FAQ
How much does it cost to fix a short circuit in Spain?
Fixing a short circuit in Spain has a guide price of 50 to 100 euros for a simple repair (a joint, a socket or a light fitting) and about 250 euros on average when it has to be traced in the wiring. With an emergency call-out it can reach about 400 euros. The final price is confirmed on site.
Short circuit repair cost: guide prices
What a short circuit costs to fix depends mainly on how long it takes to find. Industry price guides give these ranges:
| Case | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Simple repair (socket, joint or light fitting) | 50 to 100 euros |
| Average repair including tracing the fault | about 250 euros |
| With emergency call-out | up to about 400 euros |
| Usual travel supplement | 15 to 30 euros |
The final price is confirmed after the fault has been seen.
What a short circuit is and why the breaker trips
A short circuit is direct contact between live and neutral, or between two phases, which makes the current shoot up in an instant. That circuit’s MCB (magnetotérmico) detects it and cuts the power before the cable burns. That is why the typical symptom is a breaker that trips instantly and will not stay up, sometimes with a spark or a burning smell.
What the price depends on
- Where the fault is. In a socket, an appliance or a visible light fitting it is quick to fix. Inside a wall or in a hidden junction box, the cable has to be measured section by section.
- Whether cable has burnt. The damaged section is replaced whole, and sometimes new cable must be pulled through the conduit or the wall chased.
- The time of day. Outside working hours, the emergency call-out alone runs to 100 to 200 euros.
- The state of the installation. In older installations a short circuit can be the warning that the wiring is at the end of its life.
What you can do before calling
- Switch off all the breakers and switch the main switch back on.
- Switch the breakers on one at a time: the one that trips instantly is the affected circuit.
- Leave it off and unplug everything in that area. If it holds when you switch it back on, an appliance was to blame.
- If it trips with everything unplugged, the fault is in the wiring. Do not keep trying: every attempt stresses the installation.
What not to do
Do not replace the breaker with a higher rated one or jam it so it cannot trip: it is the protection that prevents a fire. And do not join cables with insulating tape inside a wall or a false ceiling.
When to call an electrician
Call if the breaker will not hold with everything unplugged, if you see blackened cables or smell burning. In Seville, Spain, our 24-hour emergency electrician handles short circuits day and night, and you can compare rates on our prices page.
Related services
Short circuit
If there has been a short circuit at home, with a flash, a smell of plastic or a circuit breaker that trips the moment you push it up, a short circuit electrician in Seville, Spain finds the exact point (cable, joint, socket, light fitting or appliance), repairs it and checks that the protections worked as they should.
24-hour emergency electrician
An emergency electrician in Seville, Spain for when the power goes off, the RCD trips, there is a burning smell or a socket sparks. We come out at any hour, find the fault, give you the price before repairing anything and leave the installation safe.
Related questions
Why does my RCD (diferencial) trip in Spain?
What should I do if my RCD has tripped and will not reset?
What is the difference between an RCD (diferencial) and an MCB (magnetotérmico)?
Why does the power go off when I use the oven and hob at the same time?
What should I do if the power goes off at home in Spain?
How do I know if a power cut is my fault or the electricity company's in Spain?
Need an electrician in Seville, Spain?
Call us or send a WhatsApp message with a photo of the job. You get a fixed quote before any work starts.