Circuit breaker trips—they can be frustrating, especially when they happen frequently, and without warning or explanation! If you want to know why your electric fuse box has tripped, and how to fix it, look no further.
HTS Electrical Ltd have all the answers to your burning questions about how to fix a tripped fuse, identify a faulty or misused appliance, and fix a breaker that keeps tripping.
While you may not be able to fix a tripped fuse yourself (and you should always contact a qualified electrician from HTS Electrical to undertake work on faulty electrics), it’s good to educate yourself on the reasons why electrical faults take place, as well as learn how to identify faulty connections, and in doing so, prevent electrical fires.
Get in touch with our friendly team to discuss your faulty circuit breaker needs, including services ranging from a simple repair to power socket placement and circuit breaker panel upgrades.
Understanding Your Electrical System
Your fuse box (or circuit breaker, or consumer unit) is an electrical panel where the electricity in your home is controlled and distributed.
All properties have this main breaker system, as it’s the electrical hub that controls and distributes the electricity around the home.
Your fuse box is your first point of call if you need to turn your electricity off in an emergency, or if the electricity in your house suddenly stops working. It also detects unusual activity (by tripping), as this tripping action is the fuse box cutting off electricity if it gets too high or surges.
Common Causes of Tripped Electrical Circuits
There are a few common causes for tripped electrical circuits in your circuit breaker fuse system, and it’s important to understand each one—then you can take steps to prevent it from happening again.
Overloaded Circuit
An overloaded circuit usually occurs because too many appliances are plugged into the same circuit. Having too many devices connected to one circuit is dangerous, and electrical appliances should be distributed across multiple sockets and are compatible with their capacity.
Using too many appliances on extension leads or extension cords can also cause an overloaded circuit, and lead to a tripped fuse.
Signs of an overloaded circuit include overheating, a burning smell, flickering lights, or appliances shutting off seemingly randomly.
Short Circuit
A short circuit occurs when there’s a low-resistance connection between two points in an electrical circuit. This can occur in an outlet, a switch, or inside an appliance when the following happens: overheating, electrical fires, or damage to electronic devices, systems, and appliances.
Light switches can short circuit, especially if they are faulty, damaged, or have loose connections. This short circuit can cause fuse trips, especially in an old fashioned fuse box.
Ground Fault
A ground fault is a specific type of short circuit that occurs when a hot wire touches a grounded part of a switch box, appliance, or bare ground wire. This event causes the circuit breaker and associated outlets to trip.
Ground faults may occur due to: water and electricity making contact, worn-out components, or electrical shorts.
Identifying and Fixing Faulty Appliances
So your fuse box tripped—now what? It’s time to identify which appliance belongs to the tripped circuit breaker.
If a faulty electrical appliance is to blame, HTS Electrical can find it. Contact us today for domestic and commercial electrical repairs.
Which appliance is faulty?
To start our investigation, one of our qualified electricians will note which set of lights or sockets are not working, then unplug all appliances on the problem circuit and switch off immersion heaters.
They will then switch the tripped switch on and plug in appliances one by one until the trip goes again. Finally, they’ll leave the faulty appliance unplugged and repair it (if possible).
What should I do with the faulty appliance?
If you find the faulty appliance, don’t use it again until you’ve had it checked over. If it’s new and still under warranty, take it back to the shop you bought it from and get a refund or replacement.
Safety Measures For Fuse Boxes
Modern electric circuits have fail safes in place to prevent circuit overloads and avoid electrical fires or other damage. However, it’s good to know how to keep your breaker box safe.
Is it dangerous if a circuit breaker keeps tripping?
Yes, it can be dangerous if your circuit breaker keeps tripping. This is usually a sign that it’s overloaded and indicates a higher risk of electrical fire or permanently damaging appliances.
HTS Electrical can help! Contact our friendly team today, and we can diagnose the cause and fix the issue.
Troubleshooting a Tripped Fuse Box
To find out what is tripping your circuit breaker fuse system, you should turn off all the electronics or appliances in the affected area, reset the breaker, and then turn them back on one at a time.
If the breaker trips after you turn a particular appliance on, that’s the culprit.
HTS Electrical can help identify if you need a dedicated circuit to allow you to run all appliances at once.
Preventing Future Trips
To prevent circuit overloads in future, HTS Electrical can put your large appliances on their own, dedicated circuits. If circuit overloads keep happening in your home on a regular basis; in your kitchen, for example, you may need to install a new circuit and socket to handle the amperage load.
When to Call a Professional Electrician from HTS Electrical
If the circuit trips again immediately after being reset or the breaker switch keeps turning off without apparent cause, it’s time to bring in a professional electrician from HTS Electrical.
Some problems may be too complex or dangerous for an amateur to handle, so if in doubt, seek expert help from our friendly team.
FAQs
Why does my plug socket keep tripping the fuse box?
Your plug socket may be tripping the fuse box due to an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance, or an issue with the wiring. Overloading happens when too many high-powered devices are plugged in, while faulty wiring or a damaged socket can cause short circuits, triggering the breaker for safety.
How many times can a breaker trip before it needs to be replaced?
Circuit breakers are designed to trip multiple times as a safety feature, but frequent tripping can wear them out. If your breaker trips repeatedly or fails to reset, it may indicate an underlying electrical issue or that the breaker itself needs replacing by a qualified electrician.
How do I find out what is tripping my fuse box?
To determine what is tripping your fuse box, start by unplugging all devices and resetting the breaker. Plug items back in one at a time to see which one causes the trip. If the breaker trips with nothing plugged in, there may be a wiring issue, and you should contact a professional electrician for an inspection.
Why does my socket keep tripping when nothing is plugged in?
If a socket trips the fuse box even when nothing is plugged in, it could be due to faulty wiring, moisture inside the socket, or a damaged circuit. This is a sign of an electrical issue that needs professional attention, so it’s best to call an electrician from HTS Electrical to diagnose and fix the problem.
