Fault finding is the part of the trade where experience shows up most. Anyone can replace a part; the skill is working out which part, without replacing three others on the way. A fault that has been "fixed" twice already is usually a fault that was guessed at rather than tested.
My approach is to divide the installation down methodically until the fault has nowhere left to hide. That is slower to start with and far quicker overall, and it means you are paying to solve the problem rather than to swap components.
Signs worth acting on rather than waiting out.
The protection is working. Something is causing it to operate and that something needs finding.
Intermittent faults are usually a loose connection or moisture ingress. They rarely fix themselves and often get worse.
Typically a break in a circuit, frequently at a connection inside an accessory.
Can be a loose neutral or an undersized or deteriorating supply — worth taking seriously.
Almost always water getting into an outdoor accessory, a light fitting or a damaged section of cable.
Loose connections make noise before they make smoke.
When it started, what it coincides with, what has already been tried. This routinely saves an hour of testing.
Insulation resistance, continuity, polarity and earth loop testing to establish what the installation is actually doing.
Splitting the installation progressively so the fault is isolated to a section, then to a point, rather than assumed.
A tripping RCD caused by a failing appliance is a different repair to one caused by water in an outdoor outlet. It matters which one you have.
Once the fault is found you get told what fixing it involves and what it costs.
Including testing that the original symptom is genuinely gone, not just currently absent.
Testing and repair work is carried out to AS/NZS 3000 using calibrated instruments, by a licensed electrician (Licence No. 221442C). Where a repair constitutes work requiring certification, you receive a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work. Fault finding is charged for the work of finding the fault; you are told before I start what that will cost.
Every job is quoted after I have seen it — these are the things that move the number:
Very often an appliance on a timer — hot water, pool equipment, irrigation, a fridge defrost cycle. A pattern like that is genuinely useful information, so mention it when you call; it narrows the search considerably.
Usually, yes. Systematic testing from accessible points locates most faults without opening up walls. Where access genuinely is required, I will show you why before doing anything, and keep it to the minimum.
An obvious fault can be found in well under an hour. An intermittent fault across several circuits can take considerably longer. I will give you an assessment once I have seen it, and keep you informed rather than quietly running up hours.
Either is common, and telling them apart is part of the job. Unplugging everything on a circuit and seeing whether the fault persists is a good first test you can do yourself before calling.
It is useful to know. Tell me what was done — it rules things out. Occasionally previous work is itself the cause, and finding that out early saves time.
Based in Kellyville and working right across Sydney. These are the areas I am in most often.
Electrical Fault Finding in Kellyville, NSW
Electrical Fault Finding in Rouse Hill, NSW
Electrical Fault Finding in Castle Hill, NSW
Electrical Fault Finding in Baulkham Hills, NSW
Electrical Fault Finding in Bella Vista, NSW
Electrical Fault Finding in Norwest, NSW
Electrical Fault Finding in Parramatta, NSW
Electrical Fault Finding in Blacktown, NSW
Tell me what you need and I'll come back to you with honest advice and an upfront price. No obligation, no pressure.