Electrician Shelford
Switchboards, safety switches and smoke alarms for Shelford homes, by CabledIN
CabledIN is a licensed electrician Shelford households can call for switchboards, safety switches, power points, lighting, smoke alarms and EV chargers, with 24/7 emergency call-outs. We are a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 30925) with more than 20 years' experience, and Shelford is part of the Golden Plains area we cover.
A power point, a light or a smoke alarm is usually one visit. A switchboard upgrade takes longer and is independently inspected. We quote after seeing the job.
- Council
- Golden Plains Shire
- People (2021 Census)
- 263
- Licence
- REC 30925
- Emergencies
- 24/7 call-outs on 1300 025 555
What homes in Shelford typically need
Shelford is a small rural village in Golden Plains Shire, on the Leigh River where it meets the road from Geelong to Rokewood. The 2021 Census counted 263 people and 112 private dwellings, and nearly every home is a separate house.
For a separate house in a small village, the work comes down to a few things:
- A sound switchboard, with safety switch protection on the circuits that need it.
- Smoke alarms that are in date and right for the age of the house.
- Power and light outside: weatherproof power points, outdoor lights, and power to a shed or garage if you want it.
- A plan for outages: who to call, and what never to do with a generator.
- Room for what comes next, such as an EV charger.
Switchboards and safety switches in Shelford homes
Look at the switches behind your switchboard door. A safety switch has a test button and is marked 30 mA. Fuses and ordinary circuit breakers protect the wiring, not people, so a board with only those has no safety switch at all.
- Test it every three months with the test button, as Energy Safe Victoria advises. If anything stays on, call a licensed electrician.
- Adding protection. Where the board has circuit breakers and room, safety switches can usually be added. See safety switch installation.
- Replacing the board. A new main switchboard must have safety switch protection on every final circuit, and it stays off until an independent inspector has checked it. See switchboard upgrades.
Energy Safe Victoria advises a wiring check by a licensed electrician once a house is more than 30 years old.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
When the power goes out in Shelford
We take emergency call-outs 24/7 in Shelford. The first question is whether the fault is on the network or in your home:
- Check with a neighbour or Powercor's live outage map. A wider outage is for Powercor: report it on 13 24 12.
- If only your home is out, look for a tripped safety switch, unplug what is on that circuit and reset it once. If it will not reset, or the street has power and you do not, call a licensed electrician.
- If lights flicker or dim, or only part of the house has power, do not touch the switchboard or anything metal. Turn off the power points you can reach safely and call Powercor.
- Keep at least 10 metres from a fallen line and call 000 if anyone is in danger.
Never connect a generator to the house wiring.
Smoke alarms: what your house needs
The rules turn on when the house was built:
| Your house | What is required |
|---|---|
| Built before 1 August 1997 | Battery-powered alarms are the legal minimum |
| Built after 1 August 1997 | 240 V mains-powered alarms with a backup battery |
| Built or substantially renovated after 1 May 2014, with more than one alarm | The alarms must be interconnected |
Whatever its age, a house needs an alarm between each sleeping area and the rest of the house, and on every storey. Every alarm should be replaced after 10 years, and hard-wired alarms must be installed by a licensed electrician. See smoke alarm installation.
Outdoor power, sheds and EV chargers
Outside, we fit weatherproof switched power points and outdoor lights, with exposed cable run in conduit. Power to a shed or garage depends on room at the switchboard for a new circuit and on the length and route of the cable. Every new circuit is tested and certified.
For an EV charger, we check the switchboard, the supply and where the car parks before quoting. Powercor lists EV chargers among the common reasons to upgrade a home's supply. Only a registered electrical contractor can lodge that request, and we do it for you. See EV charger installation.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Electrician Shelford: services and booking
Every home service we offer around Geelong is available in Shelford, from power points, lighting, ceiling fans and oven connections to TV wall mounting and electrical safety inspections.
- Call 1300 025 555 or use the contact form, with the job and the rough age of the house and switchboard.
- We book a time that suits you. Unsafe faults are treated as emergencies, day or night.
- We check the job and quote before any work starts.
- We do the work, test it and give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Teesdale, Inverleigh and the rest of Golden Plains
Shelford's neighbours include Teesdale and Inverleigh, and elsewhere in Golden Plains we cover Bannockburn, the seat of the shire. For Geelong and the rest of our area, see the Geelong electrician page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an electrician Shelford households can call in an emergency?
Yes. CabledIN takes 24/7 emergency call-outs in Shelford and across Golden Plains on 1300 025 555. If the wider area is out, report it to Powercor on 13 24 12, and call 000 if anyone is in danger.
Do you cover Shelford and the rest of Golden Plains Shire?
Yes. Shelford, postcode 3329, is in Golden Plains Shire, which is part of our service area along with Teesdale, Inverleigh and Bannockburn.
How often should I test my safety switch?
Every three months, as Energy Safe Victoria advises. Press the test button, check the power is off on that circuit, then reset it. If anything stays on, the switch may have failed, so call a licensed electrician.
What should I do if a power line comes down near my house?
Treat it as live. Stay at least 10 metres away, keep others back and report it to Powercor on 13 24 12. If anyone's life is at risk, call 000.
What does a Powercor defect notice mean?
It tells you part of your own installation is unsafe or does not comply, such as a damaged meter box or a loose service hook. Fixing it is the owner's job: a registered electrical contractor repairs it and sends Powercor the certificate.
Do I need hard-wired smoke alarms in an older house?
Not by law if the house was built before 1 August 1997, when battery alarms are the minimum. Houses built after that date need 240 V mains-powered alarms. Every alarm should be replaced after 10 years.
Does a new switchboard need an inspection?
Yes. A new main switchboard is prescribed work, so the registered electrical contractor arranges an independent licensed electrical inspector, and the power stays off the new board until it has been inspected.
Will my house need a supply upgrade for an EV charger?
Sometimes. It depends on the switchboard, the existing supply and the charger you choose, so we check all three first. If an upgrade is needed, we lodge the request with Powercor.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.