You notice smoke, sparks, a burning smell, buzzing, heat, scorch marks, water near electrics or signs of damaged wiring. Do not touch exposed parts. Leave the affected area and call 999 if there is fire or immediate danger.
What has actually tripped?
Your consumer unit contains protective devices. A circuit breaker generally protects an individual circuit from overloads and faults. An RCD is designed to disconnect power when it detects electricity flowing along an unintended path. The labels on the consumer unit may help identify which part of the home is affected.
Common reasons electrics trip
- Too many high-demand appliances are being used on one circuit.
- An appliance, plug or cable has developed a fault.
- Moisture has reached a fitting or outdoor electrical equipment.
- A socket, light fitting or section of fixed wiring is damaged.
- The circuit or protective device requires professional testing.
What you can check safely
If there are no warning signs and you can identify the affected circuit, switch off and unplug portable appliances connected to it. A protective device may then be reset once. Reconnect appliances one at a time only if everything remains safe and dry.
If it trips again, will not reset, or you are unsure what it controls, stop. Do not keep resetting it and do not remove the consumer-unit cover.
Could it be a wider power cut?
If the whole property has lost power, check whether neighbouring properties or street lighting are also affected. In Great Britain, you can call 105 to contact the local electricity network operator. A fault limited to your property may require an electrician instead.
Information that helps an electrician
Note which switch moved, what was running at the time, whether the problem follows a particular appliance, and whether recent work, water ingress or bad weather could be relevant. Do not carry out repeated tests to gather this information.
When professional help is the right next step
Arrange help when tripping is repeated, unexplained or affects essential equipment; when a socket or fitting is damaged; when water may be involved; or whenever you are not confident that a basic check is safe.
Safety reference: Electrical Safety First advises that an RCD which keeps tripping is likely to indicate an appliance or wiring fault that should be investigated by a registered electrician. Read its electrical safety guidance.
Need an emergency electrician?
Call with the fault details and your postcode. We’ll check our approved contractor network for local availability.
Call 0800 719719 ↗