Frequently Asked Questions — Sydney Electricians
General Electrical Questions
Definitely NO!! In NSW it is illegal for anyone other than a licensed electrician to carry out electrical wiring work — including replacing power points, installing light fittings, connecting ceiling fans or any other wiring task. Unlicensed electrical work voids your home insurance, will fail certification and creates serious safety risks for your household. All electrical work must be certified with a Certificate of Electrical Safety on completion.
An electrical safety inspection is recommended if you are purchasing a property, the property is more than 25 years old, it has been more than 5 years since the last inspection, you are concerned about how any electrical work has been carried out, or you have noticed signs of electrical problems such as flickering lights, tripping circuits or burning smells. Call 0450 509 691 to book an inspection.
Flickering lights are usually caused by a loose connection at the light fitting, switch or switchboard, an overloaded circuit, a failing light fitting or globe, or voltage fluctuations from the network. Occasional flickering when large appliances start up is normal. Persistent flickering or flickering across multiple lights at once should be investigated by a licensed electrician — it can indicate a loose neutral connection which is a serious fault.
Wiring overheats when it is carrying more current than it was designed for, when connections are loose or corroded, or when the wiring itself has deteriorated with age. Warning signs include burning smells from walls or outlets, discolouration around power points and switches, and circuit breakers that trip repeatedly. These are electrical emergencies — call 0450 509 691 immediately if you notice any of these.
What most people fail to realise is that a majority of wiring issues aren’t really sudden at all. There are always some signs of trouble that people tend to overlook. The different signs to look out for are:
Arcing– The electricity flowing through your property, has an electromagnetic field and you don’t even realise this exists. However, when this build-up becomes excessive, that weakens the wiring, it melts and results in arcing, which is the crackling, hissing & buzzing sound you can sometimes hear in wires.
Short Circuits– Short circuits are caused when any neutral wire comes in contact with any live wire. In case this happens, the fuse blows and this disconnects the electrical supply in the circuit. However, if for some reason, this doesn’t occur, the electrical current continues to flow through the wire and it will melt with the heat.
Power overloads– This is another common problem that can result in melted wires. Every wiring installation is designed to carry a certain load. If your property has wiring that’s over 20 years old, it won’t be able to bear the load that modern day electrical appliances demand. If you happen to operate many of these simultaneously, that can lead to an overload, which will cause the wiring to melt.
A Certificate of Electrical Safety is a legal document issued by a licensed electrician confirming that electrical work has been carried out to Australian Standards. In NSW it is required for all notifiable electrical work — including new installations, additions to existing circuits and replacement of fixed equipment. It is your proof that the work was done correctly and is important for insurance purposes and when you sell your property. We issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety on every notifiable job.
Switchboards & Safety Switches
The most common signs are flickering lights, circuit breakers that trip frequently, burn marks around the switchboard, a burning smell near the meter box, ceramic fuses rather than modern circuit breakers, no safety switches on power and lighting circuits, or your electrician flagging it as non-compliant. Older Sydney homes built before the 1990s often have switchboards that were never designed to handle modern electrical loads. Call 0450 509 691 for a switchboard assessment.
A safety switch — also called an RCD or residual current device — monitors electrical current flowing through a circuit and cuts power within milliseconds if it detects a fault. Safety switches protect people from electric shock. NSW regulations require safety switches on all power and lighting circuits in new installations. Many older Sydney homes have no safety switches at all. We strongly recommend upgrading if your switchboard doesn’t have them — it’s one of the most important safety improvements you can make to an older home.
A circuit breaker protects your wiring and appliances from overloads and short circuits — it trips when too much current flows through a circuit. A safety switch protects people from electric shock — it trips when current leaks to earth through a person. Both are important. Modern switchboards should have both on every circuit. If your switchboard only has circuit breakers and no safety switches, you need an upgrade.
Costs vary depending on the size of your property and the existing installation. As a general guide, a basic fuse box to switchboard upgrade starts from around $800–$1,200. A full upgrade with safety switches on all circuits ranges from $1,200–$2,000. Larger homes or three phase installations start from $2,000. We provide a quote before any work begins. Call 0450 509 691.
For Landlords & Property Managers
NSW rental properties must have working smoke alarms that meet current requirements, safety switches on power circuits, and all electrical work must have been carried out by a licensed electrician. Properties with old fuse boxes and no safety switches may be non-compliant. We carry out compliance inspections and upgrades for Sydney investment properties and provide documentation on completion.
Yes. We regularly coordinate directly with tenants on behalf of landlords and property managers to arrange access for inspections, smoke alarm installations and repairs. We communicate clearly with tenants, work efficiently to minimise disruption and report back to the managing agent on completion.
For Builders & Developers
Yes. We carry out electrical work for builders and developers across Greater Sydney — from single dwellings to multi-unit developments. We work to site schedules, attend at each notifiable stage and provide Certificates of Electrical Safety on completion of each stage. Call 0450 509 691 to discuss your project
In NSW, electrical work must be inspected and certified at specific stages of construction before the next stage can proceed. These stages typically include the rough-in stage before walls are closed, the fit-off stage when fixtures and fittings are installed, and the final connection stage. We issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety at each notifiable stage and liaise with the certifier as required.
Have a question that’s not answered here? Call 0450 509 691 and speak directly with our electrician. Based in Guildford, we service all of Greater Sydney for residential, commercial, strata and emergency electrical work.
ABN: 15 627 720 263 | Licence: 297230C | Guildford, Western Sydney