Licensed & Insured
REC 11275 · Victoria
A-Grade Electricians
All staff fully licensed
WWCC & Police Cleared
Suitable for schools and care facilities
Available 7 Days
24 hour emergency response
How Electrical Fault Finding Works
Fault finding is a process of elimination. We start by gathering information, what symptoms you are seeing, when they occur, and what has changed recently. We then test the circuits and components methodically until the fault is located.
Some faults are straightforward, a failed component, a loose connection at an outlet, a circuit overloaded by a new appliance. Others require more time, intermittent faults that only occur under certain conditions, wiring faults inside walls, or faults that affect multiple circuits in ways that are not immediately obvious.
Common Faults We Diagnose
Circuit breaker or RCD that keeps tripping, this indicates a fault on the circuit the breaker protects. We identify which circuit, then isolate the fault within it. Common causes include damaged wiring, a faulty appliance, moisture ingress in an outdoor fitting, or an overloaded circuit.
Intermittent power loss, power that cuts out and restores without explanation often points to a loose connection. Connections inside junction boxes, at outlets, or at the switchboard can work loose over time, especially in older properties.
Burning smell, an electrical burning smell with no visible source requires immediate investigation. It can indicate overheating wiring or a component under excessive load. We trace the smell and identify the source.
Lights flickering, often a loose connection at the fitting, at the switch, or at a junction in the circuit. Can also indicate a switchboard issue or a problem at the service head.
After the Fault Is Found
Once the fault is located, we explain what we found and what the repair involves before proceeding. In most cases we carry the common components, outlets, circuit breakers, cable, to complete the repair in the same visit. Where the repair is more involved (rewiring a circuit, opening a wall), we quote separately.
Older Properties
Homes built before the 1980s often have wiring that is past its service life, rubber-insulated cable that has become brittle, orinadequate earthing. Fault finding in older properties sometimes reveals underlying issues that go beyond the immediate fault. We advise honestly on what we find.
Frequently Asked
A safety switch that trips when a specific appliance is switched on usually means the fault is in that appliance rather than the fixed wiring. Unplug the appliance and test the circuit without it. If the switch holds, the appliance is the problem. If it still trips, the fault is in the circuit.
Fault finding is charged at our standard call-out rate plus an hourly rate. Simple faults are typically resolved within the first hour. Complex or intermittent faults take longer, we keep you informed as the investigation progresses.
Yes. We use cable tracers and insulation resistance testing to locate faults within concealed wiring. Opening walls is a last resort, most wiring faults can be localised to a section of circuit before any plasterboard comes off.
Flickering lights indicate a loose connection somewhere in the circuit. Loose connections arc, generate heat, and are a fire risk over time. It should be investigated rather than ignored.
Yes. We are available 24 hours, 7 days. After-hours rates apply. Call 1300 111 275.
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Licensed work across Melbourne. No obligation quote.