Guides
Electrical guides for Sydney homes: faults, safety and rules
Straight answers to the questions Peter gets asked most, from tripping safety switches to smoke alarm law.
In short
Electrical faults explained in plain English: 19 guides from Ambient Electrical, a licensed electrician in Bronte, on 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 guide starts with a short answer, says when a job needs a licensed electrician, and is no substitute for an inspection.
How these guides are written, checked and corrected: how we write guides.
How to find an electrical fault safely: the checks in these guides, such as resetting a tripped switch once or unplugging appliances one at a time, are safe for anyone. Tracing the fault in the wiring is licensed work; the NSW Government says DIY electrical work is dangerous and illegal (what you may do yourself in NSW).
Safety and emergencies
Electrical emergency: what to do, and what not to do
If there is fire or someone is injured, call 000 first.Is it an electrical emergency, or can it wait until morning?
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.Burning plastic smell in the house: is it electrical?
A burning smell from a power point, switch or light should be treated as urgent.Safety switch, circuit breaker or fuse: what each one does
A fuse and a circuit breaker protect the wiring: each cuts the power when too much current flows, from an overload or a short circuit.Why is my smoke alarm beeping?
When a smoke alarm beeps or goes off with no smoke, check the four things Fire and Rescue NSW's maintenance advice covers: the battery, dust or insects inside it, where it is mounted, and its age.Electrical faults and solutions
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.Power point not working? What to check first
First plug in something you know works, and check the power point's own switch is on.Why do my lights flicker?
One flickering light is usually the globe, a loose globe, or an LED that does not suit the dimmer or transformer it is on.Rules and compliance
Got an Ausgrid defect notice? What to do next
An Ausgrid defect notice means an inspection found electrical work at your property that does not meet the Wiring Rules, the Service and Installation Rules of NSW or Ausgrid's standards.Smoke alarm requirements in NSW: homes, rentals and placement
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.Do you need a licensed electrician? DIY electrical rules in NSW
You need a licensed electrician for almost all electrical work in NSW: the only electrical maintenance a householder may do is change a light globe.What is a CCEW, and when do you need an electrical certificate?
A CCEW, or Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work, is the certificate a licensed electrician in NSW must lodge for any work that installs, repairs, adds or alters electrical equipment, including like-for-like replacements.Upgrades and installs
Do you need to rewire your house? Signs of old wiring
A house may need rewiring if it still has the cloth- or rubber-insulated cable found in many Sydney homes built between the 1890s and the 1970s.Ceiling fan installation: what to know before summer
A ceiling fan needs a solid fixing, a suitable circuit and correct wiring.Pool light not working? Causes, and upgrading to LED
A pool light that has stopped working usually has a failed globe or LED, water in the fitting, a failed transformer or a tripped safety switch.Downlights, 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.Adding, 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.Hiring an electrician
How to choose an electrician you can trust
To choose an electrician in NSW, check the licence on the NSW Government's Verify a licence service, confirm they carry public liability insurance, ask for references, get itemised quotes that separate labour and materials, ask whether they will lodge a compliance certificate (CCEW), and trust your first impression of how they communicate.
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