Faulty appliances
Kettles, washing machines, immersion heaters and outdoor equipment are the usual suspects. A worn element or damaged lead leaks current to earth and the RCD trips.
Tripping Fuse Box & RCD Repairs in Cardiff
Trip switch flicking off, or will not reset at all? A qualified Cardiff electrician can talk you through it on the phone and come out day or night to find the fault and get your power back on.
- Fast Response
- Upfront Pricing
- Part P Registered
- Fully Insured
Day, night, weekends & bank holidays
Fully insured, qualified electricians
Clear fixed quotes, no surprises
Local to Cardiff & the Vale
24/7emergency
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Why your fuse box keeps tripping
A tripping switch is doing its job. Something is wrong on the circuit.
Modern consumer units use RCDs and circuit breakers to cut the power the moment they detect a fault, such as current leaking to earth or a circuit drawing more than it safely can. That protects you from shocks and fires, but it also means the trip will keep happening until the cause is found.
We test each circuit and the appliances on it to pinpoint the problem, whether that is a faulty kettle, water in an outdoor socket, a damaged cable or a failing breaker. We repair it properly, explain what we found and only recommend a new consumer unit if yours genuinely needs replacing.
Call us if you notice:
- Trip switch will not stay up
- RCD trips at random times
- Trips when one appliance is used
- Trips during heavy rain
- Whole house goes off at once
- Breaker feels hot or buzzes
Common causes
Common reasons a fuse box trips
We test properly to find the real cause, so the problem is fixed rather than patched.
Water and damp
Rain getting into outside sockets, lights or a garden supply, or a leak inside, is a very common cause of RCDs tripping, especially in wet weather.
Overloaded circuits
Too many high-power appliances on one circuit, such as heaters, dryers and cookers, can draw more current than the breaker allows.
Damaged cables
A nail or screw through a cable, rodent damage or old perished wiring can create a fault that trips the circuit every time it is switched on.
Failing breakers or RCDs
Protective devices wear out. An old or faulty RCD can trip with no real fault, and only proper testing tells the difference.
Neutral to earth faults
Harder to find faults where wires touch inside a fitting or junction box. We use insulation resistance testing to track them down.
Before we arrive
Stay safe until we arrive.
What to do right now about tripping fuse boxes and RCDs, while a qualified electrician is on the way to you.
Unplug everything on the circuit
Switch off and unplug the appliances on the circuit that tripped. If you are not sure which circuit it is, unplug everything you safely can.
Try resetting once
Push the tripped switch back up once. If it stays on, plug appliances back in one at a time. The one that trips it is likely the culprit.
Do not keep forcing it
If the switch trips straight away with everything unplugged, leave it off. Repeated resetting can make a fault worse.
Check for water
Look for leaks near fittings, and remember outside sockets and lights. If anything is wet, leave that circuit off.
Hot, buzzing or smelling?
If the consumer unit is hot, buzzing or smells of burning, switch off at the main switch if safe and keep clear.
Call us with what you found
Tell us which switch tripped and what was on at the time. It helps us find the fault faster.
Warning signs
Does the switch trip the moment you reset it?
That points to a fault that is still connected. Leave it switched off, keep the area dry and call us. We will isolate the faulty part so the rest of your property can have power back.
Call 029 2209 0164How it works
How we fix a tripping fuse box
- 1
You call
Tell us what tripped and when. We give you a price before we set off.
- 2
We test
Every circuit is insulation tested to locate the faulty cable, appliance or fitting.
- 3
We repair
We fix or isolate the cause and restore power to the rest of the property.
- 4
We certify
Work is tested and certified, with advice if your consumer unit is due an upgrade.
Fuse box tripping right now?
Call and speak to a Cardiff electrician straight away.
Why Cardiff Emergency Electricians
Professional standards, local service.
We are a Cardiff team, not a national call centre. The person you speak to knows the city, the housing stock and how to get to you quickly.
Certified & experiencedPart P registered electricians who work to BS 7671 on every job.
Genuinely 24/7Nights, weekends and bank holidays, with no answering machine.
