Looking for a Trip switch faulty Electrician?

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1) What is a trip switch?

A trip switch is a general term used to describe a protective device in a consumer unit, fuse board, electrical panel, or mains electrical box. There are several types of these trip switches and each has a different purpose and will trip for an almost endless list of reasons. 

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2) What to do if you have a trip switch problem?

There are many reasons why a trip switch may operate and disconnect the electrical supply to a circuit or group of circuits. When a trip switch operates, you need to check WHAT TYPE of trip switch it is. The TYPE of trip switch may offer your electrician some insight when you call them if home fixes don’t work.
Just because your switch is tripping, does not mean that you have a TRIP SWITCH FAULTY there could just be an electrical issue that needs attention. Read on for more information.

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3) Types of Trip Switch

RCD

There is the RCD / RCCB / RCB trip switch that is pictured. These trip switches have a test button on them and normally RCD, RCB, RCCB, ELCB written somewhere on the device. The abbreviations don’t matter, these all operate in a similar way and the problems that cause them to trip will be the same. 

What to do when an RCD trips?

When an RCD trips there will be one circuit that is causing the problem. This might be sockets, lights, or cooker for instance. We need to find out which circuit it is. Follow our help sheet for information.

MCB

The MCB is a single width trip switch compared to an RCD and its double width. It is a miniature circuit breaker (or circuit breaker) and operates slightly differently to an RCD.

(Old Fashioned MCB Trip Switches)

If an MCB is tripping then things are slightly less complicated than with an RCD. 

An MCB trips for two reasons:

• Gradual overload
• Sudden overload

If the MCB trips with a bang then it has been subject to a sudden overload rather than a gradual overload. 

Gradual Overload Causes

Too many electrical appliances being used on the electrical circuit at the same time. Try unplugging some of them and using less.

Sudden Overload Causes

There is an electrical fault such as a short circuit, loose connection, faulty wiring, faulty electrical appliances connected, water in electrics or damage to a cable. 

Possible fixes for sudden overload

Let’s say for example, that the sockets circuit for the kitchen is tripping. A quick way of checking and saving some money on an electrician is to unplug ALL the kitchen appliances. 
When I say unplug, I must be specific. Do not simply turn the switches off, PULL THE PLUG out of the sockets. 

Once EVERYTHING is unplugged, you may try resetting the MCB trip switch. If the switch does not reset then call an electrician. If the switch resets and then blows again within a short period, call an electrician. 

If the switch stays on and does not blow then it is possible you have a faulty appliance or several electrical appliances and NOT an electrical fault with the electrical circuits. 

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4) Why does an MCB make a Bang noise when it trips?

There are three types of electrical fault that will cause an MCB to trip, riveting I know, but nevertheless here they are. 😊

• SHORT CIRCUIT
• EARTH FAULT or GROUND FAULT
• OVERLOAD

(A badly damaged MCB)

FIRSTLY, what do each of the coloured wires do?

There are three wires in healthy electrical circuits known as the Line the Neutral (both of which are referred to as Live Wires or conductors) and the Earth (or circuit protective conductor if you want to be geeky)

The LINE carries electrical current to the appliances, light bulbs, TV, and anything else that uses electric in your home. This wire is Brown in newer systems and Red in older systems.

The Neutral carries the electrical current BACK to the start of the circuit at the consumer unit. This wire is Blue in newer systems and Black in older systems. 

The EARTH helps the circuit to turn off when there is an electrical fault, protects us from electric shock and is a nice green and yellow colour in most systems. 

Fault 1 The Short Circuit / Shorting Out / Shorted / ‘Fusing’

What is Shorting out?

Under normal circumstances Line and Neutral are completely separated from each other inside the cable, inside appliances and throughout the whole electrical system. The only time that they are connected together is when there is an electrical appliance in the circuit. 

The appliance has a RESISTANCE inside it which means that when the LINE is connected and the electrical current flows through the appliance to NEUTRAL there is something limiting the SIZE of the electrical current. 

