Why does my fuse box keep tripping?
A fuse box (consumer unit) that keeps tripping is usually protecting you from a fault — an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance, or a wiring problem — rather than malfunctioning on its own. A trip you can't explain, or one that keeps happening on the same circuit, is a reason to call a registered electrician rather than keep resetting it.
Sparking, a burning smell or a trip you can't explain — treat it as urgent
If it's safe to do so, isolate the affected circuit (or the whole supply) at the consumer unit and don't investigate further yourself. If there's any risk of fire, call 999 or 112 first, then arrange a Safe Electric registered electrician.
The most common cause is a single faulty appliance overloading its circuit — unplug everything on the affected circuit, reset the board, then plug items back in one at a time to isolate which one is at fault.
A trip that coincides with rain, or only affects an outdoor socket or outside light, often points to damp getting into a cable or fitting rather than an appliance fault.
Don't keep resetting a trip that recurs within minutes, and don't ignore a burning smell, scorch marks, or a board that feels warm — these are reasons to isolate the supply and call an electrician the same day.
What to check
- Which specific circuit trips — labelling your board makes this much faster to diagnose
- Whether it trips only when one particular appliance is switched on
- Any burning smell, scorch marks, or visible damage near the board
- Whether it started after wet weather (points to damp ingress outdoors)
When to call a pro
If resetting it once doesn't hold, or you can't identify a single faulty appliance.
Sources
- Safe Electric / RECI / CRU — safeelectric.ie, cru.ie (verified 1 Oct 2026; see src/data/claims.ts electricalCertSafeElectric)
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