What should you do in case of a partial electrical fault?
Identify the affected areas without opening the panel or dismantling an appliance. If there is a burning smell, smoke, sparks or overheating, move away and request urgent assistance.
Identify the extent of the fault
Check whether the outage affects one socket, one room, several circuits or the entire property. Also observe whether common areas or neighbours appear affected, without opening the electrical panel.
Unplug a suspected appliance only if safe
If the fault started while an appliance was in use and it can be unplugged safely, stop using it. Do not touch a socket that is hot, blackened, wet or damaged.
Do not reset repeatedly
A breaker that trips again indicates a fault or overload. Do not force it or repeatedly restore the power.
Have the installation diagnosed
The check may concern the circuit, protective device, socket, wiring or appliance. The repair should be determined only after the cause has been identified.
