Electrical
fault finding in Pretoria.
Tripping breakers. Flickering lights. Dead outlets. A burning smell you cannot trace. Electrical faults do not fix themselves, and guessing wastes money. We use proper test equipment and 30+ years of experience to find the problem first time, every time.
Common faults
Five faults we diagnose most often
Each has a distinct signature. Accurate diagnosis saves repair cost, speculation adds to it.
Tripping DB Board
The most common call we get. Your earth leakage or MCB trips repeatedly, sometimes immediately after resetting. This points to insulation breakdown on a cable, a faulty appliance, or moisture ingress in a junction box or light fitting. We isolate each circuit systematically to find the culprit.
Flickering or Dimming Lights
Lights that flicker or dim when an appliance switches on usually indicate a loose neutral connection, an overloaded circuit, or a deteriorating cable joint. Persistent flickering on a single fitting often means a poor connection at the switch or the fitting itself. This is not cosmetic, loose connections generate heat.
Dead Circuits or Outlets
A plug point or circuit that has no power while the breaker is still on usually means a broken conductor, a burnt-out connection in a junction box, or a cable that has been damaged by nails, screws, or rodents. In older Pretoria homes, this is often a joint that has corroded over decades.
Burning Smell or Scorch Marks
If you smell burning plastic or see brown/black marks around a plug point, switch, or your DB board, stop using that circuit immediately. This means a connection is arcing, creating a small electrical fire inside the wall. This is an emergency. Do not wait.
Intermittent Power Loss
Power that comes and goes, often affected by temperature or vibration, typically points to a loose connection that makes and breaks contact. Common at the DB board bus bar, at ceiling junction boxes, or where aluminium wiring has been connected to copper without the correct bi-metallic connectors.
Diagnostic process
How we find the fault
A systematic four-step process, not guesswork.
Client Interview & Visual Inspection
We start by asking you exactly when the fault occurs, what you were doing, and whether it has worsened. Then we inspect the DB board, visible wiring, and the specific circuits or fittings involved. Experienced electricians can narrow down 70% of faults from this step alone.
Insulation Resistance Testing
Using a calibrated Megger, we apply 500V DC to each circuit and measure the insulation resistance. A reading below 1 megaohm indicates insulation breakdown, the cable is leaking current to earth. This is the primary test for tripping earth leakage issues.
Loop Impedance & Continuity Testing
We measure the earth fault loop impedance to confirm that protective devices will trip within the required time if a fault occurs. Continuity testing verifies that earth conductors are connected properly throughout the installation. These tests catch faults that insulation testing alone might miss.
Targeted Isolation & Diagnosis
With test results in hand, we isolate the faulty section, it could be a specific cable run, a junction box, or a single fitting. We trace the fault to its exact location and give you a clear explanation of what went wrong and what it costs to fix.
Testing equipment
Calibrated instruments we use
Proper tools, properly calibrated, used by a qualified electrician.
Megger Insulation Resistance Tester
Measures cable insulation quality at 500V DC to detect breakdowns causing earth leakage trips.
Loop Impedance Tester
Verifies that earth fault loop impedance is low enough for breakers to trip within the required disconnection time.
Multifunction Installation Tester
Combines insulation, continuity, loop impedance, and RCD testing in a single calibrated instrument.
Digital Clamp Meter
Measures current draw on individual circuits without disconnection, identifies overloaded circuits and imbalanced phases.
Non-Contact Voltage Tester
Quickly identifies live conductors through insulation for safe initial assessment.
Response times
Emergency vs scheduled
How quickly we respond depends on the nature of the fault.
Within 60–90 minutes
For situations that pose an immediate safety risk. We aim to reach you within 60-90 minutes during business hours.
- ·Burning smell from wiring or DB board
- ·Visible sparking or arcing
- ·Complete power loss (not load shedding)
- ·Exposed live wires
- ·Electrical shock received
Within 1–3 working days
For faults that are inconvenient but not dangerous. We book you in for the next available slot, usually within 1-3 working days.
- ·Single circuit tripping occasionally
- ·Flickering lights on one fitting
- ·Plug point not working
- ·Intermittent power on a circuit
- ·Investigating before a COC inspection
Pricing
Fault finding pricing
We diagnose first, then quote the repair separately. No work without approval.
Assessment Fee
Covers the call-out, systematic testing, fault isolation, and a clear diagnosis with repair recommendations. Depends on installation size and fault complexity.
- Full circuit-by-circuit testing
- Insulation resistance measurement
- Loop impedance verification
- Written diagnosis report
- Repair quotation included
Repair Work
Once we have identified the fault, we provide a separate repair quotation. Many straightforward repairs can be done on the same visit. Fixed price provided before any repair work begins.
- No work without approval
- Itemised repair quotation
- Assessment fee credited to repair
- COC issued if applicable
- Workmanship guarantee
All prices exclude VAT
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
When to call, what to check first, and when a fault becomes dangerous.
Service Areas
Serving Pretoria & Gauteng
15 suburbs covered
Other Services
You might also need
DB Board Upgrade
Many faults originate at an outdated DB board. An upgrade often resolves recurring issues at the source.
View detailsElectrical Rewiring
If faults are caused by degraded wiring throughout the house, a rewire may be more cost-effective than repeated repairs.
View detailsCOC Inspections
A COC inspection identifies all electrical faults and non-compliances in your installation systematically.
View details
Ready When You Are
Tripping,
sparking, smelling?
Call us. We diagnose with proper test equipment and fix the root cause, not the symptom.
072 681 4615