Electrical Fault Finding & Troubleshooting
in Brechin & Angus (DD9)
RCD tripping? Circuit dead? We use professional test equipment to find faults fast. Emergency call-outs available across Angus.
CommonElectrical Faults We Diagnose in Brechin
From RCD trips to dead circuits, we find the fault and fix it fast using professional test equipment.
RCD Tripping Diagnosis
Does your fuse box keep tripping? We use insulation resistance testers and RCD trip time meters to find earth faults quickly and accurately.
- Megger Insulation Testing
- Circuit Isolation & Testing
- Find Hidden Earth Faults
Dead Circuit Investigation
No power in a room or entire floor? We use voltage testers and continuity meters to trace dead circuits through walls and locate cable faults.
- Voltage Drop Testing
- Cable Fault Location
- Same-Day Power Restoration
Full Electrical Survey
Multiple faults? Old property? We conduct a full electrical condition report (EICR) to identify all issues and prioritize repairs.
- EICR Certified Report
- Identify All Faults
- Prioritized Repair Plan
And Many More...
We also diagnose flickering lights, burning smells, overheating cables, blown MCBs, short circuits, and intermittent faults. If it's electrical, we'll find it.
Ex-RAF. Ex-Fire Service.
100% Brechin Local.
I served as a Retained Firefighter with Brechin Fire Service and a Royal Air Force Electrical Engineer. I've responded to house fires caused by electrical faults that were ignored for too long.
That's why I take fault-finding seriously. When your RCD trips or a circuit goes dead, there's a dangerous fault somewhere. I use professional test equipment (Megger insulation testers, RCD trip meters, thermal cameras) to find faults fast and fix them safely. Don't ignore the warning signs.
Engineer
Fire Service
Experience
Why Professional Fault Finding Matters
DIY electrical fault-finding is dangerous and ineffective. Here's why you need a qualified electrician with proper test equipment.
Deadly
Voltage
Electrical faults involve live 230V circuits. Without proper training and test equipment, you risk fatal electric shock.
Pro
Equipment
We use calibrated Megger insulation testers, RCD trip meters, and thermal cameras. You can't diagnose faults with a cheap multimeter.
Fast
Diagnosis
30 years of experience means we diagnose faults in minutes, not hours. We've seen every fault type in Angus properties.
Proper
Repair
We don't just reset the RCD. We find the root cause, fix it properly, and test to ensure it won't happen again.
Signs You Need Fault Finding NOW
Don't ignore these warning signs. They indicate serious electrical faults that need immediate attention.
Burning Smell: Indicates overheating cables or connections. Switch off immediately and call us.
RCD Keeps Tripping: Your fuse box is detecting a dangerous earth fault. Don't keep resetting it.
Hot Sockets/Switches: Sign of loose connections or overload. Can cause fire within hours.
Flickering Lights (All Circuits): May indicate supply issues or loose main connections. Urgent.
Complete Power Loss: Could be supply fault, main switch failure, or serious internal fault.
CommonElectrical Faults in Brechin Properties
We've diagnosed and repaired these faults hundreds of times across Angus.
RCD Tripping
Your RCD detects an earth fault—current leaking to ground. We use insulation testers to find the faulty circuit fast.
Short Circuits
Live and neutral touching causes instant MCB trips and sparking. Common in damaged cables behind walls. We find and fix them.
Intermittent Faults
Fault comes and goes? These are the hardest to diagnose. We use monitoring equipment and thermal cameras to catch them.
Overloaded Circuits
Too many appliances on one circuit causes MCB trips and cable overheating. We test load capacity and add circuits if needed.
We Cover These Angus Zones
| Postcode | Town / Area | Arrival Time |
|---|---|---|
| DD9 6 | BRECHIN / EDZELL | < 24 HOURS |
| DD9 7 | TARFSIDE / GLEN ESK | NEXT DAY |
| DD10 8 | MONTROSE / HILLSIDE | NEXT DAY |
| DD8 1 | FORFAR / LETHAM | NEXT DAY |
| AB30 | LAURENCEKIRK | 48 HOURS |
Safety Warning: Ignoring Faults Leads To Fires
As a former firefighter, I've attended house fires caused by ignored electrical faults. NEVER ignore RCD trips, burning smells, or hot sockets.
These are warning signs of dangerous faults. Call us immediately for emergency fault finding. Your family's lives depend on it.
OurElectrical Fault Finding Process
From emergency call-out to safe repair. We find faults fast using professional methods.
Emergency Booking
Call or text us. For urgent faults (RCD tripping, burning smell, no power), we prioritize and aim to reach you within 2-4 hours in Brechin.
Arrive with Test Equipment
We arrive with professional diagnostic tools: Megger insulation tester, RCD trip meter, thermal camera, and voltage/continuity testers.
Diagnose & Quote
We systematically test circuits to isolate the fault. Once found, we quote you the repair cost before starting work.
Repair
We repair the fault properly (not temporary bodges), test everything, and provide you with a certificate and invoice.
We Diagnose All These Electrical Faults
Electrical Fault Finding FAQs
? What are your emergency call-out rates?
Emergency call-outs (within 4 hours) have a premium rate of £120-150. This includes arrival, diagnosis (up to 1 hour), and a fixed quote for repair. Normal call-outs are £80-100.
? What are the most common electrical faults?
RCD tripping (earth faults), dead circuits (cable damage), overloaded circuits (too many appliances), loose connections (heat buildup), and short circuits (live/neutral touching).
? How long does fault diagnosis take?
Most faults can be diagnosed within 30-60 minutes using professional test equipment. Complex intermittent faults may take 1-2 hours of systematic testing.
? How much does fault repair cost?
Depends on the fault. Simple repairs (tighten connections, replace MCB) cost £100-200. Complex repairs (cable replacement, rewire section) cost £200-500+. You get a fixed quote before work starts.
? Why does my RCD keep tripping?
Your RCD detects an earth fault—current leaking to ground. Common causes: damaged appliance cables, water ingress, rodent damage, or deteriorated insulation. We test each circuit to find the exact fault.
? Can you find intermittent faults?
Yes, but they're harder. We use monitoring equipment, thermal cameras, and systematic testing. Sometimes we need to leave monitoring equipment for 24-48 hours to catch the fault when it occurs.
? Is it safe to keep resetting my RCD?
NO. If your RCD keeps tripping, there's a dangerous fault. Every time you reset it, you're re-energizing a faulty circuit. Switch it off and call us immediately.
? What test equipment do you use?
Megger MIT330 insulation tester (measures insulation resistance), Kewtech KT64 RCD trip tester (measures RCD response time), Fluke T6 voltage tester (non-contact), and FLIR thermal camera (heat detection).
? Can you test without turning off my power?
For initial diagnosis, yes. But proper fault-finding requires isolating circuits to test them safely. We minimize disruption and work circuit-by-circuit.
? Do you provide a certificate?
Yes. After repair, we provide a Minor Works Certificate or EICR (depending on scope of work) proving the repair meets 18th Edition standards.
? What if you can't find the fault?
Very rare, but if we genuinely cannot locate the fault, you only pay the call-out fee (not the full diagnostic rate). We've diagnosed 99% of faults first visit.
? Can electrical faults cause house fires?
Absolutely. Loose connections cause arcing and heat buildup. Earth faults can spark. Overloaded circuits melt cables. As an ex-firefighter, I've seen it firsthand. Never ignore electrical faults.
Got an Electrical Fault?
Don't ignore the warning signs. Get professional fault-finding from Brechin's local expert.
Emergency call-outs available. We find faults fast.