How You Can Fault Find a Tripping Safety Switch in Your Home

If your safety switch keeps tripping, it can be both frustrating and concerning. But the good news is — it’s doing exactly what it’s meant to do: protecting you and your home from potential electrical hazards. Finding the cause can help you restore power safely and prevent it from happening again.

At Level Electrical Taree, we want to help you understand how to fault find a tripping safety switch safely. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started.

Why Does a Safety Switch Trip?

A safety switch — also known as a residual current device (RCD) — cuts power when it detects a fault. This can be caused by:

• Earth leakage: Current is leaking somewhere, often due to faulty appliances.

• Overloaded circuits: Too many appliances are drawing power at once.

• Defective appliances: A single faulty kettle or toaster can trip the switch.

• Wiring faults: Old or damaged electrical wiring in your home.

If your switch keeps tripping, it’s important to find out why — both for your convenience and your safety.

Step-by-Step Guide to Fault Finding

Safety first:

Before you start, make sure you’re wearing rubber-soled shoes, stay dry, and if you’re ever in doubt, call a licensed electrician from Level Electrical Taree.

Step 1: Reset the Safety Switch

1. Locate your switchboard (usually in the garage, hallway, or outside).
2. Identify the switch in the "off" position — this is the one that has tripped.
3. Turn it back to "on".

If it stays on, it may have just been a temporary overload. If it trips immediately, continue to the next step.

Step 2: Unplug All Appliances

1. Unplug every single appliance — including things like phone chargers, microwaves, fridges, and heaters.
2. Be sure to unplug them fully, not just turn them off at the switch.
3. Try turning the safety switch back on.

If it holds, one of the appliances is likely faulty. If it trips again, the issue may be deeper in the system.

Step 3: Plug Appliances Back In, One at a Time

1. Plug each appliance back in one by one, turning them on as you go.
2. If the safety switch trips after plugging in a particular item — that’s your problem appliance. Stop using it and get it checked or replaced.

Step 4: Call an Electrician If Needed

If you’ve unplugged everything and the safety switch still won’t stay on, the problem may lie in your wiring or the switchboard itself. This is when it's time to call a professional.

When to Call Level Electrical Taree

You should call or book in a licensed electrician if:

• The safety switch trips even with everything unplugged
• You notice burning smells, hot or blackened outlets
• Your home has old or suspect wiring
• You’re unsure or uncomfortable completing the steps

Our experienced team is fully licensed, local to Taree, and ready to diagnose and repair any electrical fault safely and efficiently.

Need Help? Trust Level Electrical Taree
We’re your go-to local electricians for everything from emergency faults to general maintenance and inspections. If your safety switch keeps tripping or you’re unsure what to do, get in touch with us — we’re here to help keep your home safe and powered.