Why Does My Fuse Keep Tripping?
It’s no secret that our lives nowadays rely a lot on technology and electrical appliances. This is why it’s even more important to quickly diagnose what might be causing a fuse to keep tripping. There is little more frustrating than when you are in the middle of something important, be it working from home or making that all important cup of tea, only to have the power suddenly cut.
As a one-off, it’s annoying but not necessarily worrying. But when it starts happening on a regular basis, it’s increasingly important to find out the cause. Has there been an overload or is there a fault? In this blog, we will share some preliminary steps you can take to understand and see if it’s something you could potentially fix yourself. We’ll also share when it’s time to call for an electrician.
Understanding the Electrical Circuit – The Basics
Here’s a crash course in the very basics of how electrics work in a home environment. An electrical circuit is the pathway for electricity to flow through your home. It’s like a network of roads, with one main junction — the fuse box — where the electricity is distributed to different sections of your home (most often it’s room by room).
Certain appliances like the fridge/freezer, the oven, a dishwasher, and washing machine need to be isolated since they are more heavy-duty (as far as appliances go) and need a higher voltage.
The job of the fuse box is to manage the electricity’s output and input. If the current flow is excessive or if there is a short circuit, then it will break or trip. Essentially, it cuts the power to a section of the house or the whole house to avoid a fire and other hazards. Understanding these potential dangers is crucial for your safety and the safety of your home.
Reasons Why a Fuse Might Trip Often
To understand why a fuse might trip often, it is essential to find the culprit.
We’ll look at the main three reasons why fuses may trip:
- A short circuit
- Circuit overload
- A ground fault
We’ll share how to identify what might be causing a fuse to trip repeatedly as well as how to resolve it safely – what you can do and when to involve someone qualified.
A Short Circuit – It could be a sign of a short circuit if you notice your fuse frequently tripping, accompanied by a spark, smoke, or a distinct burning smell from an outlet or appliance.
Solving a short circuit: Switch off the circuit when a fuse trips due to a short circuit. If Then 8call a qualified electrician who’ll be able to repair the wiring.
Overload – A clue to a circuit overload would be flickering lights, or warm plugs and switches. Overload happens when you connect too many electrical devices to a single circuit or outlet. This then draws more current than the circuit can handle. This can lead to overheating and potentially a fire hazard. Extension plugs where multiple appliances are connected to one socket can be a common cause. Non-dimmable lights connected to a dimmable switch can be another culprit. Microwaves, kettles and toasters are also notorious for overloading and tripping a circuit.
Solving an overloaded circuit: To address an overloaded circuit with a tripped fuse, unplug some devices to reduce the load. Try connecting each device or appliance one by one to the primary plug point. The culprit will trip the circuit when connected again. Then try connecting it to another plug point elsewhere in the house. Generally, you should consider redistributing devices across different circuits or using surge-protected power strips.
If you are unable to find the cause, book an electrician to investigate and solve the problem!
Ground fault – A ground fault occurs when a live wire comes into contact with the grounding system, creating a path for live current to flow. This can result in electrical shocks and fire hazards. For example, if a faulty appliance with exposed wiring comes into contact with a metal surface, it can cause a ground fault. Ground faults can be detected by GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets or breakers. These trip when they sense a current leakage.
Solving a ground fault: If you suspect a ground fault, contact a professional to investigate. These are dangerous and can be deadly if not found and treated correctly.
What To Do If Your Fuse Keeps Tripping
If after you have tried the steps above, your circuit and fuse board is still tripping then it is time to call a qualified electrician. Fuse tripping is a sign that something is not quite right (and potentially very wrong). It is worth keeping you, your family and flatmates safe.
Once fixed, you can relax and rest assured that it won’t happen again.
When You Need a Professional
Fuse tripping once or twice is normal, but if you are experiencing it on a regular basis, then it is time you take it seriously and start looking for the culprit. Whether it is a short circuit, overload or ground fault, it is essential to understand what is causing this damage. Fuse tripping is your fuse box’s way of telling you something is wrong.
This blog helps you understand and identify the cause of the fuse and what needs to be done. There are some initial steps that you can safely carry out. However, electrical issues are hazardous. When the problem is complex, you will need to get a professional electrician to investigate the problem.
Also, bear in mind that the older the property (unless you’ve had a recent rewire), the more prone it will be to issues.
