Outdoor lighting repair covers the faults that leave a yard dark: a light not working, a circuit that keeps tripping the earth leakage, water inside fittings, or sensors and timers that have given up. OutdoorLighting.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form describing the fault, and we pass it to independent local electricians and lighting installers, who quote you directly. We do not repair, supply or install anything ourselves, and there is no fee or obligation. Describe the symptoms, the fittings and when the problem started.
Common reasons an outdoor light is not working
- Failed lamp or LED driver: often the cheapest fix, but integrated LED fittings may need the whole unit replaced
- Water ingress: perished gaskets or a missing cable gland let rain in, causing corrosion and trips
- Faulty photocell or sensor: day/night switches and PIR sensors fail after years of sun and hail
- Timer or smart switch fault: settings lost after load-shedding or a dead backup battery
- Damaged cable: cut by a spade, chewed by rodents or fried by a lightning surge
Outdoor light keeps tripping the earth leakage
If an outdoor light keeps tripping, moisture is the usual culprit, especially after the first summer storms. Water in a fitting, a buried junction or a cracked spike light leaks current to earth and the 30 mA earth leakage does its job. An electrician fault finding will isolate each section, test insulation resistance and find the wet joint. Do not bypass the earth leakage; it is there to protect people.
Before you call anyone, note which lights are affected, whether the trip happens immediately or only after rain, and whether anything was dug, built or replaced recently. That information shortens fault finding and keeps the call-out cost down.
Repair or replace?
Repair makes sense for a sound fitting with a failed lamp, sensor or seal. Replace when the housing is corroded, cracked by UV or the fitting is an old halogen unit that runs hot and wastes power every night. Swapping to LED outdoor lighting rated for waterproof use usually cures repeat faults and lowers running costs. Coastal properties often benefit from marine-grade replacements, and corroded fittings near the sea rarely last long once they have been patched.
Security lights not working
When security lights or flood lights fail, treat it as urgent, since dark corners invite crime. An emergency electrician can often restore power the same day and replace sensors or floods on a follow-up visit. Mention any alarm, beam or camera system linked to the lights, and whether the gate motor or intercom shares the same circuit.
What to include in your request
- Describe the fault and when it started
- Say whether it trips the earth leakage or just stays dark
- List the type and number of fittings affected
- Mention recent storms, building work or digging
- Say if it is urgent or linked to security
Outdoor Lighting Repairs for different properties
- Homes: fault finding a tripping garden circuit and replacing a dead sensor flood
- Estates and complexes: repairing common-area bollards and pole lights on a body corporate call-out
- Farms and smallholdings: fixing long cable runs, shed floods and gate lights damaged by storms
- Shops and offices: restoring parking lot and facade lights before trading hours
- Industrial sites: replacing failed yard floods and perimeter lights to keep security cover
- Lodges, guesthouses and venues: repairing path and terrace lights at lodges and venues before guests arrive
- Municipalities, schools and clubs: fixing park lights, sports field lamps and vandalised street-level fittings
Frequently asked questions
Why does my outdoor light work in the day test but not at night?
Why does my outdoor light trip when it rains?
How much does an outdoor lighting repair cost?
Can lightning damage outdoor lights?
Outdoor Lighting Repairs by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester