Why Your Power Keeps Tripping (And What It’s Trying To Tell You)

Circuit breakers and RCDs are designed to trip for one reason — to protect your home.

If your power trips occasionally, it might not be a major issue. But if it’s happening regularly, your electrical system is trying to tell you something isn’t right.

Here’s what causes power to trip, what it means, and when to call an electrician.

Common Reasons Power Trips

⚡️ Overloaded circuits

Modern homes run more appliances than ever. When too many high-demand appliances share a circuit, it can overload and trip.

⚡️ Air conditioning load

In summer, air conditioners place heavy demand on electrical systems — especially if paired with ovens, dryers, or dishwashers.

⚡️ Faulty power points or wiring

Loose connections or damaged wiring can trigger safety devices.

⚡️ Old or undersized switchboards

Older switchboards weren’t designed for today’s power usage and can struggle under load.

⚡️ RCDs detecting faults

RCDs trip when they sense an electrical imbalance — even small faults matter.

What Different Tripping Patterns Mean

• Trips once and stays on: likely temporary overload

• Trips repeatedly: ongoing issue that needs investigation

• Won’t reset at all: fault still present — stop and call an electrician

Repeatedly resetting breakers without fixing the cause can increase the risk of damage or overheating.

What to Do If Your Power Trips

✅ Reset once only

✅ Unplug appliances on that circuit

✅ Call a licensed electrician if it continues

✅ Don’t ignore ongoing tripping

✅ Don’t rely on power boards or extension leads

Need Help?

If your power keeps tripping or you’re unsure what’s causing it, our electricians can safely find the issue and get your system running reliably again.

👉 Fill out the form below to book a job or request a call back.