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Cost guide — Safety Switches & RCDs · As of July 2026

Safety switch (RCD) installation cost in Melbourne.

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RCD retrofitting depends on whether your switchboard has space, the number of circuits to protect, and whether you choose individual RCBOs or grouped RCDs. Below are typical residential ranges.

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  • Median$1,400
  • Range$350–$3,500
  • Dataset300 jobs
  • As ofJuly 2026
  • Taxex GST

02Pricing tiers

Where your job lands.

Three bands cover the full spread we see. Most jobs land in the typical band — bigger or smaller jobs sit either side.

01

Lower band

$350

Smaller scope, easier access, fewer line items.

02

Typical

$1,400

Middle 50% of completed jobs — most quotes land here.

03

Upper band

$3,500

Bigger scope or stacked complications.

03What drives the price

Where the spread comes from.

Each entry below moves the median up or down. Your job lands somewhere on the curve based on how these stack.

01

Number of circuits

A single RCD protecting 4 circuits is the cheapest approach. Individual RCBOs (one per circuit) cost more in components but isolate faults better. Preferred for new boards.

02

Switchboard space

If your existing board has spare DIN-rail space, RCD retrofit is straightforward. If the board is full, we may need to add a sub-board or recommend a full switchboard upgrade.

03

Existing wiring quality

RCDs can trip on minor wiring imperfections that older non-RCD circuits tolerated. Sometimes adding RCDs uncovers latent faults that need fixing first.

04

Board type

Modern plastic-enclosure boards are easiest. Old metal industrial boards may need internal modifications.

04In the median price

5 line items.

What's covered when we quote a typical job in this band.

INCLUDED
  1. +01Testing of existing safety switches for correct operation
  2. +02Installation of RCDs on power and lighting circuits
  3. +03Combination circuit breaker/RCD units where required
  4. +04Compliance with AS/NZS 3000 wiring standards
  5. +05Certificate of Electrical Safety on completion

Retrofitting RCDs into an existing switchboard is one of the most cost-effective safety upgrades you can make. The price band above reflects what to expect for a residential retrofit across Melbourne's east, from a single grouped RCD on a small board through to one RCBO per circuit on a fuller install.

When the cost lands at the upper end

Three things consistently push a quote above the median: an older board with no DIN-rail space (so a sub-board addition or full upgrade is needed first), per-circuit RCBOs across 12+ circuits, and pre-existing wiring faults that surface once the RCDs are protecting the lines. We flag every one of those at the quote so you can plan the order of works.

What's included in a Millar Electrics quote

A free site visit and switchboard inspection, a written itemised quote within one business day, and a fixed price with no surprises after acceptance. Materials, labour, in-place RCD trip-time testing, neat circuit labelling, and the Certificate of Electrical Safety lodged with Energy Safe Victoria.

05FAQ

Common questions about cost.

06Compare

How this stacks up.

Other guides in the same audience, ordered by median.

  1. 01Safety Switches & RCDs — this guide$1,400
  2. 02Switchboard upgrade cost in Melbourne$2,100↑
  3. 03Renovation & extension electrical cost in Melbourne$10,500↑
  4. 04House rewiring cost in Melbourne$13,500↑

07From the blog

Read more on this.

Field notes that go deeper on the work behind the numbers.

01 · 8 June 2026

Ceramic fuse vs circuit breaker: why the difference matters more than you think

Ceramic fuses are common in Melbourne's 1940s–1970s homes. They can be over-fused, trip slowly, and offer no arc fault protection. Here's what modern circuit breakers do instead, and what a switchboard upgrade involves.

Read →02 · 30 May 2026

Rental property electrical obligations: what landlords in Victoria actually need to do

Victorian landlords must provide compliant smoke alarms, a switchboard with circuit breakers and electrical safety switches, and a property that meets minimum electrical safety standards. Here's what the law requires and what a rental electrical safety check actually covers.

Read →03 · 21 May 2026

Electrical safety in the home: what to watch for and what warrants an urgent call

Burning smells, warm power points, lights that flicker, a safety switch that won't reset. Your home tells you when something's wrong electrically. Here's how to read the signs, what counts as urgent, and the rental safety items renters should never let slide.

Read →
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