Electrical Fault Finding & Repairs Geelong
Faults traced, made safe and repaired in homes across Geelong, the Bellarine, the Surf Coast and Golden Plains, by CabledIN
CabledIN provides electrical fault finding & repairs Geelong-wide. When part of the house loses power, a switch keeps tripping or a power point smells hot, a licensed electrician (REC 30925) tests the circuits, finds the cause and fixes it. Fault finding is one of the jobs our team does most.
The cost depends mostly on how long the fault takes to find, so the repair is quoted once we know what has failed. A fault that is present is often found quickly. One that comes and goes takes longer.
- Who does it
- Licensed electricians, REC 30925, more than 20 years' experience
- Availability
- 24/7 emergency call-outs
- Whole street out?
- Powercor faults, 13 24 12
- Warranty
- Lifetime workmanship warranty
Signs of an electrical fault, and what they can mean
The common signs, and what to do until we arrive:
| What you notice | What it can point to | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A safety switch trips (the one with a test button) | A leak to earth from an appliance, a power point or the wiring | Unplug appliances on that circuit, reset it once |
| A circuit breaker trips | An overload, a short circuit or a worn breaker | Spread the load, reset it once |
| Power out in part of the house | A tripped switch, a failed connection, a damaged cable or a supply fault | Read the next section first |
| Lights or power points dead in one room | A tripped circuit, or a loose or burnt connection | Check the switchboard, then call us |
| Burning smell, sparks, buzzing or crackling | Something overheating, or a loose connection | Keep clear and call us. Smoke or flame: get out and call 000 |
| A warm, discoloured or scorched power point or switch | A loose or overheating connection, or too much load on one outlet | Stop using it and call us |
| A tingle from a tap, shower or appliance | A fault that could cause a serious shock | Do not touch it. Call Powercor on 13 24 12 immediately, then an electrician |
One flickering light can be as simple as the globe or the fitting. Flickering or dimming across several rooms is different: see the next section, and our guide why are my lights flickering?
Power out in part of the house, or no power at all
We see this fault often. Where the problem sits decides who fixes it:
- The whole street is out: a network outage. Check Powercor's live outage map or call Powercor on 13 24 12.
- The street has power and your home has none: reset a tripped safety switch once. If it will not reset, or nothing has tripped, the service to your home may be damaged. Call a licensed electrician.
- Part of the house is off and a switch has tripped: reset it once, using the safe checks below.
- Part of the house is off and nothing has tripped, or lights are dim or flickering: Energy Safe Victoria says not to touch the switchboard or anything metal, to turn off the power points you can safely reach, and to call your distributor straight away. In Geelong that is Powercor, on 13 24 12. If the cause is on your side of the supply, we trace it, with 24/7 emergency call-outs when it cannot wait.
In our job records, partial power loss has been traced to failed connections, damaged cables and the fused mains box where the supply enters the home. If the supply has to be isolated for the repair, we apply to Powercor as your registered electrical contractor.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
What is safe to check before you call
Energy Safe Victoria says doing your own electrical work is illegal and can be deadly. These checks need no tools, and no covers come off:
- Open the switchboard door and see which switch is down. A safety switch (RCD) has a test button.
- Reset it once. Frequent tripping means the wiring and appliances should be inspected.
- If it trips again, unplug everything on that circuit and reset it. If it holds, plug things back in one at a time, and leave the one that trips it unplugged.
- If it will not reset with everything unplugged, leave it off and call us. The fault is likely in the wiring or a hard-wired appliance.
Never tape or hold a switch on. Leave a blown ceramic fuse for the electrician. If water has come through the house, keep the power off until the wiring has been tested, and never connect a generator to the house wiring.
When you call, tell us what tripped, what was running and whether it was raining, and send a photo of the open switchboard. It shortens the search. More detail: why a safety switch keeps tripping.
Electrical Fault Finding & Repairs Geelong: how we trace a fault
- On the phone. We ask what happened and tell you what to switch off until we arrive.
- Make it safe. The faulty circuit is isolated first, so nobody can be hurt.
- Narrow it down. Which circuit is affected, what is on it, and any heat, scorching or loose connections at the board and fittings.
- Test, not guess. We test the circuit with instruments, section by section, until the faulty power point, cable, fitting or appliance is found. A fault that only appears in wet weather or under load can need more than one round of testing.
- Explain and price. You hear what failed and the price of the repair before we start it.
- Repair and retest. The part is replaced or the connection remade, and the circuit is tested before the power goes back on. If parts are needed, the faulty circuit stays isolated and the rest of the house is restored where it is safe.
- Certificate. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety for the repair work.
The faults we find and fix most often
Fault finding is one of the jobs our team does most, and our recent records show it most in Bannockburn, Newtown, Lara, Corio, Torquay and Belmont. It most often leads to switchboard and safety switch work, then lighting and power point repairs. The usual finds:
- Safety switches and breakers that trip or will not reset, often ending with a combined breaker and safety switch (an RCBO) on that circuit. See circuit breaker repairs.
- Burnt or loose connections at the switchboard, including charred cable and scorched fuse terminals.
- Dead or scorched power points and switches.
- Lights, fans, outdoor lights and security cameras that have stopped working.
