Keep clear of the affected area.
Move people away from exposed wires, smoke, burning smells, sparking, wet fittings or damaged electrical equipment.
Electrical fault guide
Smoke From Electrical Panel
Smoke from a switchboard, electrical panel or meter area may indicate a fire. Move people to safety and call Triple Zero (000); do not wait for heavy smoke or an electrician. Keep clear of the equipment and follow emergency services' instructions.
NSW Licence 398937C
Open 24/7 for urgent electrical fault calls
Fault finding and testing
Photos help planned quotes
When to call first
Treat an active or unsafe fault as a phone-first job.
If the issue is happening now, feels unsafe or involves heat, smoke, sparking, shock risk, water damage or power loss, call first so the risk can be triaged. For planned inspection or repair, send photos and job details through the quote form.
Do not touch damaged, wet or live equipment.
Avoid switchboards, outlets, appliances, service equipment and fittings that look damaged, wet, hot or unsafe.
Call emergency services first for life-threatening danger.
For fire, electric shock injury, fallen powerlines or immediate danger to people, keep clear and call 000 first.
What it can mean
Do not guess with electrical faults.
The cause can sit at the fitting, circuit, appliance, switchboard or supply. Proper testing keeps the next action clear.
Overheating connections, damaged components or an electrical fault can produce smoke. The cause and extent cannot be determined safely from outside the panel, and damage may extend beyond the part that first smoked.
A protective device remaining on does not exclude a fire or a poor connection. Do not wait for a breaker to trip, try resetting it or assume an apparently normal display means the installation is safe.
The meter area and supply connections may include equipment with different ownership and authorisation requirements. Emergency isolation and any supply-side repairs must follow the appropriate distributor and authorised-work arrangements.
Heat and smoke can damage insulation and nearby equipment. An apparently cooled panel may still be energised or unsafe; fire clearance and electrical clearance serve different purposes and repairs may still be necessary.
Check safely
What to do before calling.
Only check what is safe, dry and obvious. If the fault involves heat, water, smoke, sparking or exposed parts, keep clear and call first.
Leave the affected area and call 000 from safety for a suspected fire. Do not approach the board to operate its main switch, open a door or see whether smoke is still coming out.
Do not use water on electrical equipment or attempt to remove fuses, disconnect cables or rescue belongings near the panel. Keep access clear for emergency responders without entering the hazard area.
After emergency services have dealt with the immediate hazard, arrange the required electrical assessment. Do not restore power because the smoke has stopped or a surface looks undamaged.
Our licensed electricians assess accessible affected wiring and equipment once safe access is available. The repair scope depends on damage, test findings and supply requirements; parts, further access or authorised supply work may be needed before reconnection.
Send useful details
A few photos can make the quote faster.
For non-urgent work, open the secure booking form to send your address, photos and job notes. Evaready Electrical can then review the job and reply with the next action.
After emergency help is arranged, describe where smoke was observed and whether emergency services or the distributor have attended. Do not return to the panel to check its current condition.
Mention any power loss, storm or recent installation change already known. Do not operate equipment to establish a connection between an appliance and the incident.
Photographs must wait until safe access is confirmed. Existing images or a verbal description are sufficient initially; never delay emergency help or approach a smoking panel for a photo.
Explain any restrictions left by emergency services or the distributor. A photograph cannot establish safe reconnection, hidden damage or a final repair price; the inspected scope and remaining limitations must be explained.
FAQ
Common questions.
What should I do if smoke is coming from the switchboard?
Move away and call 000 for a suspected fire. Do not wait for smoke to become heavy, open the panel or operate switches to investigate. Follow emergency services' instructions, then arrange electrical assessment after the immediate hazard has been managed.
Can the panel be used again after smoke stops?
No. Stopped smoke does not establish that the equipment is de-energised or undamaged. Appropriate inspection, repairs and testing are needed before restoration. The assessment may be limited by access or the need for distributor isolation, and no immediate restoration time should be assumed.
Could this require Level 2 electrical work?
Some supply-side work may require an appropriately accredited and authorised Level 2 electrician and distributor coordination. The required category depends on the affected equipment and scope. That does not mean every panel fault needs Level 2 work or that every electrician holds all authorisations.