These guides are written for the way vehicles are used in and around Adelaide. Each one explains what goes wrong, why it happens here and what to do about it, whether you are doing the job yourself or booking an auto electrician.
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Boat Trailer Wiring for Adelaide Boat Ramps
Keep boat trailer lights working after launches at North Haven, West Beach and O'Sullivan Beach: salt water, LED lights, sealed wiring, plugs and brakes.
Car Batteries in Adelaide Heat: What Summer Does to Them
How Adelaide's summer heat shortens car battery life, why batteries often fail after a hot spell, and checks and choices that help yours last longer.
Choosing a Mobile Auto Electrician in Adelaide
How to choose a mobile auto electrician in Adelaide: on-site jobs, service areas and call-out fees, questions to ask, quotes and licensed work.
Dashcams and Reversing Cameras in Adelaide
Adelaide dashcams and reversing cameras: mounting, screen rules, SA audio recording law, giving footage to SAPOL and hardwiring without a flat battery.
Hybrids, EVs and 12V Batteries in Adelaide
Why Adelaide hybrids and EVs still go flat: the small 12V battery, safe testing and charging, jump-starting, replacement tips and what to leave to pros.
Mice, Rats and Car Wiring Damage in Adelaide
How mice and rats damage car wiring in Adelaide, SA's mouse plague history, warning signs, prevention in sheds and garages, and fixing chewed wiring.
Outback 4WD and Dual Battery Setups from Adelaide
Planning an outback 4WD trip from Adelaide? How to set up a dual battery system that survives heat, dust and corrugations, plus wiring checks and spares.
Short Trips and Flat Batteries in Adelaide
Why short Adelaide drives flatten car batteries: start-up load, smart alternators, stop-start, cars that sit, and simple ways to keep your battery charged.
Storms and Wet Weather Checks for Adelaide Drivers
Wet weather car checks for Adelaide: lessons from the September 2016 SA storm and blackout, wipers, lights, batteries, water in electrics and staying safe.
Towing a Caravan Out of Adelaide: Electrics for Long Trips
Caravan electrics for trips from Adelaide to the Flinders Ranges, Yorke and Eyre peninsulas: trailer brake rules, controllers, plugs, charging and checks.
Tradie Ute and Van Electrics in Adelaide
Inverters, work lights, light bars and beacons for Adelaide tradie utes and vans, with South Australia's rules on driving lights and amber warning lights.
Truck and Fleet Electrics in Adelaide's North and Port
Truck and fleet electrics around Wingfield, Regency Park, Edinburgh and Port Adelaide: 24V systems, batteries, charging, 12V accessories and maintenance.
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For step-by-step how-to guides on batteries, wiring, lighting, towing and more, browse the Auto Electrical Australia guide library.
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Before you work on vehicle electrics
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal before working on wiring, and reconnect it last.
- Replace a blown fuse only with one of the same rating. If it blows again, there is a fault to find, not a fuse to upgrade.
- Many newer vehicles have a battery management system. After a battery change, some need the new battery registered with a scan tool so it charges correctly.
- Hybrid and electric vehicles have high-voltage systems, usually with orange cables. Leave anything near them to a qualified technician.
When to call an auto electrician
Book a professional for warning lights that keep coming back, faults that come and go, anything involving airbags or high-voltage parts, and new circuits such as dual battery systems, brake controllers or extra lighting on a 4WD or caravan. Find one in the Adelaide directory.