Electrician Inverleigh
Switchboards, fault finding and mains work for Inverleigh homes, by CabledIN
When Inverleigh households call an electrician, it is most often about the switchboard, a fault that keeps coming back, or the cabling that brings power to the house. CabledIN is a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 30925) with more than 20 years' experience, and we cover Inverleigh from our base in North Geelong.
Fault finding usually starts with a single visit. A switchboard replacement or mains work takes longer, needs an independent inspection, and sometimes involves Powercor. We quote each job after seeing it.
- Council
- Golden Plains Shire and Surf Coast Shire (town divided)
- Main job type
- Switchboards
- People (2021 Census)
- 1,746
- Licence
- REC 30925
Electrician Inverleigh: the work behind the calls
Inverleigh is a small town, so rather than count jobs we describe them. The work leans towards the bigger end of what we do:
- Switchboards. The most common job here: boards repaired, upgraded or replaced. See switchboard upgrades.
- Fault finding. Tracing why a circuit trips or part of the house has lost power, using diagnostic testing rather than guesswork.
- Safety switches. Protection added to circuits that do not have it. See safety switch installation.
- Mains and underground supply. Work on the cabling between the point of supply and the switchboard, including three-phase work.
- Outdoor power. Weatherproof switched power points for outdoor areas.
- EV charging, data cabling, CCTV and smoke alarms make up the rest.
Why Inverleigh properties need this kind of work
Inverleigh sits where the Barwon and Leigh Rivers meet, on the Hamilton Highway, and was proclaimed a township in 1853. The town is compact because the flood-prone land by the rivers on three sides suits only rural or rural-residential use. Since the mid-1970s it has become a commuter town for Geelong, and larger-block development north of the town has driven much of its growth.
At the 2021 Census Inverleigh had 1,746 residents and 612 private dwellings. Almost every occupied home was a separate house (99.3 per cent), only 6.1 per cent were rented, and households averaged 3.0 people.
That mix explains our job list. A larger block can mean a longer cable run from the point of supply to the house, and outdoor power a long way from the switchboard. Bigger households and EV charging add load, which shows up first at the switchboard, and as circuits that trip when too much runs at once.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
Fault finding: what we test, and what you can safely check
A fault that comes and goes is the hardest kind to live with. We work through it methodically: isolating circuits one at a time, testing the wiring's insulation, and checking the appliances on the affected circuit until the cause is found.
Before you call, these checks are safe:
- If a safety switch has tripped, unplug everything on that circuit and reset it. If it holds, plug appliances back in one at a time; one that trips it again may be the cause.
- If it will not reset, stop trying and call a licensed electrician.
- If only part of the house has power and the lights are flickering or dim, do not touch the switchboard or anything metal. Call Powercor on 13 24 12.
Powercor's advice is that if a safety switch operates often, the wiring and appliances should be inspected. For the usual causes, read why a safety switch keeps tripping.
Mains, underground supply and three-phase
The point of supply is where Powercor's service line meets your installation. Everything on your side of it, including the consumer mains and the switchboard, belongs to the property owner. Work on consumer mains is prescribed work, so an independent licensed electrical inspector must check it, and it cannot be switched on until it has been inspected.
Some changes need Powercor as well. Moving from single-phase to three-phase, increasing supply capacity, upgrading the meter panel, or moving an overhead supply underground where that is available at the same pole are all alteration requests, and only a registered electrical contractor can lodge them. Powercor says most alterations take 3 to 8 weeks. We lodge the request and arrange the appointments. See mains upgrades.
If your property has a private electric line, the owner is responsible for its condition and for keeping trees clear of it, and only a registered electrical contractor may work on it.
EV chargers on an Inverleigh block
For an EV charger, three things decide the job: the switchboard, the supply, and the distance from the board to where the car is parked. On a larger block the garage can be some way from the board, so we check all three before quoting. Powercor lists EV chargers among the common reasons to upgrade a home's supply, and high-capacity charging may need a network upgrade, applied for through Powercor's mySupply portal. Either way, the charger is electrical installation work, done by a licensed electrician and certified.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Outdoor power and smoke alarms
Outside, we fit weatherproof switched power points, so a garden tool or outdoor appliance does not have to run off an extension lead from the house.
Smoke alarms are a smaller part of our Inverleigh work, but every household should check the date on its alarms, because each one should be replaced after 10 years. A house built after 1 August 1997 needs mains-powered alarms with a battery backup, and those are fitted by a licensed electrician. See smoke alarm installation.
Booking an electrician from Inverleigh
The quickest way to book is 1300 025 555; the contact form works too. For a fault, tell us what trips, when it happens and what was running at the time. For switchboard or mains work, tell us roughly how old the house and board are. We arrange a time, check the job before starting, quote it, then test everything we work on.
You receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety: within 30 days for work such as power points and safety switches, and shortly after the independent inspection for prescribed work such as a new main switchboard or consumer mains.
Teesdale, Bannockburn and the towns around Inverleigh
Inverleigh's neighbours include Teesdale, Murgheboluc, Gnarwarre and Winchelsea, and we cover them all. Elsewhere in Golden Plains we work in Bannockburn, the seat of Golden Plains Shire. For Geelong and everywhere else we work, see our Geelong electrician page.
Frequently asked questions
How does fault finding work on an Inverleigh job?
We start with what you have noticed, then isolate circuits one at a time and test the wiring and the appliances on the affected circuit until the cause is found. Fault finding is one of the main reasons we are called to Inverleigh.
Do you take emergency call-outs in Inverleigh?
Yes, 24/7, across Inverleigh and the rest of Golden Plains on 1300 025 555. If the whole street is out, report it to Powercor on 13 24 12. If anyone is in danger, call 000.
Which council covers Inverleigh?
The town is divided between Golden Plains Shire and Surf Coast Shire, so it depends on the address. For electrical work the council does not matter: Victorian electrical safety law is the same on both sides of the boundary.
Who is responsible for the mains cable on my Inverleigh property?
The property owner. Powercor owns its network up to the point of supply; everything on your side, including the consumer mains and the switchboard, is yours, and repairs are arranged through a registered electrical contractor.
How long does a single-phase to three-phase upgrade take?
The electrical work is quoted on the job, but the change also needs Powercor. Powercor says most alterations take 3 to 8 weeks, longer if appointments are missed or the retailer is slow. We lodge the request and arrange the appointments.
Can I charge an EV at home in Inverleigh without upgrading my supply?
Often, but not always. It depends on the switchboard, the supply and the charger you choose, so we look at all three first. High-capacity charging may need a network upgrade, which Powercor handles through its mySupply portal.
Does new mains cabling need an inspection?
Yes. Work on consumer mains is prescribed work, so an independent licensed electrical inspector must inspect it before it is switched on. We arrange the inspector.
Can you add outdoor power points on a large block?
Yes. We fit weatherproof switched outlets and run the circuit from the switchboard. On a larger block the run is longer, which is one of the things the quote allows for.
Do you cover Teesdale and Bannockburn as well?
Yes. We work across Golden Plains, including Teesdale, Bannockburn, Murgheboluc and Gnarwarre, and in nearby Winchelsea.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.