supply and installation of approximately 8 metres of 16mm² XLPE single-phase consumer mains cable
• Termination and testing of the new consumer mains
• Installation of a new earth stake
• Installation of the associated main earthing cabling
• Testing of the upgraded electrical installation
• Preparation of the meter board for the customer’s upcoming home battery installation

New Steel Meter Enclosure

A new steel meter enclosure was installed to replace the existing meter board setup.

The installation area was prepared and the new enclosure securely mounted, providing a strong, durable and serviceable location for the property’s electrical and metering equipment.

Upgrading the meter enclosure was an important part of preparing the property for the battery installation, ensuring the electrical equipment could be arranged in a cleaner and more suitable configuration.

New 16mm² XLPE Consumer Mains

As part of the upgrade, we installed approximately 8 metres of new 16mm² XLPE single-phase consumer mains cable.

Consumer mains carry electricity between the incoming supply and the property’s main switchboard, making them an important part of the electrical infrastructure.

The new XLPE mains cable was installed, correctly terminated and tested to provide a durable and reliable electrical supply suitable for the upgraded installation.

Upgrading the Earthing System

We also installed a new earth stake and associated earthing cable as part of the electrical upgrade.

The earthing system is a critical part of the home’s electrical safety system. In the event of certain electrical faults, it works together with the property’s protective devices to help the electrical supply disconnect safely.

When preparing an older electrical installation for equipment such as a home battery or solar battery system, it’s important to look at the complete electrical installation rather than simply making space for the new equipment.

Preparing the Home for Battery Installation

The customer originally contacted us because their existing meter board needed upgrading before their home battery installation could proceed.

Rather than treating the battery as a standalone piece of equipment, we upgraded the supporting electrical infrastructure so the property would be properly prepared for the next stage of the installation.

The new steel meter enclosure, 16mm² XLPE consumer mains and earthing system provide a much stronger foundation for the customer’s planned battery upgrade.

Electrical Safety & Compliance

The meter board, consumer mains and earthing upgrades were completed with consideration to the applicable requirements of AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules and relevant electrical safety requirements.

Once the new mains cabling and earthing equipment had been installed, our electricians completed the required terminations and electrical testing to confirm the upgraded installation was operating correctly.

The Result

The Hurstville property is now prepared for the customer’s planned home battery installation, with the older electrical infrastructure upgraded to provide a safer and more suitable setup.

We installed a new steel meter enclosure, approximately 8 metres of 16mm² XLPE single-phase consumer mains and a new earth stake with associated earthing cabling.

The customer was left with an upgraded meter board and electrical supply infrastructure, ready for the next stage of their home battery installation.

The Project

We recently completed a major commercial and Level 2 electrical upgrade at Pizza Hut in Kogarah, involving the incoming mains supply, metering, point of attachment, switchboards, safety switches and earthing system.

The property contained both the Pizza Hut commercial tenancy and an upstairs residential unit, which made this more involved than a standard switchboard upgrade. The existing electrical infrastructure required significant work to bring the installation up to current requirements and provide safe, accessible electrical protection for both the shop and residential areas.

Our electricians and Level 2 Accredited Service Provider (ASP) electricians completed the upgrade, including coordination and required documentation for Ausgrid.

New 25mm² Consumer Mains

A major part of the project was upgrading the property’s incoming electrical supply.

We supplied and installed new 25mm² consumer mains from the point of attachment through to the main switchboard.

The old consumer mains were disconnected and replaced with new 25mm² XLPE cabling, including:

• New 25mm² consumer mains from the point of attachment to the main switchboard
• New 25mm² XLPE cable to the meter
• New 25mm² XLPE cable from the meter to the main switch
• Disconnection of the existing consumer mains
• Connection and termination of the new electrical supply cabling

The existing associated cabling was also rewired where required to bring the installation in line with applicable AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules.

New Commercial & Residential Switchboards

Because the building supplies both a commercial Pizza Hut tenancy and an upstairs residence, the electrical distribution needed to be properly separated, accessible and protected.

We supplied and installed new commercial and residential switchboard equipment, including a new 600mm x 600mm galvanised main switchboard at the front of the property.