- Smoke alarms that sound or chirp for no reason, often faulty or past their replacement date.
- Electric hot water with no hot water, from a failed element, thermostat or circuit.
- An appliance tripping the power: we find which one, and whether the fault is in it or in the wiring.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
When a repair leads to a bigger job
One failed part on a sound, modern board is a simple repair. It is worth looking at a bigger job when the testing shows:
- An old switchboard. Energy Safe Victoria lists old switchboards, particularly those without a safety switch, among the warning signs of faulty wiring. A board with ceramic fuses or no safety switches is often better replaced than repaired again: see switchboard upgrades.
- Ageing wiring. Energy Safe Victoria says the wiring in a house over 30 years old should be checked by a licensed electrician. Faults on several circuits can point to the wiring itself: see house rewiring.
- A fault where the supply comes in. A damaged fused mains box or consumer mains is the owner's to fix, not Powercor's: see mains upgrades and Powercor defect repairs.
- An overloaded circuit. The fix is a new circuit, never a bigger breaker, which would let the cable overheat.
- Electronics damaged after a storm or outage. Ask about surge protection.
What affects the cost of electrical fault finding in Geelong
A fault cannot be priced until it is found, so the repair is quoted once we know what has failed. What drives the cost:
- Time to find it. The biggest factor: a fault that is present is quicker to trace than one that comes and goes.
- Access and extent. Cable in a cramped ceiling space or under the floor takes longer to reach, and several circuits take longer than one.
- The repair itself. Remaking a loose connection costs less than a new cable run, safety switch or switchboard.
- When we come out. An after-hours emergency call-out is priced differently from a visit booked during the day.
- Powercor. Where Powercor's own work is needed, any Powercor charges are separate from the electrician's quote.
The Victorian rules for electrical repairs
- Licensed electricians only. Repairs to wiring, power points, switches, light fittings and switchboards must be done by a licensed electrician working for a registered electrical contractor. Ours is REC 30925. Energy Safe Victoria advises always asking to see the licence, and any contractor can be checked on its public registers.
- A certificate for the repair. A Certificate of Electrical Safety must be provided for all electrical installation work, whatever the size of the job, even a like-for-like replacement of one breaker or safety switch. For non-prescribed work your copy is due within 30 days. Keep it, because the electrician only has to keep theirs for three years.
- Inspection for bigger work. Replacing a main switchboard and working on consumer mains are prescribed work. An independent licensed electrical inspector must inspect it before it is turned on.
Recent fault finding and repair jobs around Geelong
Faults traced, tested and repaired by our electricians in homes across the region.
What customers say
Really happy with CabledIn Electrical Solutions. We had a difficult power fault where most of the power points in the house stopped working. Jason was the first person I spoke to and was helpful from the start, Emily called and kept things organised, and Nathan came out and spent around two hours properly fault-finding and testing everything rather than rushing the job.Nathan traced the problem to the mains fuse box, explained the options clearly, and helped organise the Powercor side of the job. He then came back to replace the old three-phase mains fuse box. Everything is working again and the new installation looks much cleaner.Everyone I dealt with was friendly, professional and easy to deal with. I really appreciated the communication and the effort put into finding and fixing the actual problem. Would happily use them again.
Mike, Google review
Frequently asked questions
Why has the power gone out in half my house?
If a safety switch or breaker has tripped, reset it once. If nothing has tripped, Energy Safe Victoria says not to touch the switchboard or anything metal, and to call Powercor on 13 24 12. If the fault is on your side of the supply, we trace and repair it.
Why do I have no power when the neighbours do?
Reset a tripped safety switch once. If it will not reset, or nothing has tripped, the service to your home may be damaged, so call a licensed electrician. If the whole street is out, it is a Powercor outage.
Why have the power points in one room stopped working?
Usually a tripped safety switch or breaker, or a loose or burnt connection at a power point on that circuit. Reset a tripped switch once. If they stay dead, an electrician needs to find the failed connection.
Why does the power trip when I turn on an appliance?
Either the appliance has a fault or the circuit is overloaded. If it trips with only that appliance running, leave it unplugged until it has been checked. If it trips when several run together, the load needs spreading or a new circuit.
Why is my power point hot or scorched?
Usually a loose or overheating connection, or too much load on one outlet. Stop using it and call an electrician. Treat it as urgent.
What does a burning smell or buzzing from a switch or power point mean?
Something is overheating or a connection has worked loose. Do not touch it. Turn the power off at the switchboard only if it is safe to reach, and call us. If there is smoke or flame, get out and call 000.
How long does electrical fault finding take?
It depends on the fault. One that is present when we arrive is often found quickly. One that comes and goes, or only shows up in wet weather, can take longer to pin down.
What affects the cost of electrical fault finding in Geelong?
It depends mostly on how long the fault takes to find, then on what the repair needs. The repair is quoted once we know what has failed, before we start it.
Can I fix an electrical fault myself?
No. DIY electrical work is illegal in Victoria, even replacing a power point or switch like for like. Resetting a tripped switch once and unplugging appliances are the safe checks.
Do you do electrical fault finding & repairs Geelong-wide, including after hours?
Yes. We cover Geelong and its suburbs, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast and Golden Plains, take 24/7 emergency call-outs and answer 1300 025 555 around the clock.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.