Why does my switchboard keep tripping?

01The three usual causes of a tripping switchboard

The Electrical Safety Office names three causes of repeated tripping. The first is a faulty appliance, which is the most common thing to look for. The second is an overloaded circuit, often from too many appliances plugged into the same circuit and running at the same time. The third is faulty wiring.

The first two you can usually find yourself. The third needs a licensed electrician.

02How to find a faulty appliance safely

Unplug everything on the circuit that tripped. Reset the safety switch or circuit breaker. Then plug the appliances back in and turn them on one at a time.

If the board trips again when one particular appliance goes on, that appliance is the likely cause. If it trips on any circuit you plug it into, it is most likely faulty. Replace it, or label it and set it aside until it has been checked.

If the trip only happens when several things run together, such as the kettle, the microwave and a heater on the same circuit, the circuit is overloaded. Spreading the load across other circuits can fix it. If that keeps happening, the board may need more circuits.

03When to stop and call an electrician

Call a licensed electrician if the safety switch will not reset, or if it trips again with everything unplugged. That points to a fault in the wiring or in the circuit itself. Do not hold a switch on to stop it tripping.

If you have ceramic fuses and a fuse blows again with the appliance unplugged, call an electrician. Never put in heavier fuse wire to stop it blowing, because that can start a fire.

Replacing a fitting or a power point is electrical work under Queensland law. It has to be done by a licensed electrician.

04If you get a shock or a tingle

A shock or a tingle from a tap, an appliance or anything else is different from a trip. Call Ergon Energy on 13 16 70, at any hour. Do not touch the switchboard or the taps, and do not try to turn the power off yourself.

05After a storm or flooding

Keep away from a switchboard that has been wet. Get any hard-wired appliance that has had water in it checked before it is used again. A solar system that has been damaged in a storm must be checked by a licensed contractor before it is turned back on, because the panels can stay live even with the grid power off.