The switchboard work included:

• New commercial electrical board for the Pizza Hut tenancy
• New residential electrical board for the upstairs unit
• New 600mm x 600mm galvanised main switchboard
• 2 new main switches
• New individual RCBO safety switches (electrocution protection devices)
• New neutral links
• New active links
• Current-limiting main switch equipment
• New SPD/MPD equipment
• Rewiring and re-termination of the associated switchboard cabling
• Clear labelling of electrical circuits and outlets

The completed setup provides much clearer separation between the commercial and residential electrical installations while making future servicing and fault isolation easier.

Relocating the Residential Switchboard

One of the major issues we identified was the location of the residential switchboard for the upstairs unit.

The switchboard was located externally on the wall of the neighbouring property, meaning the occupants could not easily access their own electrical protection equipment in an emergency.

This location was not suitable, so we relocated the residential switchboard inside the residential property, providing the upstairs occupants with proper access to their main switch and safety switches.

This was an important part of the project because electrical protection equipment needs to be accessible when power needs to be isolated quickly or a safety switch needs to be reset.

Point of Attachment & Aerial Mains Relocation

The project also involved significant Level 2 electrical work on the overhead supply.

The existing point of attachment (POA) was relocated to a more suitable position, and the aerial electrical mains were moved across to the new point of attachment.

Our Level 2 electrical work included:

• Relocation of the existing point of attachment
• Relocation of the aerial mains to the new POA
• Connection of the new 25mm² consumer mains
• Installation of 3 new 80A service fuses
• Required work on the incoming Ausgrid electrical supply
• Testing and verification before energisation

This provided a properly configured connection between the network supply and the newly upgraded electrical infrastructure.

Metering Upgrade & Relocation

Both the Pizza Hut shop and upstairs flat metering were relocated to the new external main switchboard.

As part of the metering work, the existing older disc-style electricity meters were upgraded to digital metering.

Relocating the meters to the outside main switchboard provides a more practical and accessible location for metering equipment while forming part of the overall electrical supply upgrade.

New Safety Switch Protection

All required circuits were upgraded with new safety switch protection.

Modern RCBOs provide combined overcurrent, short-circuit and electrocution protection, offering a significant safety improvement compared with older electrical protection equipment.

With a mixed-use building containing both a busy commercial kitchen and residential accommodation, having properly separated and protected electrical circuits is particularly important.

New Earthing System

The property’s electrical earthing system was also upgraded.

We supplied and installed a new earth stake and new main earthing cabling, providing the upgraded electrical installation with an appropriate earthing arrangement.

Earthing forms a critical part of the electrical safety system and works together with the circuit protection equipment to help protective devices operate correctly in the event of an electrical fault.

Electrical Testing & Circuit Labelling

Once the new electrical infrastructure had been installed, we carried out comprehensive testing before the installation was commissioned.

This included insulation resistance testing of the electrical circuits, along with the required electrical checks of the upgraded supply and protection equipment.

All relevant circuits and outlets were also clearly labelled, making the commercial and residential switchboards easier to identify, isolate and maintain in the future.

Level 2 Electrical Work & Ausgrid Documentation

Because this project involved the point of attachment, aerial mains, service fuses, consumer mains and metering, a significant portion of the work required a qualified Level 2 electrician.

Our Level 2 electricians were able to manage the required network-side electrical work alongside the switchboard and internal electrical upgrades.

Once the installation was completed, we prepared and submitted the required Ausgrid paperwork associated with the works.

A Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) was also completed for the applicable electrical work and provided as required to the customer and Ausgrid.

The project was carried out subject to the relevant Ausgrid approval and network requirements.

The Result

This was a substantial electrical infrastructure upgrade that went well beyond a standard commercial switchboard replacement.

The Pizza Hut Kogarah property received new 25mm² XLPE consumer mains, three 80A service fuses, a new 600x600mm galvanised main switchboard, separate commercial and residential switchboards, new RCBO safety switches, upgraded digital metering, a relocated point of attachment and aerial mains, and a new earthing system.

We also relocated the upstairs residential switchboard from an unsuitable location on the neighbouring property to an accessible position within the residence.

The result is a much safer, more accessible and more serviceable electrical installation for both the Pizza Hut commercial tenancy and upstairs residential unit, supported by the required testing, compliance certification and Ausgrid documentation.

The Problem

We recently attended a property in Bexley where the existing electrical installation still contained old cotton-insulated electrical wiring.

