Circuits that keep tripping
An RCD or breaker that trips repeatedly is doing its job — something on that circuit is leaking to earth or overloading it. We split the circuit down until the culprit shows itself.
Fault Finding
Electrical Fault Finding
An electrical fault rarely announces itself clearly. A breaker trips at eight in the evening, resets fine, then does it again three days later. A room loses power but the rest of the house is unaffected. Lights flicker when the washing machine kicks in. The symptom is easy to see; the cause is usually hidden inside a circuit, an accessory or an appliance.
Fault finding is the part of our work that takes patience. Rather than replacing parts and hoping, we isolate circuits and test them until the fault is proven, then explain what we found and what it takes to put right.
Faults we are called out to most
Dead sockets or a dead room
Loss of power to part of a property usually comes down to a loose connection, a damaged cable or a failed accessory in the chain rather than the board itself.
Intermittent faults
The hardest kind. These often relate to temperature, moisture or load, so we test under the conditions that trigger them where possible.
Lighting faults
Flickering, dimming, buzzing fittings or a light circuit that trips when a lamp fails. Often a switch, driver or neutral issue rather than the bulb.
Appliance-related faults
Showers, immersions, ovens and washing machines are common sources of earth leakage. We confirm whether the fault is the appliance or the wiring feeding it.
Nuisance tripping
Several appliances each leaking a small amount can add up to a trip with no single obvious cause. Measuring leakage per circuit settles it.
How we approach a fault
We start with what you have noticed: when it happens, what is running at the time, and what has changed recently. That conversation alone often narrows things down before any cover comes off.
From there it is methodical. We inspect the board, isolate circuits one at a time, test insulation resistance and earth continuity, and measure leakage where it points that way. Once the fault is located, we tell you what it is, whether it can be fixed on the visit and what it involves.
Why fault finding is charged for the time it takes
Some faults show themselves in twenty minutes. Others hide behind an intermittent condition and take longer to prove. We will be straight with you on the phone about how we charge and keep you updated as we go, rather than presenting a surprise at the end.
When to call
Call us if you notice
We work across Swords, North Dublin, Fingal and the wider Dublin area. If you are not sure whether something needs an electrician, call 089 979 8130 and we will tell you straight.
- A breaker or RCD that trips more than once
- Sockets or lights that work sometimes and not others
- Warm, discoloured or buzzing sockets and switches
- A burning smell near a board, socket or fitting
- Power loss to one room or one circuit only
- Lights that dim or flicker when appliances start
FAQs
Common questions
Related
Work that often goes with this
Electrical Repairs
Once the cause is proven, the repair itself is usually a straightforward job.
Fuseboard Replacement & Upgrades
Persistent nuisance tripping is often easier to live with once the board has proper circuit-level protection.
Electrical Testing & Inspections
A full inspection is worth considering if faults keep appearing in different places.
24 Hour Emergency Call-Outs
If the property has no power at all or something feels unsafe, treat it as urgent.
See every service on our electrical services page, or check the areas we serve.
Something tripping or dead?
Tell us what is happening and when it started. Most faults are easier to diagnose than people expect once someone tests properly.
Or email info@exileelectrical.ie — you can also use our quote form.