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Guides in English
The articles below are available in English. Our full knowledge base is also available in Dutch.
Faults & emergencies
Faults & emergencies
Power out or a circuit that keeps tripping? Here is how to find the cause quickly and know when to call.
RCD keeps tripping: causes and what you can do yourself
An RCD trips as soon as it measures leakage current to earth, usually from a damp or faulty appliance. Switch off all the circuits, switch the RCD back on and then turn the circuits back on one by one. The circuit where the RCD trips again gives away the appliance. If the RCD keeps tripping straight away with nothing switched on, or will not go on at all, call an electrician.
More infoFuses keep tripping: causes and solution
A breaker trips for three reasons: overload (too many appliances at once on one circuit), short circuit (live and neutral make contact, with a sharp crack) or earth leakage (leakage current that trips the RCD). First disconnect all the appliances from the circuit and switch it back on. If it keeps happening or you smell burning, call an electrician.
More infoPower cut? Here is what to do, step by step
First check whether the neighbours and the street lighting are also without power. If the whole neighbourhood is dark, it is a fault in the grid: check the fault map of your grid operator Enexis and wait for them to fix it. If only your home has no power, open the meter cabinet and see whether an RCD or main switch has tripped. If you smell burning or something scorched, do not try to fix it yourself, call an emergency electrician straight away.
More infoConsumer unit & capacity
Consumer unit & capacity
Ready for an EV charger, heat pump or induction hob? Everything about your fuse box, three-phase and grid congestion in Brabant.
Requesting a three-phase connection: how it works
You request a three-phase connection from your grid operator, in Noord-Brabant that is usually Enexis, via mijnaansluiting.nl. The grid operator upgrades the connection up to your meter; a certified electrician then adapts the meter cabinet and fuse box. Allow a lead time of several weeks to months, partly because of the pressure on the grid.
More infoGrid congestion in Noord-Brabant: what does it mean for you?
Grid congestion means the electricity grid is full: more power is being demanded or fed back than the cables and substations can handle at peak moments. In Noord-Brabant this is strongly felt because of the energy transition, lots of solar and wind, and busy industrial estates. For households it mainly means longer waiting times for a heavier connection and sometimes restrictions on feeding back solar power. Consuming smartly yourself and a home battery become more important. Always check the current situation with your grid operator Enexis.
More infoExpanding a fuse box: possible, or does it need replacing?
You can expand your fuse box if there is still a free space on the rail, if the box is in good condition, if there is already an RCD in it and your connection supplies enough power. If one or more of those points is not in order, replacing the box is usually the better choice: with a full or old box without an RCD, with ceramic fuses or too little capacity, it does not pay to keep wedging in a circuit. A certified electrician can assess in a few minutes what is possible in your situation.
More infoWhen should you replace your fuse box?
Replace your fuse box if there is no RCD in it, if you still have old ceramic fuses (cartridge fuses), or if the fuses keep tripping with normal use because there are too few circuits. Signs of moisture, rust or scorch marks and outdated wiring are also reasons to replace. If you are upgrading or connecting an EV charger, heat pump or solar panels, a new box at the same time is often the wisest choice. Not sure? Have the installation inspected and you will know exactly where you stand.
More infoEnergy transition
Energy transition
Home battery, EV charger, solar panels, subsidies and the end of net metering: clear explanations without the sales pitch.
Optimising self-consumption after net metering
You optimise your self-consumption by using as much solar power as possible at the moment your panels generate it, so during the day. Run the washing machine, dishwasher, hot water tank and EV charger during the sunny hours, and consider a home battery or dynamic contract to catch the rest. That way you feed back less and benefit more from your own generation, even after net metering ends.
More infoEV charger and your fuse box: what needs to happen?
An EV charger always gets its own dedicated circuit in the fuse box, with the right RCD protection (usually a type A RCBO with DC detection or a type B RCD, depending on the charger). For slow charging, single-phase is often sufficient; if you want faster charging or already have a lot of other heavy users, three-phase is needed. With load balancing you can often avoid upgrading your connection. A certified electrician checks your fuse box and connection before the charger goes in.
More infoReplacing an inverter: when and what to look for?
An inverter lasts on average 10 to 15 years, shorter than the panels, which last 25 years or more. So expect to replace it at least once during the lifetime of your system. Replace it when it shows error codes or a red light, when output is structurally lower or drops away entirely, or when it is completely off. When replacing, pay attention to the right power rating, the warranty and good monitoring. If you are thinking of a home battery, a hybrid inverter is often the wisest choice. Always have the replacement done by a certified installer, for your safety and your warranty.
More infoSmart meter and solar panels: what you need to know
A smart meter registers separately how much power you draw from the grid (consumption) and how much you feed back. There are therefore separate readings, not a meter that runs backwards. An old analogue meter cannot keep track of that difference correctly and runs the wrong way on feed-in, which is why the grid operator replaces it with a smart meter when you install solar panels. The grid operator places the meter free of charge; a certified electrician takes care of the safe connection of your panels.
More infoHome EV charger subsidy: what is available?
As at July 2026, there is generally no broad national purchase subsidy for a home EV charger for private individuals. What may come into play: varying local authority or provincial schemes, and tax advantages if you drive or work commercially (deductions, benefit-in-kind, an employer or lease scheme). The biggest saving usually lies not in a subsidy but in smart charging: a dynamic contract and charging on your own solar power. Always check the current terms.
More infoHome battery subsidy 2026: what is and is not available?
As of July 2026, there is no broad national purchase subsidy for home batteries comparable to the ISDE scheme for heat pumps. What may apply: a VAT benefit when the battery is purchased together with solar panels, and varying municipal or provincial schemes. The biggest financial driver is not a subsidy but your payback model now that net metering is being phased out. Always check the current terms and conditions.
