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A switch that keeps tripping is your electrical system doing its job — protecting you from a fault. The trick is working out which kind of fault. Here's what's usually going on and what you can safely check.
Published 2026-06-01 · Rotorua Electricians
There are three common reasons a switch trips. An overload means too much running on one circuit (think heater + kettle + microwave together). A short circuit is a fault in wiring or an appliance. An RCD trip (the safety switch) means earth leakage — current escaping where it shouldn't, often a faulty appliance. Each needs a different fix.
If resetting it does nothing, you smell burning, or the main RCD keeps tripping, stop and call an electrician — don't keep forcing it back on.
If no single appliance is to blame, the fault is likely in the wiring or the board itself — a deteriorating connection, moisture, or an old board struggling. In Rotorua, geothermal corrosion on older boards is a common cause. This needs an electrician to test and trace properly.
A breaker or RCD trips to prevent fire or shock. Repeatedly forcing it back on bypasses that protection while the fault is still live. If it won't stay on, that's your sign to get it looked at — same-day where we can.
FAQ
The tripping itself is protective, but the underlying fault can be a fire or shock risk — especially if you keep resetting it. Get it diagnosed if it won't stay on.
Moisture getting into outdoor fittings or a deteriorated connection is a common cause of weather-related tripping. An electrician can find and seal it.
Yes — a single faulty appliance can trip an RCD that protects multiple circuits. The unplug-and-test method usually finds it.
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