In brief
The short answer
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.
- Three causes: overload, short circuit and earth leakage. Each requires something different.
- You can often fix overload yourself by spreading the load across more circuits.
- A sharp crack, sparks or a burning smell point to a short circuit: leave the circuit off and call.
- If it trips at the same moment every time, a faulty appliance or wiring fault is behind it.
- If it happens structurally, you often need an extra circuit or a new fuse box.
Step by step
How to trace the circuit and the cause
Work calmly through the steps below. That way you will know within a few minutes which circuit is involved and which of the three causes is at play.
- 1
See which switch has tripped
Did a small circuit breaker trip (one circuit goes out) or the wider RCD (multiple circuits go dark at once)? That already tells you a lot: an earth leakage fault is almost always behind that wider switch.
- 2
Disconnect everything on that circuit
Unplug the sockets belonging to the tripped circuit and switch off appliances. That removes the load and any faulty appliance.
- 3
Switch the circuit back on
If the circuit now stays on with everything disconnected, the cause was an appliance or too much consumption at once. If it trips again straight away with everything disconnected, the problem is in the wiring itself.
- 4
Reconnect one by one
Plug the appliances back in calmly, one at a time. If the circuit trips the moment you switch on a particular appliance, you have found the culprit. Have that appliance checked or replace it.
- 5
Still unsure or does it keep happening?
Cannot get the circuit going, smell burning or heard a sharp crack? Stop and call us. We measure the installation and trace the cause safely.
Why a breaker trips
A breaker, nowadays usually a circuit breaker or RCD, is a safety device. It switches the circuit off the moment something is wrong. That is not a fault, but exactly its job: it protects your wiring, your appliances and above all yourself against overheating, fire and a shock. A circuit that trips is therefore first and foremost a signal that the installation is doing what it should.
The skill is in reading that signal. Behind a tripped breaker there are almost always one of three causes: overload, short circuit or earth leakage. They feel the same at first (the power goes off), but they arise differently and require a different solution. If you know which of the three it is, you also know whether you can fix it yourself or whether an electrician needs to come.
Overload: too many appliances at once on one circuit
Overload is the most common and usually the most innocent cause. Each circuit in your fuse box is sized for a certain power, often around 3,680 watts on a 16 amp circuit. If you switch on too many heavy appliances at the same time on the same circuit, it becomes too much and the circuit breaker trips to prevent overheating.
You recognise overload by the pattern. It happens at a busy moment: the kettle and the microwave at the same time, or the hairdryer while the washing machine is running and a heating element is on somewhere. The circuit trips, but there is no crack, no spark and no burning smell. If you switch the circuit back on with fewer appliances on, it simply stays on.
The solution is to spread the load. Do not put heavy users all on the same circuit and stagger them in time when possible. If it keeps happening in the same place, for example in a kitchen full of appliances, that is a sign that you are genuinely one circuit short. Adding an extra circuit takes the pressure off and is then the proper, permanent solution.
Short circuit: a sharp crack and immediately off
A short circuit is the most severe of the three. The live wire and the neutral wire make direct contact, causing an enormous current to flow in a fraction of a second. The circuit breaker therefore switches off at lightning speed. You often hear and notice this: a sharp crack or thud, sometimes a brief spark or a bright flash, and occasionally a burning smell or a socket going black.
The cause is usually a faulty appliance, a broken cable, a damaged plug or moisture getting into the wrong place. Sometimes it is a fault in the fixed wiring. In this case, pull out the suspect plug and try the circuit again. If it stays with that one appliance, the culprit is clear and you have it checked or replaced.
Do you smell burning, see scorch marks or does the circuit trip again straight away with everything disconnected? Leave the circuit switched off and call us. A short circuit in the fixed installation is not something to tinker with yourself. We trace the fault safely and restore it to the standard.
Earth leakage: leakage current and the RCD
An earth leakage fault is a current leaking to earth, for example through moisture, damaged insulation or an old appliance that is no longer properly sealed. As soon as that leakage current exceeds 30 milliamps, the RCD switches everything off. That is a deliberate safety feature: with an earth leakage fault you are at risk of an electric shock.
You recognise an earth leakage fault because the wider RCD trips, not a single small circuit breaker. Multiple circuits often go out at the same time as a result. Moisture frequently plays a role: an RCD that trips after rain, at outdoor lighting or in a damp cellar or bathroom points strongly to this. An old washing machine, water heater or fridge is also a classic culprit.
To trace it, switch the individual circuits off one by one and try switching the RCD back on each time. If it stays on once a particular circuit is off, the leakage is in that circuit. Then disconnect the appliances within that circuit to see which one it is. If that tracing does not work, or the RCD keeps tripping back straight away, we will measure the leakage for you.
When is it structural, and when do you call urgently?
A circuit tripping once at a busy moment is rarely cause for concern: you spread the load and that is that. If it becomes a recurring pattern, there is more going on. If the same circuit keeps tripping, even when you are careful about what you switch on, you are simply one circuit short or your installation is outdated. Then an extra circuit or, with an old fuse box using screw-in fuses, a new fuse box is the real solution.
There are moments when you do not wait. A sharp crack, sparks, a burning smell, scorch marks or a socket that feels warm: these are signals you take seriously. Leave the relevant circuit switched off, do not touch any damaged parts and call an electrician immediately. Also if you are completely without power and cannot get the circuit going again, it is time to call.
We often come out the same day for a fault. We measure the installation, trace the cause and make it safe again, with a clear explanation of what was happening. That way you know not only that it is fixed, but also why it happened.
What to look out for
Signs that need attention
Not every tripped breaker is urgent, but these signs you do not want to ignore. Recognise one? Have it checked.
A sharp crack or spark
Did the circuit trip with a thud, a bang or a brief flash? That points to a short circuit. Leave the circuit off and call us.
Burning smell or scorch marks
A burning smell near the meter cabinet or a discoloured socket is always a reason to stop and have it checked.
It keeps happening
Does the same circuit keep tripping, even when you are careful? Then you are one circuit short or the installation needs renewal.
It trips after rain
An RCD that trips in wet weather or damp spaces points to leakage current, often at outdoor lighting or old appliances.
At a glance
Overload, short circuit or earth leakage?
The three causes side by side, so you can quickly see which fits your situation.
| Feature | Overload | Short circuit | Earth leakage |
|---|---|---|---|
| What happens | Too much power at once on a circuit, the circuit breaker trips. | Live and neutral make direct contact, the breaker switches at lightning speed. | Current leaks to earth, the RCD trips. |
| When you notice it | At a busy moment, several heavy appliances at once. No crack or smell. | Often with a sharp crack, a spark and sometimes a burning smell. | Regularly with moisture or rain, multiple circuits going dark at once. |
| What you do | Spread the load, stagger appliances. Structurally: add an extra circuit. | Pull out the suspect plug. If it persists or you smell burning: leave it off and call. | Switch circuits off one by one to find the leakage, otherwise have it measured. |
Not sure which cause is at play or cannot get the circuit going? Call us and we will measure it for you.
Read also
Read on and get further help
Want to go deeper into a cause, or does it turn out that work is needed? These are the logical next steps.
RCD keeps tripping
Is the RCD tripping? How to trace the circuit.
More infoShort circuit repair
Sharp crack and immediately off? How we tackle a short circuit.
More infoAdd an extra circuit
Too few circuits? We add one neatly.
More infoBreakdown service
Does it keep happening? We will get to the bottom of it.
More infoWhy Brabant Elektra
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