Every electrical fault has a cause, and every cause has a fix. The challenge is tracing the fault to its precise origin in a building where most of the wiring is hidden behind plaster, under floors and above ceilings. Aura Illumination brings the right diagnostic equipment, the methodical approach of experienced electricians and the genuine satisfaction of solving puzzles that have sometimes defeated other trades. When you describe a fault to us, our first response is curiosity, not alarm. We want to find it, understand it and fix it properly.
The faults we trace every day
Some faults announce themselves loudly. A safety switch that trips the moment you try to reset it is telling you clearly that there is an earth fault on the circuit it protects. A circuit breaker that trips under load is indicating an overload or a short circuit. Other faults are subtler. Lights that flicker intermittently, power points that seem to work but deliver reduced voltage, outdoor circuits that behave differently in wet weather, or a switchboard that hums more than it used to. All of these have explanations, and all of them are findable with the right approach.
We also regularly deal with faults that arise from renovation work carried out by other trades. A nail through a cable, a cable pinched by a benchtop support bracket, or a junction made by someone who was not licensed to do so. These hidden faults can sit dormant for months before manifesting as a tripping switch or a failed circuit. We approach them without judgment and with a focus on making the installation safe and compliant going forward.
Our fault-finding process
- Detailed phone or on-site briefing to map the symptom pattern and narrow the likely cause
- Visual inspection of the switchboard, accessible wiring, outlets and fixtures
- RCD and circuit breaker testing to confirm correct operation of protection devices
- Insulation resistance testing to identify degraded or damaged cable insulation
- Thermal imaging where available to detect hot joints and overloaded connections without opening walls
Thermal imaging is particularly valuable for faults that involve loose connections or partial contacts. A connection that is making partial contact generates heat well before it fails completely, and a thermal camera can locate that heat signature without invasive investigation. We carry thermal imaging equipment on our service vehicles and use it routinely on fault-finding jobs where the symptom suggests a connection issue rather than a straightforward cable fault.
Honest scope, fair pricing
Fault-finding can occasionally require opening walls or lifting floorboards to access cable runs. We always explain what we need to do and why before proceeding, and we look for the least invasive path to the fault first. When wall access is necessary, we use small, targeted openings rather than large sections of plaster removal, and we can recommend plasterers to make good if required. We do not bill by the mystery, we bill by the time and materials required to actually find and fix the problem.
Repair, not just diagnosis
Some fault-finders charge a fee to identify the problem and then quote separately for the repair as though they are different services. We prefer to carry common repair materials on our vehicles so that the majority of faults can be found and fully rectified in a single visit. When the repair scope is larger, such as a section of cable that needs replacement or a switchboard component that requires ordering, we provide a written quote immediately after the diagnostic so you can decide how to proceed without any pressure. Every repair is tested and verified before we leave.