Guides · Electrical
If you live in Claremont or Newlands, these are the electrical questions we are asked most: what to do when the board trips or the power goes, what an electrical certificate involves when you sell, and what to know if you have or want an inverter and battery. Claremont and Newlands are both on our service list, and our office is in Fish Hoek.
If something has gone wrong right now
- Burning smell, sparks, or a hot plug or switch: stop using it. If the area is dry and you can reach the main switch safely, switch off. If not, keep everyone away and call us.
- Water near plugs, lights or the board: do not stand in the water and do not touch anything. Close the water if you can do that safely, and call us.
- DB trips again straight after you reset it: leave that circuit off. Unplug what is on it and call us. Repeated resetting does not fix the cause.
- Part of the house has no power: check whether the neighbours also lost power before you assume it is your board.
What can wait
A single dead socket, a light that flickers on one circuit, or a switch that has stopped working can usually wait for the next working day. WhatsApp us a photo of the board with the cover open and tell us what stopped. It helps us arrive with the right parts.
Selling in Claremont or Newlands
When a property is transferred, an electrical certificate of compliance is required by law. It must not be older than two years at the time of transfer, the installation must not have been altered since, and only a registered electrical contractor may issue it. We arrange plumbing, electrical, gas and beetle inspections together and give you a written report with photos. Our guide to gas and beetle certificates in Claremont, Rondebosch and Newlands covers the other two certificates, and the guide to electrical certificates in Constantia, Tokai and Bergvliet sets out what is inspected.
Inverters and batteries
We do inverter, battery and solar work. If you already have a system and the board trips, tell us on the phone, because the fault can be on either side of the inverter. If you are planning a system, our guide to inverters and solar in Tokai, Bergvliet and Newlands sets out what the City of Cape Town requires, and our inverter and battery cost guide covers what drives the price and how we quote. We do not point to a list of past installations on this page.
Water as well as power
Water and electrics do not mix, so a leak near a board, plug or light needs attention from both trades. If you are dealing with damp, see our guide to rain gutters and damp in Newlands and Rondebosch, and if the problem is plumbing rather than power, see our page for a plumber in Claremont.
Electrical work around Claremont and Newlands
We work in Claremont, Newlands, Rondebosch, Kenilworth, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Wynberg and the rest of the Southern Suburbs and South Peninsula. For anything that isn't an emergency, WhatsApp us on 074 490 3100 or email enquiries@lightningfast.co.za. Office hours are Monday to Friday 07:30 to 17:30 and Saturday 08:00 to 13:00.
Common questions
Do you have an electrician in Claremont and Newlands?
Yes. We work in Claremont and Newlands and across the Southern Suburbs, and we take electrical emergencies day and night on 074 490 3100. Emergencies carry no after-hours charge. On the phone we tell you how soon someone can be with you.
Why does my DB keep tripping?
A trip is the board protecting you from a fault, an overload or a leak to earth. If one circuit trips again as soon as you reset it, leave it off and have it checked. Resetting it repeatedly does not fix the cause.
Do I need an electrical certificate to sell in Claremont or Newlands?
Yes. An electrical certificate of compliance is required by law when a property is transferred, and a registered electrical contractor must issue it. We arrange plumbing, electrical, gas and beetle inspections together and give you a written report with photos.
Do you do inverter and battery work?
Yes. We install and fault-find inverter, battery and solar systems. Phone or WhatsApp us with what you have and what has stopped working.