Fault finding
Electrical fault finding in Parnell
A circuit breaker that will not stay on, a row of dead power points or lights that flicker are symptoms. Our registered electricians find the fault behind them in Parnell homes, apartments and businesses, repair it, and test the circuit before handing it back.
Signs that something is wrong
Most electrical faults announce themselves before they become dangerous. WorkSafe lists the warning signs: plugs and sockets that are hot to the touch or scorched brown, fuses that blow and circuit breakers that trip for no reason, and flickering lights. It also points out that installations can age and become overloaded, particularly in old homes whose wiring was never designed for the number of appliances people use today.
That describes a good share of Parnell, where many houses date from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A breaker that trips once after a storm and then stays on is one thing. One that trips again and again is telling you about a fault or an overload, and resetting it, or fitting heavier fuse wire, only hides the cause. If the wiring itself is the problem, the answer may be rewiring part of the house; more often it is one failed fitting, connection or appliance.
What you can safely check first
Before calling anyone, look at the switchboard. A tripped circuit breaker sits with its lever in the off position or its button popped out. Switch off the lights and unplug everything on that circuit, then reset the breaker. If it holds, plug things back in one at a time. If one appliance trips it again, that appliance is the likely culprit and needs repair, not the wiring. If the breaker trips with nothing plugged in, the fault is in the fixed wiring or a fitting, and that is a job for a licensed electrician. While you are at the board, note which breaker protects what. It saves time on the day.
How we find a fault
Ask what happened
When it trips, what was running, whether it follows rain or a particular appliance. The pattern narrows the search before a tool comes out.
Isolate the circuit
We work out which circuit is at fault, then unplug and disconnect along it until the fault moves or disappears.
Test the wiring
Insulation and continuity tests show whether cable has broken down, a connection has worked loose or water has reached somewhere it should not.
Repair and re-test
The faulty part is repaired or replaced and the circuit is tested before power is restored, with the certificate where the work calls for one.
Faults we are called about
Fault finding questions
My power is off. Is it my house or the street?
Check whether the neighbours have power and whether your main switch or a breaker has tripped. If the whole street is dark, it is a network outage and Vector's outage page will show it. If only your place is off, call us.
Can I keep resetting a breaker that trips?
Once, after switching off lights and unplugging appliances on that circuit. If it trips again, leave it off and call a licensed electrician. A breaker that keeps tripping is doing its job.
Why does the power trip when it rains?
Usually water reaching an outdoor socket, light or cable, which trips the RCD. It is a fault worth fixing rather than switching back on.
The fault is in my apartment building. Can you help?
Yes. Faults inside your apartment are yours to fix. If it is in a shared area or the main board, we will work with the building manager or body corporate.
Is fault finding available after hours?
Yes. Our electricians are available for call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. See our emergency electrician page for what to do while you wait.
An electrician in Parnell, day or night
Call 021 156 4005 at any hour, or send us the details and a registered electrician will get back to you.
More electrical services in Parnell
Villa and house rewiring
New wiring for Parnell villas, cottages and older homes whose original cabling has had its day, tested and certified when it is finished.Switchboard upgrades
Old fuse boards replaced with a modern switchboard and circuit breakers, with the inspection the law asks for arranged as part of the job.Commercial electrical
Electrical work for the shops, offices, cafes and restaurants along Parnell Road, from a dead circuit to a full fit-out.Lighting
LED, interior and garden lighting for homes and hospitality spaces, planned around the room and installed by registered electricians.Data and fibre cabling
Fibre optic, data and network cabling for home offices, apartments and Parnell businesses.24/7 emergency electrician
Registered electricians available for urgent call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Enquiries
Contact us
Call 021 156 4005, or tell us about the job below and we will get back to you.
021 156 4005- Auckland
- Call-outs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week