Electrical

11 Signs you need to call an electrician immediately. Electrical Emergency? Here's what to do...

As a professional electrician and electrical lecturer, I have a great deal of experience with electrical systems and finding electrical faults. Issues with electrical outlets are more common in older homes as old wiring and outdated outlets tend to go hand in hand with older properties. If you are experiencing problems with your socket outlets then this could be an indication that they require replacing.

As a professional electrician, I've often encountered concerns from homeowners about electrical outlets sparking when plugging in devices. While a brief, small spark isn't always a cause for alarm, larger sparks and flashes can indicate a serious problem.

When an electrical circuit overload occurs, the amount of electrical current flowing in the circuit exceeds the safe limits intended by the designer of the circuit and manufacturer of the cabling and components within the circuit. Overload (depending upon frequency and magnitude) can cause a variety of damage to electrical wiring, systems, and components.

Voltage is essentially the electrical force that pushes current through a circuit. Current is the flow of electric charge through a circuit, the magnitude of which depends on the voltage pushing and the resistance impeding. Power (Watts) is the rate of electrical energy (Joules) transferred per unit of time (Seconds) in an electrical circuit. Power is calculated by multiplying the Voltage in Volts and the Current in Amps.

​If your microwave keeps tripping the circuit breaker then there is an electrical fault that needs some investigation. It is important to understand that continually resetting a breaker that trips will cause further damage beyond any damage that has already been caused. A microwave oven is an appliance that is generally reliable but occasional electrical problems can result in breaker trips.

Are fast track Electrician Courses proper electrical training in 2025? Well in many ways, YES they are. Let me elaborate. In the UK in the past years there was the option to take short courses of as little as three and a half weeks and "qualify". These courses were NOT proper electrical training and missed many key safety benefits of the correct route into the electrical industry.

When testing new installations of electrical systems prior to putting into service, dead tests must be carried out first in order to ensure that any subsequent live testing is safe to carry out.

As a professional electrician, I've often encountered concerns from homeowners about electrical outlets sparking when plugging in devices. While a brief, small spark isn't always a cause for alarm, larger sparks and flashes can indicate a serious problem.

Electrical systems need a way of protecting the wiring from overload and short circuit problems. They achieve this through the use of overcurrent protective devices like fuses and trip switches. In every electrical installation, there should be a main fuse – the final thing to blow in the event of a fault.