Power out
Part or all of the home with no power, and it isn't a network-wide outage.
Perth & the Hills
Electrical fault finding & repair.
When the power's out, a circuit keeps tripping, or something's flickering, buzzing or dead, you need someone to find the actual cause — not just guess. The E-LEC team diagnoses and repairs electrical faults across Perth and the Perth Hills, working methodically, then testing and documenting the work.
What an electrical fault looks like
Electrical faults show up in a lot of different ways, and the symptom isn't always where the problem is. Some of the common ones we get called out to across Perth and the Hills:
- Power out to part or all of the house
- A circuit or safety switch that keeps tripping
- Intermittent faults that come and go for no obvious reason
- Flickering or dimming lights
- Dead power points that have stopped working
- A burning smell, warmth or discolouration around a fitting, switch or point
Older homes in the Perth Hills are especially prone to intermittent faults — years of weather, wildlife, ageing cable and past additions can all leave a connection that only misbehaves some of the time. Those are exactly the faults that reward a patient, methodical approach.
If it's a safety emergency, don't use a web form
Fault finding is important work, but some situations can't wait for a callback. If you can smell burning or see smoke, if there's fire, or if anyone has received an electric shock, call 000 first. For a network or supply emergency — such as fallen powerlines or a loss of supply that isn't inside your own switchboard — you can call Western Power on 13 13 51.
If it's safe to do so, switching off the affected circuit at the switchboard and leaving it off is a sensible step. Please don't rely on our website enquiry form for a genuine electrical safety issue — call us on 0494 730 768 so we can respond properly.
How we find the fault
Guessing wastes your time and money, and swapping parts until something changes isn't diagnosis. We work through a fault methodically:
- We start with what you've noticed — when it happens, what's connected, what changed
- We isolate circuits and appliances to narrow down where the fault actually sits
- We test and measure rather than assume, so we're following evidence not a hunch
- We separate an appliance fault from a fault in the fixed wiring
- We confirm the cause before we start pulling anything apart or replacing it
A common one is a circuit that keeps tripping. That's usually the protection doing its job — it's found a real fault. Our guide on why a safety switch keeps tripping explains what's going on and why isolating the cause matters more than simply resetting it.
What's included
The exact scope depends on the fault, but fault-finding work with E-LEC typically includes:
- Systematic diagnosis to trace the fault to its source
- Isolation of the affected circuit or appliance so it's safe to work on
- A clear, written explanation of what caused the fault
- The repair itself, or clear next steps where a larger piece of work is needed
- Testing to confirm the fault is resolved and the circuit is safe
- Documentation appropriate to the work carried out
If diagnosis turns up an ageing or overloaded board behind the fault, we'll explain whether a switchboard upgrade is the better long-term fix, and why — rather than repeatedly patching the same problem.
Common scenarios
When people call us about faults
Keeps tripping
A circuit or safety switch that trips again as soon as it's reset — a sign of a real fault.
Intermittent fault
Something that works, then doesn't, then works again — common in older Hills homes.
Flickering lights
Lights that dim, flicker or buzz, which can point to a loose or failing connection.
Dead power points
Points that have stopped working entirely, sometimes taking a run of outlets with them.
Burning smell
Heat, discolouration or a burning smell around a fitting — always treated as urgent.
FAQ
Electrical fault finding questions
How long does electrical fault finding take?
It depends on the fault. Some faults are obvious and traced quickly; intermittent faults that only appear now and then take more time to reproduce and pin down. We work methodically so we find the real cause rather than guessing, and we keep you informed as we go.
My power keeps tripping — what's causing it?
A circuit that keeps tripping is usually protection doing its job — it has found a fault on the wiring or a connected appliance. We isolate circuits and appliances to find the source rather than simply resetting it. See our guide on why a safety switch keeps tripping.
I can smell burning near a power point — what should I do?
Treat it as urgent. If it's safe to do so, switch off the affected circuit at the switchboard and stop using it. If there's smoke, fire or anyone has had a shock, call 000. For network or supply emergencies you can call Western Power on 13 13 51. Don't wait on a web form for a genuine safety issue — call us straight away.
Will you fix the fault on the same visit?
Often, yes — many faults can be diagnosed and repaired in the one visit. Where a repair needs parts, further access or a larger piece of work, we explain the cause clearly and set out the next steps so you can decide how to proceed.
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Fault finding across the Perth Hills
Got a fault you can't get to the bottom of?
We'll find the cause, fix it or set out clear next steps, then test and document the work. For urgent electrical safety concerns, call us straight away.