Starting a switchboard labelling job from scratch is slow. You're setting sizes, picking colours, writing out the same circuit descriptions you've written a hundred times before. Templates save the boring part so you can focus on the circuits that actually need thought.
This post walks through the standard switchboard label templates we use, when to use each, and how to load them directly into our free online designer.
Why Use Templates?
A template bakes in:
- The right size for the label well or DIN rail layout
- The correct colour combination for the label type (circuit ID, main switch, warning, etc.)
- Standard wording that matches AS/NZS 3000 conventions
- Font choices that read well at label size
You drop in the specific details — circuit numbers, room names, ratings — and you're done. A full switchboard label schedule that might take 90 minutes from scratch takes 15 minutes with templates.
Standard Template Library
1. Circuit Identification Template
The everyday workhorse template. White text on black traffolyte, sized to fit standard DIN rail label wells.
- Size: 40mm × 12mm
- Format: Three-line layout — circuit number, description, rating
- Example: "CB1 / LIGHTS — GROUND FLOOR / 16A"
- Use for: Every circuit breaker, RCD, and RCBO ID
2. Main Switch Template
Larger, high-contrast, immediately recognisable in an emergency.
- Size: 80mm × 25mm
- Colour: White on red traffolyte
- Text: "MAIN SWITCH" in 15mm heading font
- Use for: The primary isolating switch of any installation
3. Multiple Supplies Warning Template
Required for any board fed from more than one source — solar, generator, dual utility feed.
- Size: 100mm × 50mm
- Colour: Black on yellow traffolyte
- Text: "WARNING / MULTIPLE SUPPLIES / ISOLATE ALL SOURCES BEFORE WORK"
- Use for: Solar-connected switchboards, dual-supply boards, generator installations
4. RCD Test Reminder Template
The test-frequency nudge that actually gets RCDs tested.
- Size: 30mm × 15mm
- Colour: White on black or black on yellow
- Text: "TEST RCD / EVERY 3 MONTHS / PRESS 'T' BUTTON"
- Use for: Adjacent to every RCD or RCBO
5. DANGER High Voltage Template
Required on any switchboard containing circuits above 230V.
- Size: 60mm × 30mm
- Colour: White on red traffolyte
- Text: "DANGER / HIGH VOLTAGE"
- Use for: Three-phase boards, industrial switchrooms, commercial MSBs
6. Isolation Procedure Template
Commercial / industrial installations under WHS regulations.
- Size: A5 (210mm × 148mm)
- Colour: White on blue traffolyte
- Content: Numbered isolation steps, LOTO reference, emergency contacts
- Use for: Inside switchboard doors, plant rooms, industrial MCCs
7. Solar PV Warning Template
For solar-connected boards, fitted near the inverter isolator.
- Size: 80mm × 40mm
- Colour: Black on yellow
- Text: "SOLAR PV SUPPLY / DC PRESENT / ISOLATE BEFORE WORK"
- Use for: Solar inverter switchboards, rooftop PV arrays, battery systems
8. Emergency Stop Template
For commercial kitchens, workshops, and machinery.
- Size: 50mm × 25mm
- Colour: White on red
- Text: "EMERGENCY STOP" with optional secondary identification
- Use for: Mushroom-head E-stop buttons in commercial installations
Template Sizing Reference
| Label Type | Dimensions | Text Height | Standard Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit ID (small DIN) | 25mm × 8mm | 3–4mm | White on black |
| Circuit ID (standard) | 40mm × 12mm | 4–5mm | White on black |
| Circuit ID (large industrial) | 60mm × 20mm | 6–8mm | White on black |
| Main Switch | 80mm × 25mm | 10–15mm | White on red |
| Multiple Supplies Warning | 100mm × 50mm | 8–10mm | Black on yellow |
| RCD Test Reminder | 30mm × 15mm | 3–4mm | White on black |
| DANGER High Voltage | 60mm × 30mm | 10–12mm | White on red |
| Isolation Procedure | A5 (210mm × 148mm) | 8–12mm | White on blue |
Using Templates in the Label Designer
Our online Label Designer has common switchboard templates pre-loaded. The workflow:
- Open the Label Designer
- Click "Templates" and select the category (switchboard, warning, main switch, etc.)
- Pick the template that matches your job
- Edit the text to match your specific circuit, equipment, or location
- Duplicate for each additional label on the board
- Review the preview, adjust sizing or colours if needed
- Add to cart — pricing updates as you build the order
Bulk Switchboard Jobs
For full switchboard labelling jobs — say 30+ labels across several boards on a commercial fit-out — it's usually more cost-effective to:
- Use a subscription plan for reduced per-label pricing — see pricing plans
- Submit a quick quote with a DXF or spreadsheet of the label schedule and let us produce the full set
- Batch your ordering — one order of 50 is cheaper to ship than five orders of 10
Related Guides
- How to Label a Switchboard: Practical Guide
- Switchboard Labelling Requirements Australia
- Switchboard Label Colours
- Main Switch & Isolator Labels
Start Designing
Open the Label Designer and start from a template, or contact us if you need custom templates developed for your business. We're happy to build a library of standardised labels for trade accounts and larger contracting jobs.