What to do when your power trips

The lights go out. You head to the switchboard. One switch is down.

You flick it up. It drops straight back down.

Here's what's happening, and a safe way to work out the cause.

First: is it just you?

Look outside. If the neighbours are dark too, it's the network, not your house. Call SA Power Networks on 13 13 66.

Why the power trips

A safety switch trips when it senses power leaking where it shouldn't. That's its job. It just saved you from a shock.

The usual causes:

• A faulty appliance, like a kettle, toaster, heater or fridge.
• Water in an outdoor light or powerpoint, often after rain.
• A damaged cable, sometimes chewed by rodents in the roof.
• An overloaded circuit, if a circuit breaker trips instead.

The 5-step check

Only do this if there's no smoke, burning smell or visible damage.

1. 01

   Unplug everything

   on the circuit that tripped.

2. 02

   Reset the switch.

   If it holds, an appliance is likely the cause.

3. 03

   Plug things back in one at a time.

   When it trips again, you've found it.

4. 04

   If it trips with nothing plugged in,

   the fault is in the wiring or a fixed appliance.

5. 05

   Stop and call an electrician.

   Don't keep resetting it.

Stop and call straight away if

• You smell burning or see scorch marks.
• A powerpoint or switch is hot to touch.
• The switch won't reset at all.
• It keeps tripping after rain.

If there's fire or someone is hurt, call 000.

After hours in Adelaide?

No call-out fee plus hourly plus travel. One flat $320 after-hours call-out, and you know it before I leave home.

Power still tripping?

Call 0417 397 165. I'll find the cause and fix it once.