About this job
What is a short circuit, and when should you call?
A short circuit is an unwanted, low-resistance connection between two conductors with a voltage difference, for example between live and neutral. This causes a far too high current to flow: where a circuit normally draws 6 to 16 amps, with a short circuit it can run to tens or even hundreds of amps. The protection in your meter cabinet, a fuse or circuit breaker, switches off that current extremely quickly. That is why a circuit trips and part of your home is without power.
Often a faulty appliance, moisture or a damaged cable is behind it. If the plug test does not resolve it, or if you can smell burning, it is time to stop and call. Persisting is not safe: an underlying fault can worsen. We come day and night, trace the cause expertly and repair it to NEN 1010, the standard for safe electrical installations in the home.
Warning signs
How to recognise a short circuit
These signs point to a short circuit or a related fault. If you recognise any of them, stop resetting and work through the plug test; if in doubt, with smoke or a burning smell, call immediately.
A circuit trips with a click
The fuse or circuit breaker trips and part of your home is dark. If the circuit trips again immediately without any appliances connected, there is more going on.
Burning or melting smell
A sharp, electrical smell after a circuit trips is an urgent sign. Do not switch back on: leave the power off and call.
Black mark or soot
A brown or black mark near a socket, switch or junction box is the trace of an arc. Have a certified electrician look at this.
Ticking or crackling sound
A ticking, crackling or hissing sound near a socket or switch points to loose contacts and small sparks. Keep away from it and report it.
An appliance becomes hot or discolours
A charger, kettle or other appliance that becomes hot, discolours or melts may be the source. Unplug it and do not use it again.
The circuit keeps tripping
Repeated tripping that does not stop, or a warm fuse box, is a sign of a structural fault. Persisting increases the fire and shock risk.
How we work
How we handle an emergency fault
From the first call to a tested installation: clear, safe and hassle-free.
- 1
Telephone triage
We find out which areas have lost power, what has tripped in the meter cabinet and whether you can see burning, smoke or damage. That tells us whether the problem is in your installation or with the grid.
- 2
De-energise and inspect
On site we switch off the main switch and inspect the meter cabinet and fuse box. We find out what was running and whether there were any smells or sounds.
- 3
Trace the fault
We segment the installation and measure with an insulation tester, voltmeter and clamp meter. That way we eliminate circuits and appliances until the short circuit is found.
- 4
Repair and test
From replacing a socket or appliance to fitting new cabling: we fix it, measure the circuits and test the RCD. We then hand over neatly.
DIY?
What can you do yourself with a short circuit?
You can safely carry out a simple check to see which appliance is causing the short circuit. If the circuit keeps tripping or you can smell burning, leave it to a certified electrician.
What you can do yourself
- Switch the circuit or main switch off
- Unplug all appliances on the tripping circuit
- Switch the circuit back on and plug the appliances in one by one
- If you find the appliance that way, have it checked
What to leave to a certified electrician
- Keep resetting if the circuit keeps tripping
- Open the meter cabinet or wiring yourself
- Continue if there is a burning smell or a warm switch: call immediately
Good to know
Understanding short circuits, in plain English
A few things that often raise questions with a short circuit. We explain them calmly so you know what you can do yourself and where the line is.
What exactly is a short circuit?
With a short circuit, two conductors with a voltage difference suddenly make direct contact, with almost no resistance between them. The current takes the path of least resistance and shoots up. Your protection is designed for this: a fuse blows, or a circuit breaker switches off in milliseconds via its magnetic section.
Good to know: with a properly working protection system, a short circuit itself does not usually cause a large fire. The risk lies mainly in the combination with overload, overheating and an outdated or faulty installation. That is exactly why it is important that the cause is actually found, not just that the circuit is reset.
The difference between a short circuit, an earth leakage fault and overload
These three are often confused, but they are not the same. With a short circuit, a high fault current flows between conductors and the circuit fuse or breaker trips. With an earth leakage fault, current leaks to earth, for example from moisture or a faulty appliance. The RCD then measures the difference between live and neutral and trips at around 30 milliamps, often with several rooms going dark at once.
