Electrical faults do not keep business hours. A switchboard that starts tripping at 11 pm on a Friday, a burning smell behind the walls on a long weekend, sparks from an outlet during a summer storm — these are not situations you schedule around. SynthWire Electrical runs a genuine 24/7 emergency call-out service, staffed by licensed tradespeople operating under Licence EC-1985 with full public liability cover. When you ring, you speak to someone who can make a decision and dispatch a technician, not a call centre reading from a script.
Situations that demand an emergency electrician right now
Not every fault is a four-alarm emergency, but a few definitely are. If you can smell burning plastic, melting rubber, or a persistent hot smell with no obvious source, stop using the affected circuit and call immediately — these are classic signs of overheated insulation or a loose connection arcing inside a wall or switchboard. Sparks from an outlet or switch, a circuit breaker or RCD that trips repeatedly within minutes of being reset, and any situation where power loss follows a storm or flood are all valid reasons to pick up the phone at 2 am. The cost of a call-out is trivial compared to the cost of a house fire or an electrocution.
What to do before we arrive
While you wait for the crew, there are a few things you can do to keep the situation from worsening. First, if you can identify the circuit causing the problem — a specific breaker that keeps tripping, an outlet that sparked — switch it off at the switchboard and leave it off. Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips immediately; it is telling you something is wrong. If you can smell burning and cannot isolate the circuit, consider switching off the whole board at the main switch until we get there. Keep people and pets away from the affected area. Do not use water near any electrical panel or outlet. If the fault involves flooding or water ingress near electrical equipment, do not enter the affected space at all — wait outside and let us assess it safely.
- Switch off the affected circuit or main switch if fault cannot be isolated
- Do not repeatedly reset a breaker or RCD that keeps tripping
- Avoid using water near any switchboard, outlet, or flooded area
- Keep everyone clear of burning smells, sparks, or exposed wiring
- Call SynthWire — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Storm damage and after-hours supply faults
Severe weather is one of the most common triggers for emergency call-outs. Lightning strike overvoltage can destroy switchgear and appliances in seconds. Falling branches sever overhead service cables. Flooding infiltrates subfloor wiring and meter boxes. SynthWire carries the equipment to assess and make-safe storm-damaged installations, liaise with the network distributor (DNSP) where supply faults are the utility's responsibility, and restore safe power as quickly as the situation allows. We carry a stock of common MCBs, RCDs, and service-entrance components on every emergency vehicle so we are not waiting for a parts run when you need power back.
Making safe, temporary supplies, and full repair
Our first priority on any emergency call-out is making the installation safe — isolating dangerous conductors, confirming there is no ongoing arc or fire risk, and giving you a clear picture of what happened and what needs to happen next. In many cases we can complete the repair the same night. Where a more involved fix is required — a section of concealed wiring, a switchboard replacement — we will make the installation safe, restore power to unaffected circuits, and schedule the full repair at the earliest available slot, often the following morning. You are never left hanging without a clear next step. Every emergency call-out is documented, and where a Certificate of Compliance is required for the remedial work, it is lodged and provided.
Frequently asked
Burning smells, sparks, circuits that won't stay reset, total loss of power, storm damage to your meter box or service cable, and any situation where water has contacted electrical equipment all qualify. If you are unsure, call us — we would rather take a precautionary call than have you wait on something dangerous.
After-hours and weekend call-outs carry an emergency service fee that we quote clearly before dispatch so there are no surprises on the invoice. The fee covers the real cost of keeping a licensed tradesperson on call around the clock.
Yes. Any remedial or new electrical work that requires certification under your state's electrical safety legislation will be covered by a Certificate of Compliance lodged with the DNSP and handed to you. Emergency work is no exception.