When there is NO RESISTANCE (or miniscule resistance) such as when LINE and NEUTRAL touch each other unintentionally, there is a MASSIVE electrical fault current that flows in the circuit. 

This electrical fault current will set fire to cables quickly and result in a serious fire UNLESS the circuit is turned off. That is where the MCB device steps in to quickly disconnect the circuit when there is a fault.

This fault will cause a BANG to occur when the MCB switches off.

The Earth Fault / Ground Fault

In a normal healthy circuit. Line and Neutral have NO CONNECTION to EARTH. 

Where there is an earth fault or ground fault there is a connection to earth. When the MCB detects a Line to Earth Fault it will trip off if the fault is of a low enough resistance. 

This fault MAY cause a BANG to occur when the MCB switches off.

The Gradual Overload Fault

This is not so much an electrical fault as a user error or design flaw with the system. A gradual increase in the amount of electrical flowing through the circuit by the use of too many electrical devices will case a tripped circuit breaker. The most common reason is lots of kitchen appliances causing an overload on the circuit. 

This fault will NOT cause a BANG when the MCB switches off. The MCB will usually switch off with a gentle click. 

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5) What are the common causes of a Short Circuit?

Electrical problems like a short circuit can be caused when appliances have been moved around. If you have recently had to pull the washing machine out, move the tumble dryer or other appliance, check that the electrical cord has not been trapped by the appliance. 

A trapped cord will usually result in circuit breaker trips with no apparent cause. It is a good idea to check these things first before calling an electrician. 

A short can be caused by a melted or burnt out plug socket. Light Switches can short out, cables can become loose in the back of electrical accessories and appliances can go faulty. There are many possible causes of a short circuit but in many cases, a qualified electrician will need to called to investigate the issue.

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6) What are the common causes for a Ground Fault or Earth Fault?

The earth fault can be caused by similar issues as the short circuit fault. Where a live wire (Line or Neutral) comes loose from an electrical accessory and touches an earthed part, this will result in a ground fault. A faulty electrical appliance can also result in a ground fault. 

Again, check for any trapped electrical wiring or extension cords that have become damaged. It is easy to trap wires behind appliances and not realise. 

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7) What are the causes for electrical overload faults?

Quite simply, using too many electrical appliances. The first thing to check is the main fuse box to see what has tripped. Then try and remember which appliances were running at the same time. The tripped switch will normally have an indication of the electrical equipment that it supplies e.g. “sockets”, “lights” and so on. 

Where an electric shower breaker has tripped, check that the rating of the shower is not more than the rating of the circuit breaker. It is common for electric showers to be replaced by unqualified individuals who install showers that are too powerful for the circuit that supplies them. 

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8) Immersion Heater Tripped Switch

Where the electric supply has gone off in the night or at the same times of day, it is possible that the immersion heater is causing the problem. Check and see what has tripped in the fuse box and if you are unsure then just contact us on WhatsApp on the website and we will do our best to help.

(An immersion heater investigation)

When an immersion heater element goes faulty, they are notorious for tripping the electrics out in your home. A professional electrician can perform some electrical testing to determine if the immersion heather element is faulty. 

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9) What electrical checks can an electrician carry out?

A professional electrician can check your home’s electrical system for electrical faults, electrical dangers, and many other issues. If you suspect that you are overloading a circuit, an electrician can measure the electric current as the flow of electricity goes through the appliances and electrical wires. 

Their equipment can tell them how much electrical current is being used and they can determine if there is an electrical overload or if the issue might be a faulty circuit breaker.  

If there are short circuit or ground fault issues, electricians can check each light fixture or plug sockets to determine what is causing the problem. There are different pieces of test equipment that can be used to determine WHY an MCB might be tripping and what can be done to fix the problem. 

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10) What if the fault cannot be found?

