If a tripping circuit occurs, stop and think about any appliance you are using, consider one of these may have tripped your Safety Switch due to a fault. (If it is raining or has been raining recently, you may have water ingress in an external light fitting or powerpoint)

Follow these instructions to help re-energize your Electrical circuits:

STEP 1:

Identify the type of Switchboard you have from the options below:

NOTE: The LEFT style Switchboard is easily identified by the size of the Safety Switch or Residual Current Device.
The RCD will be twice the thickness of all other circuit breakers and should be labeled accordingly.

  • Check if the switchboard circuit is labeled to identify what circuit is tripping
  • If ALL the power is affected; Scroll to Step 2.
  • If only some of the powerpoints and/or lights are affected, identify ONLY those that are NOT working throughout your property
  • Scroll to Step 3 if your affected circuits are NOT light circuits
  • If your lights are affected; Turn OFF all of your light switches, ceiling fans, exhaust fans & external light switches – Then Scroll down to the image of your type of Switchboard below to continue.

STEP 2:

No Power or Lights working

  • If the Main Switch is ON; Press a ‘Test Button’ located on one of the Safety Switches / RCDs (Residual Current Device)
  • If nothing happens; turn your Main Switch OFF and back ON, then try again. if nothing still happens, your power may be OFF from the Retailer or Power Authority (Check to see if you have paid your current bill)
  • If you have access to the Electricity Meter; check if the meter has a digital display & red lights operating, if nothing is ON, you may have blown a Service Fuse due to a wiring fault, or Power is OFF from the Power Authority

Check the websites below for any known outages or to report a fault:

CBD & WESTERN REGIONAL CLICK FOR CITIPOWER & POWERCOR OUTAGE MAP

EASTERN SUBURBS CLICK FOR AUSNET OUTAGE MAP

NORTHERN SUBURBS CLICK FOR JEMENA OUTAGE MAP

MORNINGTON PENINSULA, EASTERN & SOUTH EASTERN SUBURBS CLICK FOR UNITED ENERGY OUTAGE MAP

  • If the Main Switch is OFF; this may have tripped due to an overload or a fault within your installation
  • If the Main Switch is OFF and power is needed for emergency use; isolate ALL circuits, turn the Main Switch ON, then turn each circuit ON individually (if the Main Switch or a circuit trips at any point, you have identified the affected circuit – LEAVE IT OFF AND CALL US 0393441597 or CLICK HERE to request a booking)

STEP 3:

Unplug ALL appliances from affected outlets (ensure to unplug from the sockets, as turning them OFF will not identify the fault)

DON’T FORGET TO MAKE SURE YOU UNPLUG THE FOLLOWING APPLIANCES: (Only if they have NO power to the outlet)

  • Dishwasher
  • Cooktop
  • Microwave
  • Washing Machine / Dryer
  • Rangehood (if accessible)
  • Heaters
  • Hot Water Unit

STEP 4:
Reset Safety Switch (For RCDs protecting multiple circuits)

If your Switchboard looks like the image above follow the steps below: (IF YOUR SWITCHBOARD DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE IMAGE ABOVE, SCROLL DOWN TO THE NEXT IMAGE)

  • Turn OFF the circuit breakers adjacent to the Safety Switch that is affected
  • Turn the affected Safety Switch ON (If it trips straight away, you may have turned the wrong circuit breakers OFF)
  • Turn each circuit breaker ON one by one
  • If the circuits are not tripping anymore, scroll down to Step 5
  • If the Safety Switch trips at any point, you have identified the affected circuit (turn that circuit OFF and turn the Safety Switch back ON)
  • Leave the affected circuit off and identify what areas of your property are still without power/light
  • Ensure you haven’t missed any cables plugged into powerpoints that are not working
  • If the safety switch trips with no appliances connected, the installation cabling may be damaged. CALL US 0393441597 or CLICK HERE to request a booking

Reset Safety Switch (For RCBOs protecting individual circuits)

If your Switchboard looks like the image above follow the steps below:

  • Turn the affected Safety Switch ON
  • If the Safety Switch trips again, ensure you haven’t missed any cables plugged into powerpoints that are not working
  • If your lights are still tripping; CALL US 0393441597 or CLICK HERE to request a booking.

STEP 5:

Individually plug in each appliance or turn the light switches ON until the safety switch trips (this will determine the faulty appliance/fixture)

  • If the safety switch does not trip with individual appliances, then the circuit may be overloaded.
  • If the safety switch trips with no appliances connected, the installation cabling may be damaged. CALL US 0393441597 or CLICK HERE to request a booking.