Electrician Corio
Switchboard upgrades, safety switches and rental safety checks for Corio homes, by CabledIN
Need an electrician in Corio you can look up on the public register? Call CabledIN: Registered Electrical Contractor REC 30925, based nearby in North Geelong. About half of our Corio jobs involve the switchboard, whether that is replacing an old fuse board, adding safety switches or tracing a fault.
Adding a safety switch or fixing a single fault is usually one visit. Replacing a switchboard takes most of a day. Each job is quoted after we see it.
- Area
- Corio VIC 3214
- Most common jobs here
- Switchboards, safety switches, power points
- For rentals
- Electrical safety checks and smoke alarm checks
- Licence
- Registered Electrical Contractor, REC 30925
Electrician Corio: the jobs we are called for most
In most Geelong suburbs, power points or lighting top our job list. Corio is different. Here the list starts at the meter box:
- Switchboards. About half of our Corio jobs. Most are switchboard upgrades: the old board comes out and a new enclosure goes in with a combined circuit breaker and safety switch on each circuit.
- Safety switches. Almost as common. A safety switch (RCD) is added to power and lighting circuits that never had one.
- Power points. Worn single outlets replaced with doubles, extra points added, and weatherproof outlets outside.
- Lighting. Old fittings replaced with sealed LED ceiling lights, plus new switches.
- Fault finding. Roughly one job in three starts with something that has stopped working.
Appliance connections, exhaust fans, TV antenna points, smoke alarms and inspections make up the rest.
Why switchboards come first in Corio homes
Corio grew quickly after the refinery opened in 1956. From the late 1950s the Housing Commission built five estates here, about 2,500 houses in roughly 20 years, Rosewall among them. More than nine in ten Corio dwellings are separate houses (2021 Census), and a large share date from those two decades.
A house from that period is now 45 to 65 years old. Energy Safe Victoria says any house more than 30 years old should have its wiring checked, and it lists old switchboards, particularly those without a safety switch, among the signs that wiring may be faulty. The others are worth knowing:
- Old or broken switches and power points.
- Flickering lights.
- Sparks from the switchboard, a switch or a power point.
One more point about boards of this age. Meter and switchboard panels installed before 1990 can be made of a black or dark brown board that contains asbestos. Do not drill, cut or sand it. We check the panel before quoting.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
Safety checks for rented homes in Corio
Almost four in ten Corio homes are rented (39.7% at the 2021 Census), well above the Greater Geelong figure of 28%. If you own or manage one, this is the work we do:
- Electrical safety checks. A licensed electrician checks the switchboards, wiring and fittings.
- Switchboard work. Power point and lighting circuits connected to a circuit breaker and a safety switch at the board, or an old board replaced.
- A written report. It sets out the results, ready for the owner or manager to keep on file.
- Smoke alarm checks. Each alarm tested and its age checked.
We carry out electrical safety checks and smoke alarm checks for owners and property managers, arrange access with the household, and quote any repairs separately.
Common electrical problems in Corio, and what is safe to check
| What you notice | What you can safely do | When to call us |
|---|---|---|
| Safety switch has tripped | Unplug the appliances on that circuit, then reset it | It trips again or will not reset |
| Power off in part of the house | Leave the switchboard and anything metal alone. Call Powercor on 13 24 12 | After Powercor has confirmed the fault is on your side |
| Whole house is off, street is on | Check whether a neighbour has power | Straight away. Your own supply may be damaged |
| Tingle from a tap or appliance | Do not touch it again. Call Powercor on 13 24 12 | As soon as Powercor has attended |
| Burning smell or sparks at the board | Keep clear. Call 000 if there is fire | Immediately |
Frequent tripping is not something to live with. It means the wiring and appliances should be inspected.
What happens on the day of a switchboard upgrade
- Quote visit. We look at the board, the meter panel, the mains and the earthing, and tell you what has to be done.
- Power off. We tell you beforehand when the power will go off, so you can plan the fridge, medical equipment and working from home.
- Old board out, new board in. Each circuit gets its own protection and a label.
- Testing. Every circuit is tested, including the trip operation of each safety switch.
- Independent inspection. Replacing a main switchboard is prescribed work in Victoria. A licensed electrical inspector, who does not work for us, must inspect it before the new board is energised. We book the inspector.
- Certificate. You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Old wiring sometimes fails its tests once a safety switch is protecting it. If that happens we show you the result and quote the repair before going further.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Services available in Corio
For homes we cover the full list: switchboards, safety switches, circuit breakers, surge protection, power points, rewiring, lighting and downlights, ceiling and exhaust fans, ovens and cooktops, electric hot water, smoke alarms, TV points, CCTV, data cabling and EV chargers.
Emergency call-outs run 24/7, and we answer the phone around the clock on 1300 025 555. Small businesses can also book commercial lighting, test and tag and data cabling.
Nearby northern suburbs we also cover
The same electricians work in Norlane, which has Housing Commission homes that are older again, and in Lara to the north. We also cover North Shore, North Geelong, Bell Park, Bell Post Hill and Lovely Banks. You can check our registration, REC 30925, on Energy Safe Victoria's public register.
Recent switchboard and electrical jobs around Corio
Our own work, photographed on the job.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an emergency electrician Corio residents can call at night?
Yes. CabledIN takes 24/7 emergency call-outs in Corio on 1300 025 555. About half of our Corio work involves the switchboard, so a safety switch that will not reset is a call we know well. If there is fire or anyone is in danger, call 000 first.
What does a rental electrical safety check in Corio cover?
The switchboards, wiring and fittings, checked by a licensed electrician, with a written report of the results and any repairs needed. The smoke alarms can be tested on the same day.
Can you add safety switches to a Corio rental?
Yes. Where the board has sound circuit breakers we usually fit a safety switch to each unprotected power and lighting circuit; an old fuse board is better replaced. We quote the owner or property manager first.
I rent in Corio and the power keeps tripping. What should I do?
Let the owner or agent know, so they can book an electrician. We work with owners and property managers and can attend once they approve the job.
Is the old black panel in my meter box asbestos?
It can be. Many meter and switchboard panels installed before 1990 were made from asbestos-containing board. Do not drill, cut or sand it. We check the panel before quoting any switchboard work.
Can you add a safety switch to my existing switchboard?
Often, yes. If the board already has circuit breakers, adding safety switch protection to the power and lighting circuits is usually enough. Older fuse boards may need to be replaced.
Is the wiring in a Housing Commission-era Corio house safe?
Only testing can tell you. Energy Safe Victoria advises a wiring check by a licensed electrician for any house more than 30 years old. In Corio's older houses we look first for a board with no safety switch and for a meter panel installed before 1990, which may contain asbestos.
Who inspects a new switchboard?
An independent licensed electrical inspector. Replacing a main switchboard is prescribed work in Victoria, so the new board cannot be switched on until it has been inspected. We arrange the inspection.
Can you fix a power point or light that has stopped working in my Corio house?
Yes. A dead power point or light is a common call. We test the circuit, find the fault and repair or replace what has failed, and tell you what we found.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.