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 Log readingsEnter Job Mode

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.

Apprentice mode

Full walk-through — the why, what readings mean, mistakes & safety.

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.

On the tools? Job Mode shows one test at a time with thumb-sized buttons — your place and readings carry straight over.

Enter Job Mode
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
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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.

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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
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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