ApprenticeMedium risk

Power point (GPO) completely dead

Nothing plugged into a power point works, while other outlets are fine. A classic trace-it-back fault on a single GPO or the run feeding it.

Start fault-finding

Safety first

A dead outlet can still have live terminals or become live. Isolate and prove dead before opening it; prove your tester before and after. Watch for a lost neutral making a 'dead' point hazardous.

Isolate, lock out / tag out, and prove dead before working unless a live test is specifically required, authorised, and carried out under proper supervision. Always follow local regulations, your site procedures, and the equipment manufacturer's documentation.

Full detail — causes, the why, and common mistakes.

Likely causes

Ranked from most to least likely.

  1. 1

    Circuit protective device tripped/off

    Most likely

    The breaker/RCBO for that circuit has tripped or is switched off.

  2. 2

    Loose connection upstream on the run

    #2

    A loose active/neutral at an upstream GPO breaks supply to everything beyond it (looped points).

  3. 3

    Faulty outlet

    #3

    The GPO itself has an internal fault or a loose terminal.

  4. 4

    Switched GPO turned off

    Least likely

    The outlet's own switch (or a wall switch controlling it) is off.

Reports are saved on this device to reflect what you actually find.

Testing sequence

Work through one test at a time. Expected reading and what each result means.

Test 1 of 3
1

Check the GPO's own switch and the circuit's protective device at the board.

Expected reading

Outlet switched on; protective device on.

If it passes

Both on — trace the run toward the dead outlet.

If it fails

Switched off / tripped — restore (find why if it tripped).

Often leads toHalf the power points in the house not workingSafety switch (RCD) keeps tripping at the switchboard
View all expected readings at once
1. Check the GPO's own switch and the circuit's protective device at the board.
Outlet switched on; protective device on.
2. Isolate, prove dead, and check for supply at outlets along the run to find where it's lost.
Supply present up to a point, then absent beyond it.
3. At the fault point, inspect the connections (loose active/neutral) or the outlet.
A found loose connection or a faulty outlet.

Fault-finding flowchart

The same logic as a decision tree.

  1. 1
    start

    GPO completely dead

    → step 2
  2. 2
    decision

    Is the outlet switched on and the circuit device on?

    Yes→ step 3No→ step 4
  3. 3
    decision

    Tracing the run, does supply reach the outlet?

    Yes→ step 5No→ step 6
  4. 4
    result

    Restore the switch/device (find why it tripped).

  5. 5
    result

    Supply reaches it — the outlet is faulty; replace it.

  6. 6
    result

    Supply lost upstream — repair the loose connection at that point.

Common mistakes apprentices make

  • Not proving the tester before and after (false 'dead' readings).
  • Replacing the outlet before finding where supply is actually lost.
  • Forgetting the outlet or a wall switch controls it.
  • Missing a lost neutral that makes a dead point dangerous.

When to stop & escalate

Tracing and repairing fixed wiring is licensed electrical work. If the protective device re-trips when restored, find the fault before re-energising.

If you're past your competence, authorisation, or the safe limits of the job — stop and hand it on. There's no fault worth getting hurt over.

Related faults

Power points & circuits

Half the power points in the house not working

A group of outlets across several rooms is dead together while lights and other GPOs work — points at one power circuit's protection or a shared upstream fault.

4 causes3 test steps
ApprenticeMedium risk
Switchboards & safety switches

Safety switch (RCD) keeps tripping at the switchboard

The safety switch trips repeatedly — instantly on reset, randomly, or when certain appliances run. It's detecting earth leakage somewhere; the job is to find where.

5 causes3 test steps
QualifiedHigh risk
General testing

No supply at a socket-outlet or point

A socket-outlet or point is dead — nothing plugged in works — while other points may be fine. A bread-and-butter 'trace it back' fault.

4 causes3 test steps
ApprenticeMedium risk