Most homes have one outdoor point at best, often in the wrong place and faded by the sun. We add weatherproof points where you use power outside, from the barbecue to the shed. Every point is on a safety switch, sealed where the cable enters and tested before we go.
When to get it checked
Leads through doors and windows
If a door or window can't shut because a lead runs through it, you're a point short outside. The frame crushes the lead every time it closes.
Indoor power boards outside
A power board on the barbecue bench was never built for rain, dew or sprinkler spray. Water in those outlets trips safety switches, or worse.
A cracked or sun-bleached point
Covers in full sun go chalky, then crack or stop springing shut. Once the lid won't seal, rain lands on the outlet.
Tripping after rain
A safety switch that drops after a storm or when the sprinklers run usually means water is getting into an outdoor fitting.
Why it happens
4 common causes
Lids left open
A standard flip lid only seals with nothing plugged in. Leave a lead in it all summer and the outlet is open to the weather.
Sun and heat
Covers on north- and west-facing walls bake every afternoon. The seals harden and the hinges tire until water gets past.
Water tracking in
A point under a gutter overflow, beside a downpipe or in a sprinkler's arc stays wet, and water follows cables into the box.
The wrong fitting
We still find indoor points screwed to pergola posts and garage frames, with nothing to keep out water, dust or insects. Ant and spider nests can bridge terminals too.
What the job covers
What we usually do on this job. Your quote confirms it for your place.
- Weatherproof single and double outdoor points
- In-use covers that close over a plugged-in lead
- Lockable or inside-switched points for street-facing walls
- Garden post and shed points with cable in conduit
- Cracked or sun-damaged outdoor points replaced
- Safety switch protection checked on the circuit
- Every point tested, with a Certificate of Electrical Safety
Your options, explained
Replace a worn outdoor point
Low disruption- Best for
- A cracked or lidless point already in the right spot
- How it works
- The old fitting comes off, the cable is checked back to clean copper and a new weatherproof point goes on.
- Worth knowing
- If water has been getting in, we check the next point on the circuit too.
New point on an outside wall
Low disruption- Best for
- Patios, alfresco areas, side paths and garages
- How it works
- Cable runs from a nearby circuit through the roof, wall cavity or subfloor to a weatherproof point on the wall.
- Worth knowing
- Weatherboard and brick veneer are simple. Double brick and render take more planning.
Garden post or shed point
Medium disruption- Best for
- Garden beds, pond pumps, sheds and the far end of the yard
- How it works
- Cable is trenched in conduit to a solid post or the shed wall, finishing in a weatherproof enclosure.
- Worth knowing
- Workshop machines and spa heaters usually need a dedicated circuit instead.
The people behind the work
Our own photos from jobs like this one. Family-run, based in Altona Meadows, with 19 years in the industry.
Licensed electrical contractor (REC 38187)See more team photos
Worth knowing before you book
- The lid is the weak point
- A flip lid only seals with nothing plugged in. For anything left running, ask for an in-use cover.
- Plan it before the paving
- Conduit laid before decking or pavers go down saves lifting them later.
- Heavy loads need their own circuit
- Spa heaters and workshop gear usually need a dedicated circuit, not a shared point.
What affects the price?
The right scope depends on your installation. These are the details we check so your quote is useful, with any additional work explained before it proceeds.
Distance
A point through the wall from an indoor one is a short run. A post at the back fence means more cable and digging.
Walls and ground
Double brick, render, slabs, paving and mature garden beds all add labour.
Safety switch protection
If the circuit isn't on a safety switch, the Wiring Rules call for one when an installation is altered. An Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council advisory note says only the altered circuit needs it.
The fitting
In-use covers, lockable lids, switched points and stainless hardware each add to a basic weatherproof double. You get the price before we start.
How it runs
- 1
Show us the spots
Where you want power outside and what you'll plug in.
- 2
Check and plan
Circuit and route confirmed, with the price before we start.
- 3
Fit, test and certify
Points mounted and sealed, tested, certificate issued.
Step by step, in more detail
4 steps
Walk the outside with you
We see where leads end up and what you'll run, then mark positions clear of taps, sprinklers and gutters.
Check the circuit
We confirm the circuit has room and safety switch protection. If not, you hear the options before anything is drilled.
Fit and seal
Cable enters the box from below so water runs off, wall penetrations are sealed, and buried runs go in heavy-duty conduit with marker tape above.
Test and certify
Polarity, earth continuity and insulation are tested, the safety switch is trip-tested, and you get your certificate.
What is safe to do, and what to leave to us
Safe for you to do
- Keep outdoor lids shut when nothing is plugged in.
- Reset a tripped safety switch once. If it trips again or won't reset, leave it off and call a licensed electrician.
- Press each safety switch's test button every three months, as Energy Safe Victoria recommends.
- Cover a cracked or broken point, stop using it and have a licensed electrician replace it.
Leave these to us
- Using indoor power boards or adaptors outside, even under a roof.
- Running leads through doors, windows or pet doors that close on them.
- Fitting or replacing an outdoor point yourself. Energy Safe Victoria says even changing a power point isn't a DIY job.
When to get us in
- A safety switch trips after rain or watering
- An outdoor point is cracked or its lid won't close
- Rust, water or insects are visible under the cover
- Power wanted in new paving, decking or a shed
More detail
What makes a point weatherproof
Check the rating on the enclosure, shown as IP and two digits: the first for dust, the second for water, and higher is better. The lid matters as much. A basic flip lid only seals with nothing plugged in, while an in-use cover closes over the plug so the outlet stays covered while the pump or lights run.