Homes & businessesSolutions tailored to houses, flats, HMOs, shops and offices.
Safety firstTested, certified work you can show your insurer or letting agent.
Efficient & reliableOn time, tidy, and the fault fixed properly the first time.
Other emergency call-outs
More emergency electrical services
Whatever the problem, one call gets a qualified Cardiff electrician on the way, day or night.
Power cuts & no power
Whole house or a few circuits gone dead? We find out whether it is your installation or the network and get you back on.
Find out moreBurning smells & scorch marks
A hot, fishy or burning smell, or scorched fittings, can mean something is overheating. We trace it and make it safe.
Find out moreSparking sockets & switches
Sparks, crackling or a socket that is hot to touch? We replace damaged fittings and check the circuit behind them.
Find out moreFlickering or failed lighting
Lights flickering, buzzing or a whole circuit out? We find loose connections and failed fittings before they become something worse.
Find out moreWater in your electrics
Leaks into lights, sockets or the fuse box are dangerous. We isolate the affected circuits, test them and make them safe.
Find out moreElectric shocks & exposed wiring
A shock from a fitting or appliance, or bare wires after DIY or damage, needs urgent attention. We make it safe and fix it properly.
Find out moreBusiness power loss
Shops, offices, restaurants and landlords: we restore power, emergency lighting and critical circuits fast to keep you trading.
Find out moreNot sure what the problem is?
Call and describe what is happening. We will tell you what to do right now and get an electrician on the way.
029 2209 0164Areas we cover
Fuse box repairs across Cardiff, Penarth & the Vale
From the city centre and Cardiff Bay out to Radyr, Creigiau and St Mellons, our electricians are based locally so help is never far away. Pick your area for local information. We also cover Penarth, Barry and the rest of the Vale of Glamorgan.
Check your area- Adamsdown CF24
- Birchgrove CF14
- Caerau CF5
- Canton CF11
- Cardiff Bay CF10
- Cardiff City Centre CF10
- Cathays CF24
- Creigiau CF15
- Cyncoed CF23
- Danescourt CF5
- Ely CF5
- Fairwater CF5
- Gabalfa CF14
- Grangetown CF11
- Heath CF14
- Lisvane CF14
- Llandaff CF5
- Llandaff North CF14
- Llanedeyrn CF23
- Llanishen CF14
- Llanrumney CF3
- Pentwyn CF23
- Pentyrch CF15
- Penylan CF23
- Pontcanna CF11
- Pontprennau CF23
- Radyr & Morganstown CF15
- Rhiwbina CF14
- Riverside CF11
- Roath CF24
- Rumney CF3
- Splott CF24
- St Fagans CF5
- St Mellons CF3
- Thornhill CF14
- Tongwynlais CF15
- Tremorfa CF24
- Trowbridge CF3
- Whitchurch CF14
FAQ
Your questions, answered
Common questions about tripping fuse boxes and RCDs. Still unsure? Call us and a qualified electrician will talk it through.
Why does my fuse box keep tripping?
Usually because a faulty appliance, water getting in, an overloaded circuit or damaged wiring is causing a fault. The RCD or breaker trips to protect you. Unplug appliances and reset once; if it still trips, call an electrician to test the circuits.
Is it safe to keep resetting the trip switch?
No. Resetting once to see if it holds is fine, but repeatedly forcing it back on when it trips straight away can cause damage or overheating. Leave it off and get it tested.
Can you get the rest of my house back on?
In most cases, yes. We find the faulty circuit and isolate it so everything else can be used safely while the repair is completed.
Do I need a new consumer unit?
Not always. Many tripping problems are caused by an appliance or a single circuit fault. We only recommend a replacement if your board is unsafe, damaged or lacks proper RCD protection.
How much does it cost to fix a tripping fuse box?
It depends on what is causing the fault. We agree the call-out price before we set off and explain any repair costs before we start work, so there are no surprises.
Get in touch
Need an electrician in Cardiff?
For emergencies, always call. For quotes and planned work, send us a message and we will ring you back.
24/7 emergency line 029 2209 0164