Overload is different again: then there is gradually too much load on a circuit, for example continuously 20 to 25 amps on a 16-amp circuit. The thermal protection then trips after some time. Knowing which of the three it is determines the approach. We can tell from what has tripped and from the measurements.
Why you should not keep resetting
If a circuit trips again immediately when you switch it back on, with no appliances connected, the fault is in the wiring or a connection point. A loose connection or a damaged cable can heat up with repeated resetting and in the worst case cause a fire, even though the protection trips neatly each time.
Intermittent faults that only occur occasionally are almost impossible for a layperson to find. That requires measuring equipment and knowledge of NEN 1010. Therefore never work on sealed parts such as the main fuse or the meter, and do not take your own measurements on components that are live. In the event of smoke or fire: first switch off the power at the meter cabinet, and call 112 if it is a larger fire.
Short circuit, earth leakage or overload?
Three faults that are often confused. For reference, the differences, so you can better assess what is happening. In the meter cabinet you can usually see which protection has tripped.
| Fault | What happens | What trips |
|---|---|---|
| Short circuit | High fault current between conductors, abrupt | The circuit fuse or circuit breaker |
| Earth leakage fault | Leakage current to earth, for example from moisture | The RCD (around 30 mA), often multiple circuits |
| Overload | Gradually too much current on a circuit | The thermal protection, after a delay |
Simplified overview. The main switch is an operating device, not a protection: you switch that off yourself. If in doubt, we measure what is actually happening.
Price
What does short-circuit repair cost?
The price depends on the time of day and the complexity: a short-circuiting appliance is found quickly, a fault in a cable in the wall takes more time. That is why we look first and then give you a fixed price upfront via a quote. All prices are indicative and include VAT.
Common extras:
- Emergency call-out in the evening, at night or at the weekend, call-out charge plus first inspection
- New cabling or junction box for a damaged cable
- Replacing an RCD circuit breaker or additional protection
- Upgrading the fuse box if the installation is outdated
Price guide
Fixed price upfront| Hourly rate during office hours | € 65 to € 85 per hour |
| Emergency, evening, night or weekend | € 120 to € 150 per hour |
| Call-out charge | € 30 to € 50 |
| Fault tracing and repair (total) | € 150 to € 500 |
| Socket replacement | € 100 to € 150 |
| Fuse box replacement | € 800 to € 1,450 |
Indicative prices incl. VAT. You will always receive a tailored quote.
Related services
Often goes together with
Short-circuit repair links to emergency help, grid faults and sometimes your fuse box. These services connect to it.
Emergency electrician
Need immediate help with an acute fault? Our emergency electrician is available 24/7 across all of Noord-Brabant.
More infoBreakdown service
Not sure whether the problem is in your installation or with the grid? Our breakdown service will find out quickly.
More infoPower outage
Completely without power? We go through the meter cabinet together and find the cause.
More infoReplace the fuse box
Do fuses keep blowing or is the fuse box outdated? Upgrading to NEN 1010 is often the sensible choice.
More infoWhy Brabant Elektra
Certified, insured and guaranteed
All our engineers are qualified and work to the NEN 1010 standard. We give a 2-year guarantee on all our work. Reliable work you can count on.
Frequently asked questions
Good to know
Service area
Short-circuit repair in Noord-Brabant
If only your home is without power, the problem is almost certainly in your own installation and we are the right people to call. If several homes in the street have lost power, it is a grid fault. Check that first with your postcode at grid operator Enexis, or call the national breakdown number 0800-9009, which is free 24 hours a day. A fault usually appears on the fault map within a quarter of an hour.
If there is no general fault and no planned maintenance, an emergency electrician is the right choice. We work across all of Noord-Brabant, from Eindhoven to Breda and the surrounding villages, and we are available day and night. So you are never without power for long.
Service area
Across Noord-Brabant
From major cities to smaller towns, active in:
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