Fuse Box Tripping Nothing Plugged In

1) We seldom have electrical problems in our homes but when we do, it can be quite unnerving and worrying.

Our homes electrical system should be designed and installed by the electrician carrying out the work to keep everyone safe and with plenty of features for doing so. 

When electrical systems are poorly designed, installed on the cheap, aging, subject to alterations or have not been adequately maintained, we can see problems occurring. These electrical problems can sometimes go unnoticed if the system is poorly designed or the consumer unit is not equipped to detect them. 

Often, these problems are noticed by the consumer unit and this unit and its components act to turn off the supply to the affected circuit or circuits. This is its intended purpose, to keep us all safe and prevent electrical overload and fires. When switches trip there are electrical issues that require attention.

If you have a “FUSE BOX TRIPPING NOTHING PLUGGED IN” then you may have an issue with the wiring in your home that requires professional help in order to put it right. 

2) Can I try anything before calling a 24 - hour electrician?☎️

Yes. Very often, people tend to forget that there are things still plugged in in the home. Common culprits reside in the kitchen such as washing machines, fridges, dishwashers, and extractor fans. These appliances will typically be plugged in at the rear of the appliance or elsewhere in a hidden location for aesthetic reasons and as such, the plugs can be forgotten or difficult to reach.

Double check all the appliances are unplugged and not simply turned off, unplugged.

3) Do not forget outside!🌳

Take some time to think if there are electrical items outside like an outdoor floodlight, outdoor socket or some garden lighting. Pond pumps are regular culprits and can cause mayhem with electrical systems when they start to fail. Outdoor floodlights sometimes have a switch inside on the wall behind them which turns them off, if there is one, remember to turn the swich off. 

4) Now, try to reset the breaker. 

If the breaker re-sets, then all is good. If the breaker trips off again straight away or soon after then there is still an electrical problem. If there is an electrical problem then you have done all you can and its time to pass the buck to the emergency electrician. 

5) What kinds of electrical problems cause this?

Circuit breakers trip because of short circuit or prolonged overload. 

RCD switches trip because of earth leakage.

Helpful? No? Then let me explain better. 

A circuit breaker is designed to prevent too many electrical appliances being used at the same time causing an electrical overload. Too many appliances will overpower the electrical cable in the circuit and cause a fire so the circuit breaker helps prevent this. The circuit breaker also detects short circuit connections between Line and Neutral or Line and Earth. So, think, nail through a cable or wires touching. 😊

An RCD switch detects more subtle problems like water getting into electrical things, rodent damage, neutral to earth faults but mainly its purpose is to prevent electric shock and electrocution. These switches are super sensitive and will normally trip before anything else does. 

An RCBO switch is a combined RCD and circuit breaker and does both functions. They take up less space and are incredibly sensitive picking up on most problems. 

An AFDD Are an Arc Fault Detection Device and, at the time of writing, very few of these devices are currently installed in homes as the technology to the domestic market is somewhat new. These devices will detect all the above AND ARCING faults. 

6) What might have happened to cause it?🕵️

Any number of issues can have occurred in order to cause a “FUSE BOX TRIPPING NOTHING PLUGGED IN”

• Cable damage is typical. Drilling and screwing into walls and ceilings can hit electrical cables causing chaos and expensive repairs. 
• Rodents can chew on wires causing cable damage and the need for repairs, this will often cause an RCD to trip before a circuit breaker device. 
• Water Ingress into circuits, cables and equipment
• Accidental damage to wiring, typical situations are chucking stuff into lofts or standing on wiring
• Too many appliances turned on at one time
• Faulty circuit breaker or RCD. These devices can occasionally go bad and cause problems. 

7) Who you gonna call?☎️

The ghostbusters of course... 👻😊

...Only kidding. But as emergency electricians we are still pretty cool and turn up with torches, test equipment and other interesting gear. If you have electrical problems between Liverpool and Leigh then give us a shout and we will attend day or night to sort things out for you. Check out our emergency electrician page for further information and first hour costs. 

https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/emergency-electrician 

7.1) Our contact info:

📞 0151 351 4011

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