Cotton cabling is commonly found in older Sydney homes and, due to its age, the insulation can become brittle, deteriorated and unsafe. Once the insulation begins breaking down, there is an increased risk of exposed conductors, electrical faults and other safety issues.

After inspecting the installation, we recommended replacing the old cotton wiring with modern PVC-insulated copper electrical cabling. The job also involved removing the old asbestos switchboard panel, installing a new steel meter enclosure, upgrading the property’s earthing and installing a new bathroom heat, light and fan unit.

Removing the Old Cotton Electrical Wiring

A major part of this project was the removal and replacement of the old cotton-insulated wiring.

Our electricians disconnected the affected circuits and removed the redundant cotton cabling wherever it was safely accessible, including the existing cotton wiring terminating within the switchboard.

When working on older homes, rewiring isn’t always as straightforward as pulling out the old cable and installing a new one. Existing wiring can run through old metal conduit, inaccessible ceiling areas and parts of the building that have been altered over the years.

Where the existing metal conduit within the ceiling space was accessible, it was removed carefully to avoid unnecessary damage to the surrounding building structure and other services.

Where sections could not practically be removed due to access or structural restrictions, they were electrically isolated, securely capped and left in a safe condition.

Rewiring With Modern PVC Cabling

The old cotton wiring was replaced with modern PVC-insulated copper electrical cabling, appropriately sized for the circuits being supplied.

New cabling was run neatly through the property, properly supported and protected to provide a much safer and more reliable electrical installation.

Replacing deteriorated cotton wiring is particularly important in older homes because the condition of the insulation can continue to worsen over time. What may initially appear to be intact wiring can become brittle when disturbed during renovations, maintenance or electrical work.

By completing the rewire, we were able to remove the ageing cabling from the nominated circuits and replace it with modern wiring designed for today’s electrical requirements.

Asbestos Switchboard Panel Removal

The existing switchboard also contained an old asbestos backing panel, which required removal as part of the electrical upgrade.

The existing cotton wiring within the switchboard was disconnected and removed before the asbestos panel was taken out using appropriate procedures.

Removing the old asbestos panel allowed the ageing switchboard setup to be replaced with a cleaner and more modern electrical installation.

New Steel Meter Enclosure

As part of the project, we supplied and installed a new steel meter enclosure.

The old equipment was disconnected and removed where required, and the installation area was prepared for the new enclosure.

The steel meter box provides a strong and durable enclosure for the property’s metering and electrical equipment while giving the installation a much cleaner and more serviceable finish.

New Earth Stake

The property’s electrical earthing system was also upgraded with the installation of a new earth stake.

The earth stake was positioned a safe distance from the house and connected using the required earthing conductor.

A properly installed earthing system is an essential part of the home’s electrical safety system. If an electrical fault occurs, the earthing arrangement works together with the protective devices to help disconnect the affected electrical supply.

When we’re rewiring an older property, we look beyond simply replacing the cables and also consider whether important parts of the installation, such as the switchboard and earthing system, require upgrading.

Bathroom Heat, Light & Fan Installation

While completing the electrical upgrades, we also installed a new bathroom heat, light and fan unit.

The installation included the required cabling and switching, providing the bathroom with combined heating, lighting and ventilation.

The exhaust fan helps remove warm, moisture-filled air from the bathroom, while the heat lamps provide additional comfort during colder weather.

Electrical Testing & Compliance

Once the new electrical wiring was installed, our electricians tested the affected circuits before they were returned to service.

Testing included checks for:

• Continuity
• Insulation resistance
• Polarity
• Correct circuit operation

These tests help confirm that the new cabling has been correctly installed and that the circuits are operating safely.

All electrical work was completed by licensed electricians with consideration to applicable AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules and Australian electrical safety requirements.

The Result

This Bexley electrical rewire involved much more than simply replacing a few old cables.

We removed deteriorated cotton-insulated electrical wiring and replaced it with modern PVC-insulated copper cabling, removed the existing asbestos switchboard panel, installed a new steel meter enclosure and earth stake, and completed the installation of a new bathroom heat, light and fan unit.

The result is a significantly improved electrical installation with modern wiring, upgraded electrical infrastructure and improved safety, while removing ageing materials commonly found in older Sydney homes.