Tripping, dead circuits, flickering
Fault finding in Johannesburg
A breaker that keeps tripping, a circuit that went dead, lights that flicker. We find the cause and fix it, day or night.
Before you call
If a breaker or the earth leakage has tripped, unplug everything on that circuit and switch it back on. If it holds, plug things back in one at a time. The appliance that trips it again is your problem, often a kettle, a geyser element or something left outside in the rain.
If it trips straight away with nothing plugged in, leave it off and call us. The fault is in the wiring, not an appliance.
Smell burning, see sparks or hear crackling at the board? Switch off the main switch and phone 063 696 4588. We answer 24 hours a day.
Tripping breaker or tripping earth leakage?
They point to different problems. A breaker trips when a circuit draws too much current, from too many appliances at once or a short circuit. The earth leakage trips when current leaks to earth, usually from moisture, damaged insulation or a faulty appliance. Tell us which one keeps going and we know where to start.
How we find the fault
- You tell us what happened. What tripped, when, and what was running at the time.
- We test the circuits. We isolate and test each circuit until we find the one with the fault.
- We fix the cause. A damaged cable, a loose connection, a wet outdoor plug or a failed fitting.
- We check it holds. We switch everything back on and make sure nothing trips before we leave.
What it costs
Every job starts with the R250 call-out fee, plus travel at the AA rate per kilometre from Northcliff. Labour is R300 an hour on weekdays between 07:00 and 17:00, and R450 an hour after hours, on weekends and on public holidays. Materials are quoted separately.
Jobs of R2,000 or more need a 50% deposit before we buy materials. Our terms have the details.
Questions people ask
Can you come out at night?
Yes. We're open 24 hours, and after-hours work is R450 an hour. We come out when someone is free, so we can't promise an exact arrival time.
Why does it only trip when it rains?
Water is getting into something outside, usually an outdoor plug, a garden light or a cable joint. It's a common fault, and easier to find while things are still wet.
My lights flicker. Is that dangerous?
It can be. One flickering light is often just the bulb or the fitting. Lights flickering across the house can mean a loose connection, and loose connections heat up. Get it checked.
Tell us what you need
Phone or WhatsApp CJ, day or night. Photos of the board or the problem help us quote faster.