Guides
Electrical guides for Sydney homes.
Straight answers to the questions Peter gets asked most, from tripping safety switches to smoke alarm law.
In short
15 plain-English guides from Ambient Electrical, a licensed electrician in Bronte: what to do when a safety switch keeps tripping or the power goes out, NSW smoke alarm rules, Ausgrid defect notices, old wiring, lighting, pool lights and ceiling fans, and how to choose an electrician. Each one starts with a short answer, and none of them replace an inspection.
Safety and emergencies
Power out at home? What to do in a blackout
First work out whether the outage is yours or the street's.Read the guideElectrical emergency: what to do, and what not to do
If there is fire or someone is injured, call 000 first.Read the guideDo you need an emergency electrician, or can it wait?
Call an emergency electrician now if there is a burning smell, sparks, smoke, a hot switch or power point, water near electrics, or no power that you cannot restore by resetting a tripped switch once.Read the guideBurning smell from a power point, switch or light?
Treat it as urgent.Read the guideFaults and fixes
Why does my safety switch keep tripping?
A safety switch (RCD) trips when it detects electricity leaking to earth, usually through a faulty appliance, water in an outdoor fitting or damaged wiring.Read the guidePower point not working? What to check first
First plug in something you know works, and check the power point's own switch is on.Read the guideWhy are my lights flickering?
One flickering light is usually the globe, a loose globe, or an LED that does not suit the dimmer or transformer it is on.Read the guideRules and compliance
Got an Ausgrid defect notice? What to do next
An Ausgrid defect notice means an inspection found something at your connection to the network that is unsafe or non-compliant.Read the guideSmoke alarms in NSW: the rules, and where they should go
In NSW every home where people sleep must have at least one working smoke alarm on each level, a law in force since 1 May 2006.Read the guideUpgrades and installs
When should you upgrade old wiring or a switchboard?
Upgrade when your switchboard still uses old rewireable fuses, has no safety switches, or keeps tripping, and when the wiring is the cloth- or rubber-insulated type found in many Sydney homes built between the 1890s and the 1970s.Read the guideCeiling fan installation: what to know before summer
A ceiling fan needs a solid fixing, a suitable circuit and correct wiring.Read the guidePool lights: replacing halogen with LED, and what is involved
Most older pool lights are halogen.Read the guideDownlights, pendants or wall lights: choosing lighting for your home
Recessed LED downlights give even, modern light and have replaced halogens as the better long-term choice.Read the guideAdding, moving or upgrading power points: what to know
Adding power points cuts down on extension leads and overloaded power boards, and spreading appliances across circuits stops breakers tripping.Read the guide
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