Frequently asked questions

An RCD trips when it detects current leaking to earth, which usually means a faulty appliance or a fault in the wiring. The quickest way to find it is to unplug everything on that circuit, reset the switch, then plug things back in one at a time until it trips again. If it trips with nothing plugged in, the fault is in the wiring and you need a registered electrician to track it down. Don't just keep resetting it, because the RCD is protecting you from a real shock risk.

In New Zealand most electrical work has to be done by a registered electrician, by law, because of the serious risk of electrocution and fire. There are a few minor things a homeowner can legally do, like replacing a light fitting in some cases, but the rules are strict and the safe option is almost always to get a registered person. Bad wiring can kill, and it can also void your insurance, so it isn't worth the risk to save a few dollars.

It's well worth considering. Old fuse boards usually don't have RCDs, which are the safety switches that cut the power fast enough to prevent a fatal shock. Modern switchboards use circuit breakers and RCDs that are safer and far easier to reset than rewiring a blown fuse. If your board has the old porcelain fuse holders, an upgrade brings your home up to current safety standards and is one of the better safety investments you can make.

There's no single magic number, because it depends on the circuit rating and what you're plugging in, but the real issue is load rather than the count of outlets. Problems show up when high-draw appliances like heaters, kettles, and dryers share a circuit and overload it. If your breaker trips when a couple of appliances run together, the circuit is overloaded and you may need a dedicated line. A registered electrician can work out the right setup for your needs.

A good quality multi-board with its own overload protection is fine for low-draw gear like phone chargers and lamps. The danger is piggy-backing high-draw appliances like heaters and dryers, or daisy-chaining one board into another, which can overheat and start a fire. Never run a heater off a multi-board. If you find yourself relying on adapters because you're short of outlets, it's a sign you need more power points installed properly.

Occasional flicker when a big appliance kicks in can be normal, but persistent flickering or dimming across the house can point to a loose connection, an overloaded circuit, or a problem at the switchboard or even the mains. Loose connections are a real fire risk, so it's not something to ignore. If it's more than the odd flicker, get a registered electrician to check it, because catching a loose connection early can prevent a fire.

Yes. Hardwired appliances like ovens, cooktops, hot water systems, and the electrical side of a heat pump need to be connected by a registered electrician, and they usually run on their own dedicated circuit. These are high-draw appliances that can't just go on a normal power point. Getting it wired correctly matters for safety and for your warranty and insurance, so it's not a job to cut corners on.

Some warning signs are easy to spot: an old ceramic fuse board, no RCDs, cloth or rubber insulated wiring in older homes, power points that are warm or discoloured, lights that flicker, or breakers that trip often. Burning smells or scorch marks around outlets are urgent and need attention straight away. If your house hasn't been checked in years, a registered electrician can do a safety inspection and tell you what, if anything, needs doing.