Fault finding & repairs
A breaker that keeps tripping is telling you something. We find what is actually causing it and fix that, rather than resetting it and hoping. Most faults we track down and repair in the one visit.
Fixed price quoting. Based in Lyndoch and servicing Williamstown, Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Angaston, Gawler and the wider Barossa Valley.
How we approach a fault
Find the cause, not just the symptom
A tripping safety switch is doing its job. The question is what it is protecting you from. We isolate circuits and test until we know, rather than swapping parts until it stops.
Test gear, not guesswork
Insulation resistance testing, clamp meters and circuit isolation find a fault far faster than pulling things apart. Faster for us means cheaper for you.
You get told what we found
We show you what was wrong and what we did about it, in plain terms. If something else needs attention later, you will hear that too, without being pushed into it.
A fixed price, and small fixes included
Fault finding is priced up front according to the size of the job, not by the hour. If it turns out to be something minor, we fix it there and then at no extra cost. Anything bigger, you get a price for the repair before we start it.
What we track down
- Safety switches and circuit breakers that keep tripping
- Lights that flicker, dim, buzz or drop out
- Dead power points and circuits with no power
- Hot, scorched or buzzing outlets, switches and fittings
- Faults that only show up when it rains, or when a particular appliance runs
- Partial power loss where some of the house works and some does not
- Rodent damage, water ingress and past work that was never done properly
Before you call
A couple of minutes here can save you a call-out, and if it does not, it tells us where to start:
- Note which breaker or safety switch is tripping, and what was running at the time
- Unplug everything on that circuit, then reset it. If it holds, plug things back one at a time
- If it trips again immediately with nothing plugged in, leave it off and call us
- If you can smell burning, or see scorching, switch off at the main switch and call straight away
- Note whether it happens at a particular time, in wet weather, or with one appliance
If it smells like burning, do not wait
Switch the power off at your main switchboard if it is safe to get to, and call us. A burning smell with no obvious cause is one of the few electrical things that genuinely should not wait until tomorrow.
Common questions
Why does my safety switch keep tripping?
Usually a faulty appliance, moisture in an outdoor circuit, or damaged wiring letting current leak to earth. Unplugging everything on that circuit and plugging back one at a time often points straight at it.
My breaker trips when I use the kettle and toaster together. Why?
That is usually overload rather than a fault. The circuit is doing what it should. The fix is often an extra circuit rather than a repair, and we will tell you which it is.
Can you fix it the same visit?
Most faults, yes. We carry common parts. If it turns out to be something that needs a part ordered or a bigger repair, we make it safe, explain the options and give you a price.
How do you charge for fault finding?
A fixed price, set before we start and based on the size of the job rather than an hourly rate ticking over. If the fault turns out to be something minor, we repair it on the spot at no extra cost. If it is a bigger repair, we price that for you before we touch it, so you decide.
Why do my lights flicker?
It can be a loose connection, a mismatched dimmer, a failing fitting, or something on the supply side. Flickering across the whole house is different from one room, and worth getting looked at because loose connections generate heat.
Lyndoch & the Barossa Valley
RAV Electrical is based in Lyndoch, so we're close to every town across the Barossa Valley and plenty of places beyond it.
- Lyndoch
- Williamstown
- Gawler
- Sandy Creek
- Cockatoo Valley
- Rowland Flat
- Tanunda
- Bethany
- Nuriootpa
- Angaston
- Greenock
- Seppeltsfield
- Marananga
- Light Pass
- Stockwell
- Eden Valley
- Springton
- Keyneton
- Truro
- & more
Other services
Ready for a fixed price quote?
Tell us about your home and we'll come back to you with a clear price.