Electrical Fault Finding in Lake Macquarie

A faulty electrical system can put your home or office at risk for dangerous hazards, including electrical shocks and fire. Unless you’re a licensed electrician, you won’t be able to identify or troubleshoot the cause of your electrical problems.

Electrical fault finding is an important and hazardous process, which is why it’s important to call in a qualified electrician to determine any faults in the electrical system.

At O’Brien Electrical, our skilled electrical team can provide repair and installation solutions, meeting safety requirements across every stage. Our licensed electricians operate locally and are trusted by the Lake Macquarie community.  

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What is an Electrical Fault?

An electrical fault is defined as a mechanical issue or error that occurs in an electrical equipment or apparatus. Any kind of imperfection in an electrical circuit that prevents the current from passing through its intended path is a fault.

Abnormal conditions in an electrical system results in decreased insulation strength between the earth (or any screened medium) and the phase conductors. Additionally, it disrupts the flow of current, often damaging the power equipment.

What Causes an Electrical Fault?

Electrical faults can occur for many reasons, most common of which is an irregular current flow through the power supply. Because transmission or overhead lines are broadly branched at a greater length, they are subject to atmospheric disturbances.

An electrical system or equipment fails to operate if/when there’s;

• Electrical breakdown due to an aging insulation system as a result of unpredictable conditions, like thunderstorms, physical obstructions, vehicular and aircraft collisions, and much more.
• Electrical fault due to switching surges caused by abnormal voltage conditions during the switching operation. In such cases the voltage may rise or achieve peak value, changing consistently.

What are Common Types of Electrical Faults?

1. Line to Ground Fault – The single-line-to-fault most frequently occurs in an existing power system when there’s an insulation breakdown between either one of the phases and the earthing medium.
2. Phase-to-Phase Fault – The line-to-line fault is not as common as the line-to-ground-fault, often taking place when two conductors short circuit. Their chance of appearance is 15 % in the power system.
3. Two Phases to Ground Fault – This fault occurs when there is a complete electrical breakdown between both phases and the earth. It is the most challenging type of fault but rarely affects the power grid.
4. All the Three Phases to Ground Fault – This fault is the most severe as it impacts your circuit breaker. Though it rarely occurs in the power system, it breaks down the insulation between all the phases and the earth.

What are Major Signs of an Electrical Fault?

• When your fuses and circuit breakers blow up
• When light switches become too hot to touch
• When you observe flickering lights constantly
• When decolorization happens around light bulbs
• When there’s strange buzzing behind power outlets

Harmful Effects of Faults on Power Systems

• Heavy currents that flow when there’s an electrical fault cause appliances and lighting systems to heat up, often resulting in a hazard.
• A faulty circuit may pass short circuit current that takes the form of an arc, often damaging certain elements inside electrical systems.
• Faulty electrical wiring impacts the stability of a power system, often causing the entire power system to overload and shutdown.
• For instance, when operating personnel forget to machine guard the main safety switch or fail to notify and report the electrical fault.

Steps to Finding an Electrical Fault

• Collect and evaluate the evidence: An electrician will look for above-mentioned signs and collect possible but relevant evidence. After analyzing the evidence, your electrician will now narrow down certain possibilities.
• Locate and find the fault: Your electrician will also identify specific areas for conducting inspection. For instance, when your doorbell stops working, indicating that there is a problem with the indoor or outdoor equipment.
• Rectify the electrical fault: Your electrician will now examine the doorbell from both ends and locate the fault easily. For instance, it is possible that your doorbell button is not functioning properly because of an electrical fault.
• Test the electrical system again: After the rectification, your electrician will now check the system to determine whether the problem has been solved or not. Generally, skilled and experienced professionals spot the actual fault quickly.

Electrical Fault Repair & Emergency Electricians 

If you need help fixing faulty electrical circuits, get in touch with the O’Brien Electrical emergency team 24/7. We can help you fix electrical issues before they become safety hazards at home or your workplace.

Our technicians can address all electrical issues the very same day and provide after hours repair services. We are ready to respond to your urgent electrical requirements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Electrical Fault Detection Services 

If you detect any signs at home or in the workplace, get a certified professional to get your electrical fault report. Using electrical fault finding equipment, such technicians will first inspect the electrical system at your home or office and then determine the cause. 

Whether you’re tripping circuit breakers or need to fix faulty wiring, our trusted electricians at O’Brien Electrical can fix all kinds of electrical faults. We provide both residential and commercial electrical fault finding services in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.

To speak to an experienced electrician, call us today