We’ve put together this short guide which covers 3 electrical issues you may face as a homeowner. This list includes tripping electrics, flickering lights and faulty sockets!
My Breaker Is Tripping… How to Identify the Problem and Fix It!
Understanding Circuit Breakers:
Circuit breakers are a crucial safety feature in any home or business. They are designed to trip and cut off the power supply when there is a problem with the electrical circuit. Cutting off the power can prevent electrical fires and other hazards. It’s useful to understand the basics of circuit breakers, including how they work and why they’ve tripped.
Common Causes:
A tripping breaker can be caused by a number of issues, including overloading the circuit, short circuits and ground faults. Overloading the circuit is a common reason, and is usually caused by having too many devices connected to one circuit. Short circuits occur when a live wire comes into contact with a neutral wire. Ground faults occur when a live wire comes into contact with a ground wire.
Can I Fix It?
There are some basic steps you can try to rectify your tripping issues. First, you need to identify which circuit breaker has tripped. You need to locate your fuse board and look for the breaker that is in the “off” position. Once the circuit is identified, unplug all devices from the circuit, and reset the breaker back to the “on” position. If you’ve unplugged everything possible and it’s still tripping, contact us as it’s most likely a more complicated issue.
Flickering Lights? You Can Fix Them…
Different Types of Flickering Lights:
Flickering lights can come in a variety of forms, including lights that dim and brighten on their own, lights that flicker intermittently, or lights that flicker only when certain appliances are turned on. It’s important to identify the type of flickering in order to diagnose the problem and find a solution.
Reasons Why Lights Flicker:
There are several reasons why lights may flicker, including loose or faulty light bulbs, issues with the light switch or dimmer module and problems with the electrical wiring. Flickering lights can also be a symptom of a larger electrical issue, such as an overloaded circuit or a faulty fuse board.
How to Fix Flickering Lights:
The first step to fix your flickering light is to identify the cause of the problem. This may involve replacing a faulty light bulb or checking the wiring of the light fixture. If the issue is with the light switch or dimmer module, you may need to replace this or call us to help. If the flickering is a symptom of a larger issue, it’s important to call us to diagnose and repair the problem to prevent more serious issues from occurring.
No Power From a Socket?
How to Identify a Dead Socket:
A dead socket is a socket that is not providing power to any devices plugged into it. To identify a dead socket, you can use a voltage tester to check if there is any power flowing to the socket. If there is no power, you can also check the circuit breaker to see if the circuit has tripped. One thing to check first is that it isn’t the appliance which is the issue, a good way to check is to plug a known-working lamp into the socket to see if this works.
Common Causes:
There are several reasons why a socket may be dead, including a tripped circuit breaker, a faulty socket, or a wiring issue. A tripped circuit breaker is usually the most common cause of dead sockets, and can sometimes be fixed by resetting the circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker is not the issue, it may be a problem with the socket itself or the wiring leading to the socket.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Dead Sockets:
If you’ve identified that the socket is dead, the first step is to unplug any devices from the outlet and reset the circuit breaker. If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the socket or check the wiring leading to the socket. To replace the outlet, you will need to turn off the power to the circuit and remove the socket faceplate. If the wiring leading to the socket is the issue, you will need to give us a call to diagnose and fix the problem.
Get in touch today if you have any electrical issues or projects!