Picking the right spot
Put points where the plug will be used, not where the cable is easiest. Under the eaves or a verandah roof is ideal, high enough that splashback and mulch don't reach. On a wall facing the street, a lockable cover or a point switched from inside stops anyone else helping themselves.
Pools, spas and garden features
Outlets near pools and spas come with extra requirements on where they can sit, so we plan around the fence and equipment pad first. Filter and pond pumps usually run from a weatherproof point. Spa heaters generally need their own circuit.
Local rules and conditions
Victorian requirements and local conditions that shape this job, with the sources listed at the foot of the page.
Close to the bay
Hobsons Bay, which takes in Altona, Seabrook and Williamstown, has more than 20 kilometres of bay frontage. Near the water, salt air is hard on screws, springs and terminals, so we use corrosion-resistant hardware there.
Hot northerly, then the change
The Bureau of Meteorology says warm northerlies often arrive first in a Melbourne weather system, and a cold front can then change conditions within minutes. A lid propped open for the patio fan can take driving rain by evening, so on exposed walls we favour covers that close over the plug.
Rental properties
Consumer Affairs Victoria says that from 29 March 2023, all power outlets and lighting circuits in a rental must connect to a switchboard-type circuit breaker and safety switch. Rental providers are responsible for engaging an electrician to meet that standard.
Useful reading
Guides to read before you decide, with checklists and questions to bring to the quote.
- A safety switch keeps tripping: what to record and when to callUnderstand the difference between a protective device doing its job and a fault that needs investigation.
- How and when to test your safety switchesHow to run the push-button test at home, what an electrician’s trip-time test measures that the button can’t, and what to do when a switch fails.
- The electrical decisions to make before your renovation walls closePlan appliances, lighting, outlets and future upgrades while access and options are still available.
- What electrical work you can and can't do yourself in VictoriaWhere Victorian law draws the line on home electrical work, the short list of jobs that are yours, and what to do when a job goes past it.
Common questions
Questions people ask about this
- Why is there no power to my shed or garage?Start at the switchboards.
- Is a safety switch power point the same as a safety switch on the board?No.
- What should I do if a power point or appliance gets wet?Don't touch it.
From the blog
- Are outdoor Christmas lights safe on your power points?Outdoor Christmas lights need outdoor-rated lights and leads, a safety switch and a dry spot for the plug. How to set them up, and why a trip means stop.
- Builder-grade electrical in a new estate home: what owners upgrade firstExtra points, outdoor power, better lighting, data and a garage ready for an EV: the upgrades owners in Melbourne's western estates make after handover.
- Can renters install an EV charger?Yes, with the rental provider's written consent and a licensed electrician. Here's how to ask, who might pay, and how to charge safely in the meantime.
Sources for the rules and local facts on this page
16 sources, with the date each was checked
- 1.Hobsons Bay City Council: Hobsons Bay has more than 20 kilometres of bay frontage, quality residential areas, a huge expanse of environmentally significant open space and a range of major industrial complexes, which contribute significantly to… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 2..id (informed decisions), Hobsons Bay City Council community profile: Hobsons Bay City includes the suburbs of Altona, Altona Meadows, Altona North, Brooklyn (part), Laverton (part), Newport, Seabrook, Seaholme, Spotswood, South Kingsville, Williamstown and Williamstown North. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 3.Bureau of Meteorology (article issued 3 August 2026): To the north lies Australia's hot, dry interior, while to the south stretches the cold Southern Ocean. ... Warm northerly winds arrive first, bringing higher temperatures and clear skies. Then, as a cold front moves in… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 4.Consumer Affairs Victoria: From 29 March 2023 all power outlets and lighting circuits in a rental premises must connect to both a switchboard-type circuit breaker that complies with AS/NZS 3000 and a switchboard-type residual current device that… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 5.Consumer Affairs Victoria: Rental providers are responsible for engaging an electrician to ensure their rental property complies with the electrical safety standard. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 6.Energy Safe Victoria: Gas and electricity are inherently dangerous and it’s illegal and potentially fatal for unlicensed and unqualified people to undertake any electrical or gasfitting work. Homeowners and consumers must always use… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 7.Energy Safe Victoria: Electrical work isn’t a DIY job, even for small jobs such as changing power points or light switches. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 8.Energy Safe Victoria: Do not touch or attempt to repair a loose, cracked or broken power point switch – cover it immediately and arrange for a licensed electrician to replace it. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 9.Energy Safe Victoria: Locate your electricity box outside your home and check whether the safety switch has tripped. If it has tripped, reset the switch. If the switch won’t reset, call a licensed electrician. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 10.Energy Safe Victoria: Follow these steps to check your safety switch every three months: Press in the test buttons on each safety switch which will cut the power and trip the switch into the off position. You may hear a clunking sound. If… Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 11.Energy Safe Victoria: monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit detects a problem that may pose a risk to personal safety turns the power off within 0.03 of a second always has a test button and '30ma' printed on them. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 12.Energy Safe Victoria: Clause 2.6.3.2.2 requires all final sub-circuits in a domestic installation be protected by a residual current device (RCD). A hot water service is included in this requirement Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 13.Energy Safe Victoria: Clause 2.6.3.2.5 of the Wiring Rules states: Additional protection by RCDs shall be provided in existing electrical installations where alterations or a switchboard replacement is completed. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 14.Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council (ERAC): An existing final sub-circuit for socket outlets is extended and an additional socket outlet is installed. Only that circuit that is altered is required to have a RCD fitted. Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 15.Energy Safe Victoria: Whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES). Accessed 30 September 2026.
- 16.Energy Safe Victoria: For electrical installation work performed within your electrical installation including but not limited to lights, power points, air conditioning, hot water service etc. Accessed 30 September 2026.