More infoConnecting a home battery: how does it work?
A hard-wired home battery is connected to your fuse box by a certified electrician, with its own circuit and protection and an inverter that converts the direct current from the battery to alternating current for your home. This can be AC-coupled (battery with its own inverter, separate from your solar panels) or DC-coupled (battery behind the inverter of your solar panels). The battery is placed somewhere dry, ventilated and fire-safe, and the installation complies with NEN 1010.
More infoNet metering ending: is a home battery then the smart choice?
The net-metering scheme is being phased out and is expected to end in 2027 (check the current state of play). Without net metering, power you feed back to the grid is worth far less than power you use yourself. A home battery helps by storing power generated during the day and using it yourself in the evening, so you need to feed back less and buy in less. Whether it pays depends on your consumption, your panel output, the battery price and your energy contract.
More infoPlug-in home battery: is it allowed and does it work?
A plug-in home battery (sometimes called a balcony battery) connects itself to an ordinary socket, usually in combination with balcony or plug-in solar panels. Handy and portable, but the capacity is small and feeding power back via a socket is technically and legally disputed. For serious storage a hard-wired battery connected to the fuse box is safer and larger.
More infoConnecting solar panels to your fuse box: how does it work?
Solar panels deliver direct current that the inverter converts to 230-volt alternating current. That alternating current goes via a dedicated circuit and an RCD/MCB to your fuse box, where it combines with the rest of your home. Whatever you do not consume at that moment flows via the meter cabinet onto the grid; your smart meter registers that feed-in separately. The connection must be made by a certified installer to NEN 1010, for your safety, guarantee and insurance.
More infoHome & installation
Home & installation
From home automation and bathroom lighting to the electrics in an older home: practical guidance for inside and around the house.
The bathroom: lighting and the safety zones
NEN 1010 divides the bathroom into four areas: zone 0 (inside the bath or shower tray itself), zone 1 (directly above it up to 225 cm high), zone 2 (60 cm alongside) and the area beyond. The closer to the water, the stricter the requirements. In zone 0 only low voltage is allowed (SELV, usually 12 volts) with a protection rating of IPX7. In zones 1 and 2 a minimum of IPX4 applies and ordinary sockets are not permitted. Beyond the zones, normal sockets are allowed, provided the whole bathroom is protected by a 30 milliamp RCD.
More infoHome automation: how do you start a smart home?
Start small with one or two things you use every day: smart lighting, a smart switch or dimmer and a smart thermostat. Wireless systems (Zigbee, wifi) are easy to add afterwards, without any chasing or breaking. Wired home automation such as KNX is more robust and future-proof, but you install it during a renovation or new build. If it involves hard-wired switches or work in the fuse box, call in a certified electrician.
More infoRenovating the electrics in an old house: where do you start?
Start with safety: if there is no RCD, there are still ceramic fuses or unearthed wiring, or you see scorch marks, that takes priority. Have the installation inspected first by a certified electrician, so you know in black and white what is going on. On that basis you choose: fix acute risks straight away, and the rest in stages or all at once, for instance during a renovation. Work on the fixed installation belongs, under NEN 1010, with a certified professional.
More infoCosts & rates
Costs & rates
What do you really pay for an electrician? Hourly rate and call-out charge explained clearly.
Electrician call-out charge: what do you pay?
A call-out charge is a fixed fee for the travel time and the trip to your address. The typical amount is around 30 to 50 euros. Across the whole of Noord-Brabant we charge a fixed rate of 39 euros, known upfront with no per-kilometre surcharge. For larger jobs the call-out charge is sometimes offset against the work or waived if you accept the quote.
More infoWhat does an electrician charge per hour?
An electrician in the Netherlands typically charges around 45 to 70 euros per hour exclusive of VAT, depending on the company, the region and the type of work. Call-out charges, materials and 21% VAT usually come on top. For most jobs a fixed price upfront is clearer than an hourly rate: you then know in advance exactly what you pay, regardless of how long the work takes.
More infoSafety & certification
Safety & certification
How to spot a good electrician, and what NEN 1010, earthing and certification actually mean.
Checking and improving earthing in your home
Earthing is a safe connection between your electrical installation and the ground, along which fault current (leakage current) is carried away. Together with the RCD, earthing ensures that the power is switched off within milliseconds if an appliance develops a fault, so you do not get a dangerous shock. Without good earthing that protection does not work reliably. Especially in homes built before the 1970s and 1980s, earthing is sometimes missing or has weakened. You cannot test this reliably yourself: a certified electrician measures the earth resistance and checks the installation thoroughly.
More infoHow do you spot a certified electrician?
You do not spot a reliable electrician by a single mark, but by a sum of things: they are registered with the KvK, have public liability insurance, work to NEN 1010 (installation) and NEN 3140 (inspection), give you a fixed price on paper beforehand and a guarantee on the work, and have genuine, verifiable reviews. Also watch for red flags: wanting cash only, no quote on paper, no fixed address and pressure to sign quickly.
More infoNEN 1010 inspection explained
NEN 1010 is the Dutch standard for safe low-voltage installations, so for the fixed electrics in and around your home. A NEN 1010 inspection is a check in which a certified electrician verifies and measures whether your installation meets that standard: earthing, RCDs, circuits, wiring and connections. You receive an inspection report with the findings and any defects. Such an inspection is particularly useful at handover of a new build, after a renovation, when buying a home, with an older installation, when letting and sometimes as a requirement from your insurer.
More infoWhy Brabant Elektra
Real know-how, even if you have it done
Our engineers are qualified and work to the NEN 1010 standard. We share that same know-how here, so you can make an informed choice. And if you want it carried out, we do so certified and with a 2-year guarantee.
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