Why does my electricity keep tripping?
Answer a few questions to find the likely cause. We'll tell you what's safe to try yourself, and when it's time to call an electrician.
Your fuse box may look different, but you'll usually find the same three kinds of switch.
Open your fuse box. Which switch is down?
Tap it on the fuse box. If you can smell burning or see scorch marks, don't reset anything.
What's in your fuse box
Most homes have a consumer unit, often still called a fuse box, with three kinds of switch. Knowing which one has tripped tells you a lot about the fault.
Main switch
Turns off the electricity to the whole home. It's usually the largest switch, often red, and rarely trips by itself.
RCD (residual current device)
Protects you from electric shock by switching off in a fraction of a second when it detects current leaking to earth. It has a test button marked T and usually covers several circuits, which is why tripping one can leave half the house dark. Press the test button every six months to check it works.
Circuit breakers (MCBs and RCBOs)
Each one protects a single circuit from overloads and short circuits, and is labelled with a rating like B32. An RCBO combines a breaker and an RCD in one, so a fault only switches off that circuit.
The most common causes of tripping
- A faulty appliance. Kettles, washing machines, ovens and toasters are the usual culprits, as worn heating elements let current leak to earth.
- Water getting in. Outdoor sockets, garden lighting and damp in walls or ceilings can trip an RCD, especially in wet weather.
- An overloaded circuit. Too many high-power appliances on one circuit at the same time.
- A wiring fault. Damaged cables, loose connections, or a nail through a cable during DIY.
- A worn RCD or old consumer unit. RCDs wear out, and older boards where one RCD covers half the house are prone to nuisance tripping.
- A blown bulb. Old halogen and filament bulbs can trip the lighting circuit when they fail.
When to stop and call an electrician
- A switch trips again straight away, even with everything unplugged.
- You can smell burning, hear crackling, or see scorch marks on sockets or the fuse box.
- The fuse box feels warm to the touch.
- Tripping keeps happening with no pattern you can find.
- You have an old fuse box with pull-out fuses rather than switches.
Frequent tripping can also be one of the signs your home needs rewiring. If the whole street has lost power, use our power cut checker instead. For urgent faults in Tunbridge Wells, Kent or London, our emergency electrician service can help.
Questions
Is it dangerous if my electricity keeps tripping?
Tripping itself is a safety device doing its job: it cuts the power when it detects a fault. The danger comes from ignoring it or forcing a switch back on. If it trips repeatedly, find the cause, and if you can smell burning or see scorch marks, switch off at the main switch and call an electrician.
Why does my electricity trip when it rains?
Usually because water is getting into an outdoor socket, garden light, outbuilding supply or damaged external cable. The moisture lets current leak to earth and the RCD switches off. An electrician can find and seal the entry point.
Can I replace an RCD or breaker myself?
It should be done by a qualified electrician. Work inside a consumer unit carries a risk of electric shock, and replacing a whole consumer unit is notifiable building work under Part P of the Building Regulations.
What is the difference between an RCD and a circuit breaker?
An RCD protects people from electric shock by switching off when it detects current leaking to earth, and usually covers several circuits. A circuit breaker (MCB) protects the wiring on one circuit from overloads and short circuits. An RCBO does both jobs for a single circuit.
Last updated 13 October 2026 by Select Mechanical and Electrical.
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