DB boards & upgrades
New DB boards, extra circuits and upgrades for old or overloaded boards, wired neatly and safely.
Find out morePretoria & CenturionEarth leakage & DB board tripping repairs
When your earth leakage or a breaker won’t stay up, the board is protecting you from a real fault. We test each circuit to find what’s causing it, explain it in plain language and fix the cause properly, not just the symptom.
Call 012 383 2011Call to make an appointmentMon–Fri 08:00–16:00
- 5.0 from 36 Google reviews
- Since 2014
- Work to SANS 10142
Why it trips
Why your DB board keeps tripping
A tripping DB board is a symptom, not the fault itself. The earth leakage switches off when current leaks to earth, which usually means water or damaged insulation somewhere. A circuit breaker trips when a circuit draws more current than it should, or when there is a short circuit.
- Water in an outdoor plug, light or garden cable, often after rain
- A geyser element or thermostat that has failed
- A faulty appliance such as a kettle, fridge or washing machine
- A pool or borehole pump with a worn motor or damaged cable
- Old or damaged wiring, or a loose connection in the board
- An overloaded circuit, or a breaker that has worn out
Before you call
Safe checks you can do yourself
These steps often show which circuit or appliance is causing the trip. Stop if anything looks or smells burnt.
- Look at which switch is down: the earth leakage (it usually has a small test button), a single circuit breaker, or the main switch.
- If it’s the earth leakage, switch off all the circuit breakers, reset the earth leakage, then switch the breakers back on one at a time. The one that trips it again is the problem circuit.
- Unplug the appliances on that circuit and try again. If it stops tripping, an appliance is the likely cause.
- If it trips again straight away, or you smell burning, leave it off and call an electrician.
Never tape or hold a breaker up, and don’t keep resetting a board that trips straight away. It is switching off to protect you from shock or fire.
How we fix it
How we find and fix the fault
Circuit-by-circuit testing
We isolate each circuit and test the wiring and connected appliances to find exactly where the fault is.
Testing the hidden wiring
Insulation testing shows damp or damaged cables inside walls and underground that you can’t see.
Repair the actual cause
We replace the failed element, seal or replace the wet fitting, repair the cable or swap the worn breaker.
Earth leakage checks
We test that the earth leakage trips when it should, and replace it if it has failed.
Surge protection
If storms keep tripping your board, we can fit surge protection at the DB board.
Tested before we leave
Every repaired circuit is tested and the board is left labelled and safe.
How it works
How a callout works
Call to make an appointment
Tell us what’s tripping, dead or needs installing on 012 383 2011 and we’ll book a time. We answer Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:00.
We find the real fault
Your electrician tests properly, finds the real cause and explains it in plain language.
Quality work, left neat
The work is done properly and safely to SANS 10142, the national wiring standard, and your home is left neat.
Good to know
Tripping and earth leakage FAQs
Can’t see your question? Call 012 383 2011 and ask the electrician directly.
Why does my earth leakage trip when it rains?
Water is getting into an outdoor plug, light, junction box or cable. We find which circuit is affected, then seal or replace the faulty fitting or cable.
Why does my earth leakage trip at night?
Often a geyser element, a fridge or freezer, or outside lights on a timer. Whatever switches on at night points to the circuit to check first.
Is it safe to keep resetting it?
Not if it keeps tripping. Leave it off after one failed reset and call an electrician; the board is protecting you from a real fault.
Can a faulty appliance trip the whole house?
Yes. A leaking appliance can trip the earth leakage, which switches off every circuit it protects. Unplugging appliances one by one helps narrow it down.
Can you replace a faulty earth leakage unit or breaker?
Yes. If the earth leakage unit or a breaker has worn out, we replace it with the correct rating and test it before we leave.
Google reviews
What Pretoria customers say
★★★★★from 36 Google reviews
Naheem★★★★★
My borehole pump was tripping the main switch. They diagnosed the problem and fixed it in no time. Will definitely recommend.
Biani B.★★★★★
Went above and beyond to assist us. Knowledgeable and practical in the way he explained exactly what was needed.
Albert L.★★★★★
A job well done. Thanks Jacques and team. I will certainly recommend you.
Board still tripping? Let us find the fault.
Call us to make an appointment. We’ll book a time for a qualified electrician to come out to your home or business.