Why Does My Electric Keep Tripping? 6 Simple Safe Checks

Why does my electric keep tripping? Usually because a safety device in your consumer unit has detected a fault and switched the power off to protect you. The trip itself is the system working. The fault behind it is what needs finding, and some faults are safe to track down yourself while others mean you should stop and call an electrician.

This guide explains the common causes, a safe way to find the culprit, and the signs that mean you should stop resetting the switch. It is written for homeowners and tenants in Milton Keynes.

Why Does My Electric Keep Tripping? The Two Devices

Most modern consumer units have two kinds of protective device. Knowing which one tripped tells you a lot.

Circuit breakers (MCBs)

These protect against overload and short circuits. If one circuit trips, for example the kitchen sockets, the cause is usually too much load or a fault on that circuit.

RCDs and RCBOs

These switch off when current leaks to earth, which can happen through damaged insulation, water or a faulty appliance, and in the worst case through a person. One RCD often covers several circuits, so a single fault can switch off a large part of the house.

If your board has no RCD at all, Electrical Safety First advises using plug-in RCDs for sockets until a proper upgrade is done. See its guide to RCDs explained.

Common Causes of Tripping

If you are asking why does my electric keep tripping, the answer is usually one of these five causes.

• A faulty appliance. Kettles, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens and immersion heaters are frequent culprits.
• Overload. Too many high-power appliances on one circuit, such as heaters plugged into the same extension lead.
• Water or damp. Rain getting into outdoor sockets, lights or garden supplies, or a leak above a light fitting.
• Damaged cables. A nail or screw through a cable, or old wiring with worn insulation.
• A worn protective device. Less common, but breakers and RCDs can fail and need replacing.

How to Find the Cause Safely: 6 Simple Steps

Only do this if the consumer unit is dry, undamaged and there is no burning smell. If in doubt, stop and call.

1. Note what tripped. Was it a single breaker or an RCD? Which lights or sockets went off?
2. Unplug everything on the affected circuits, or switch off appliances at their isolator.
3. Reset the switch once. Push it firmly back to the on position.
4. If it trips straight away with nothing plugged in, leave it off. The fault is likely in the fixed wiring and needs an electrician.
5. If it holds, plug appliances back in one at a time. If it trips when one item goes in, you have probably found your faulty appliance.
6. Stop using that appliance until it has been repaired or replaced.

Do not keep resetting a switch that keeps going off. It is tripping to protect you.

Why Does My Electric Keep Tripping at Certain Times?

The pattern of tripping is a useful clue. If you are wondering why does my electric keep tripping, the first useful question is when it happens.

When it rains

Tripping in wet weather points to water getting into an outdoor socket, garden lighting, an outbuilding supply or a light under a leaking roof. Keep away from wet fittings and call an electrician.

Why does my electric keep tripping at night?

Random trips can come from appliances that switch on by themselves, such as fridges, freezers, immersion heaters or anything on a timer. Note the time and what was running.

Why does my electric keep tripping when the kettle goes on?

A trip as a high-power appliance starts can be overload on that circuit, or a fault in the appliance itself. Try the appliance on a different circuit only if it looks and smells normal.

When to Stop and Call an Electrician

Call straight away, and do not reset, if you notice any of these:

• A burning or fishy smell, scorch marks or melted plastic
• Crackling, buzzing or sparks from the board, a socket or a switch
• A socket, plug or switch that feels hot
• Water near the consumer unit, sockets or lights
• The switch trips immediately with everything unplugged
• Anyone has had a shock

If someone has been hurt or there is fire or smoke, leave the property and call 999. NICEIC’s advice is to switch off at the consumer unit only if it is safe to do so, and never to attempt DIY repairs on electrical systems.

Dream Home Experts provides 24/7 emergency call-outs in Milton Keynes. Our electricians use proper test equipment to trace faults, rather than guessing and swapping parts.

Is It a Power Cut or a Trip?

If everything is off, check the consumer unit first. If no switches have moved and your neighbours or street lights are also off, it is probably a power cut. Call 105, the free national power cut number, to report it.

Preventing Repeat Trips

Once the fault is fixed, a few changes can stop you asking why does my electric keep tripping all over again:

• Spread high-power appliances across different circuits
• Avoid daisy-chaining extension leads
• Replace damaged outdoor sockets with weatherproof ones
• Consider an RCBO board, so a fault only switches off one circuit
• Have an EICR if the wiring is old or the history is unknown

If your board is old or has no RCD protection, read our guide to fuse box replacement. For what to do in a wider emergency, see our electrical emergency guide.