Stock photo, for illustration only. Last updated .
Switchboard upgradesNeed a switchboard upgrade in Adelaide? Signs your fuse box is due, what the electrician does, what affects the price and what to ask before work starts. 
Safety switchesSafety switch (RCD) installation in Adelaide: what they do, signs your home needs them, SA rules, what affects the price and what to ask the electrician. 
Smoke alarmsSmoke alarm installation in Adelaide: hard wired, interconnected and photoelectric alarms, SA rules for owners and landlords, and what affects the price. 
Power pointsPower point installation in Adelaide: new, double, outdoor and USB power points, what the electrician does, what affects the price and what to ask. 
Lighting and downlightsDownlight installation in Adelaide: LED downlights, halogen replacement and new lighting, what the electrician does and what affects the price. 
Ceiling fansCeiling fan installation in Adelaide: new fans, replacements and ceiling fan repairs, what the electrician does, what affects the price and what to ask. 
EV chargersEV charger installation in Adelaide: home EV chargers, wall connectors, SA Power Networks approval, what affects the price and what to ask the electrician. 
Emergency electricianNeed an emergency electrician in Adelaide? What counts as urgent, what to do first, how electrical fault finding works and how urgent enquiries work. Getting an electrician in Adelaide to call you back can take a few phone calls and a lot of waiting. SuperFox shortens that: you send one enquiry, we pass it to one independent local electrician, and that electrician calls you back within 24–48 hours to talk through the job and quote it. You deal with them directly and you decide whether to go ahead.
The cards above link to each electrical service. This page covers what a local electrician does, the electrical issues that are common in Adelaide homes, licensing in South Australia, safety and what affects the price.
What does an electrician in Adelaide do?
A licensed electrician installs, repairs and tests the fixed wiring and electrical equipment in your home, from the meter box and switchboard through to every power point, light and hard-wired appliance. Household jobs usually fall into these groups:
| Job type | Typical examples | More detail |
|---|---|---|
| Switchboards | Replacing old fuse boxes, adding circuits, rewiring | Switchboard upgrades |
| Safety switches | Adding RCDs, nuisance tripping, testing | Safety switches |
| Smoke alarms | Hard-wired and interconnected alarms, replacements | Smoke alarms |
| Power points | Extra outlets, outdoor and USB power points | Power points |
| Lighting | LED downlights, outdoor lighting, replacements | Lighting installation |
| Ceiling fans | New fans, replacements, repairs | Ceiling fans |
| EV charging | Home wall chargers, circuit and supply checks | EV charger installation |
| Urgent faults | Loss of power, burning smells, damaged wiring | Emergency electrician |
Some electricians focus on new installations, others on fault finding or solar and EV work. A clear description in your enquiry helps the electrician who calls back come prepared.
What electrical problems are common in Adelaide homes?
Adelaide’s housing and climate shape the jobs electricians see most.
- Old switchboards with ceramic fuses. Many homes built before the 1990s still have rewireable fuses and no safety switches on some or all circuits. Adding modern loads like air conditioners, induction cooktops and EV chargers can push an old board past what it was designed for. Our guide to switchboard upgrade costs explains what’s involved.
- Safety switches that keep tripping. A tripping RCD is doing its job, but finding the faulty appliance or circuit takes testing. See why a safety switch keeps tripping.
- Summer demand. Heatwaves and 40 °C days put air conditioners, pool pumps and fridges under heavy load, which exposes weak connections and undersized circuits.
- Smoke alarms. Older 9-volt alarms reach the end of their life and start chirping. Why a smoke alarm keeps beeping covers the usual causes.
- Power supply questions. Larger homes, workshops and EV chargers sometimes raise the question of single-phase versus three-phase supply. Our single-phase vs three-phase guide explains the difference.
- Storms and outages. Summer storms and high winds can bring down lines and cause outages across the network.
How does SuperFox work?
SuperFox is an enquiry service, not an electrical contractor.
- Send one enquiry. Call 08 6800 6079 (our digital assistant takes the details) or use the online form. Include your suburb, what’s happening and how urgent it is.
- We pass it to one local electrician. Only one, so your phone won’t run hot.
- The electrician calls back within 24–48 hours. They’ll ask questions, may arrange a visit and give you a quote.
- You decide. If the quote suits, you book the work with the electrician directly.
For urgent faults, choose Urgent on the form. We can’t promise an arrival time, so follow the safety steps below in the meantime.
Electrical licensing in SA: what to check
In South Australia, electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical worker, and businesses that contract for it need an electrical contractor’s licence. Licensing is administered by Consumer and Business Services (CBS), and the Office of the Technical Regulator (OTR) oversees electrical safety and technical standards.
Before work starts, ask the electrician:
- What is your licence number? (You can check it on the CBS public register.)
- Will you issue a certificate of compliance when the work is done?
- Does the quote include parts, labour and any making good?
- Will my switchboard or supply need upgrading for this job?
Electrical installation work must be tested and covered by an electronic certificate of compliance. Our guide to the certificate of compliance in SA explains what it is and why you should keep it.
Because electrical work in South Australia must be done by a licensed electrical worker, DIY wiring isn’t an option, and it’s dangerous. The only check a homeowner should make is resetting a tripped safety switch once.
Electrical emergencies: who do you call?
Get safe first.
- Anyone injured, a fire, or smoke from wiring: call 000.
- Fallen or damaged powerlines: stay at least 8 metres away, keep others away and call SA Power Networks on 13 13 66.
- Power out across the street: this is a network outage. Report it to SA Power Networks on 13 13 66.
- Power out in just your home: check the switchboard. If a safety switch has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off, unplug appliances on that circuit and send an urgent enquiry.
- Burning smell, buzzing, sparking or hot switches: turn off the main switch if it’s safe to do so and keep clear.
The emergency electrician page has more on urgent jobs.
What affects the price of an electrician in Adelaide?
Every job is quoted individually. The main factors are:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Scope | One power point versus a whole-house switchboard upgrade |
| Access | Low or tight roof spaces, double-brick walls and concrete slabs take longer |
| Age of the wiring | Older wiring may need upgrades before new work can connect |
| Parts | Light fittings, fans, chargers and switchgear vary widely |
| Switchboard capacity | Some jobs need extra circuits or a new board |
| Time of day | After-hours work usually costs more |
The electrician explains how they charge, including any call-out fee, and quotes before starting. Our guide to plumber and electrician call-out fees has more.
Electricians across Adelaide and the Hills
Enquiries come from right across Adelaide, from character homes in Prospect and Unley with original wiring, to newer estates in Mawson Lakes and Hills properties around Stirling. See every suburb on the areas page.
Need plumbing as well? See our Adelaide plumber page. For cooling and heating, see air conditioning in Adelaide.
Getting it sorted
Send one enquiry through the contact form or call 08 6800 6079. One local electrician will call you back within 24–48 hours to talk through the job and quote it.