The cause of the tripping is not ALWAYS immediately obvious and if the fault cannot be replicated whilst the electrician is on site at your home AND the test equipment does not show a fault then it may be an intermittent issue with an appliance OR with the electricity supply.

(Electrical Test Equipment)

Most issues can be found fairly quickly by electricians but occasionally there may be some detective work that is necessary on your part in order to find what tripped the electricity supply or what is causing the breaker to appear faulty. 

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11) How do I know if my Fuse Box is Faulty?

There are some signs that the fuse box or consumer unit may not be operating properly or is past its sell by date so to speak. A TRIP SWITCH FAULTY may be an early indication that parts of the fuse box are beginning to fail. 

If you discover any of these signs then its best to have the fuse box checked out by a professional:

• Fusebox is Hot 
• Main Switch Tripping but nothing plugged in
• Fusebox is buzzing 
• Fusebox or consumer unit bangs or pops  
• Consumer unit is warm 

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12) Traditional Fuse Boxes or Modern Consumer Unit

Modern electric circuits rarely go wrong but older electrical installations often contain hidden dangers and old equipment. If you have a fuse box that relies on fuse wire as a circuit breaker fuse system then it is not going to be to current regulations. 

Circuit overload in fuse wire boxes is dealt with by melting or exploding a piece of wire to break the electrical circuit. A rather crude and outdated form of circuit protection. This type of old-fashioned fuse box is still in use in many homes but without regular inspection, they can present a danger.

(An old Fuse Wire Fuse Box)

If your fuse box is very old or your electrical system has not been checked in the last ten years then, as a safety measure, have an electrician check the system out for you. For a few hundred pounds an electrician can perform a thorough safety check of the wiring, the earthing, the fuse box, and the electrical accessories in your home. 

It is best to do this before an electrical emergency occurs!

A consumer unit is the most modern form of circuit protection. Our article answers EVERY POSSIBLE QUESTION you might have regarding new consumer units. 

Before considering upgrading your older fuse board to a new consumer unit, its worth checking if your old wiring will actually survive the installation of a new consumer unit. When replacing the brains of the electrical system for a modern, intelligent and tech filled box, hidden defects will now be detected and can cause nuisance tripping. Our article explains in more detail. 

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13) Is my RCD broken?

The Residual Current Device is a LIVE SAVING device that stops you from receiving an electric shock that would otherwise seriously harm you. 

These devices are designed to detect tiny amounts of electrical current missing from the electrical system and turn off the supply to the affected circuit(s). The device assumes that the missing electrical current is leaking through somebody causing them to suffer electrical shock. 

They cannot distinguish between an electric shock and a fault appliance though, so not ideal. 

These RCD / RCB / RCCB devices will eventually go faulty and should be tested by YOU every 6 months to ensure that they are operating as intended. Whilst electricians will check more thoroughly and carry out specific tests it’s a good idea to check yourself. You can do this by pressing the reset button yourself.

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14) Why are new trip switches and consumer units so expensive?

Consider the AGE of your home electrics.  

Many of our older homes have never been rewired or had a new consumer unit installed. The average cost of a consumer unit in 2024 is between £850 and £1600 depending upon the size of the electrical system and property. 

Consumer units will easily last 15 years or more, in fact, many consumer units and fuse boxes are several decades old. When we compare the cost of this to other home expenses such as a new Gas Boiler at £2500 or more that will last ten years, consumer units are incredible value. 

Wiring systems that are maintained, worked on, and checked regularly by a professional will last, in many cases, in excess of 50 years. Again, incredible value for a rewire!

New consumer units protect against electric shocks, stray electric currents, short circuits, arcing, electrical fire, electrical surges, and overload FAR BETTER than anything ever has.

If you genuinely have a TRIP SWITCH FAULTY then it may be time to upgrade to the latest technology.  

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15) Summary

If you have a faulty trip switch problem anywhere from Liverpool to Leigh then get in touch. We can help you quickest if you call:

0151 351 4011

01925 595 980

Or use WhatsApp on our website. 
 

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