A circuit breaker is an automatic switch in your switchboard that cuts power to a circuit when too much current flows, protecting the wiring from overheating. When a breaker trips over and over, refuses to reset or feels hot, something needs attention. Electrical Powerhaus diagnoses, replaces and installs circuit breakers across Melbourne, and we always find the cause of the trip rather than just resetting it.
Why do circuit breakers trip?
A breaker trips for one of three reasons:
- Overload: too many appliances running on one circuit, like a heater, kettle and toaster together on the kitchen circuit
- Short circuit: a live conductor touching neutral or earth, often from a damaged cord, a failing appliance or a loose connection
- A worn breaker: breakers do age, and an old one can start tripping below its rating or fail to trip when it should
An occasional trip during a heatwave with everything running is the breaker doing its job. Regular tripping is a warning. Keep resetting it and you are relying on the breaker to keep catching a fault that is getting worse. Our article on whether electrical breakers go bad covers the signs of a breaker reaching the end of its life.
What to check before you call
Turn off or unplug the larger appliances on that circuit and reset the breaker. If it holds, add appliances back one at a time. If one item trips it every time, that appliance has a fault. If the breaker trips straight away with nothing connected, or will not reset at all, leave it off and call us. Do not swap a breaker for a bigger one to stop the tripping. The breaker size is matched to the cable, and a larger breaker lets the cable overheat.
Our circuit breaker services
- Fault finding on circuits that trip repeatedly
- Replacing worn, damaged or heat-affected breakers
- Adding new circuits and breakers for appliances, extensions and outbuildings
- Swapping plain breakers for RCBOs so each circuit also has safety switch protection
- Load assessments when you are adding air conditioning, induction cooking or an EV charger
- Labelling every circuit so the next fault is easy to isolate
When a new breaker is not enough
Sometimes the breaker is fine and the real problem is that the circuit carries more than it was designed for. Kitchens in older homes are the classic case: one circuit feeding the fridge, microwave, kettle and dishwasher. The fix is to split the load across extra circuits. If your switchboard has no room for them, or still uses ceramic fuses, a switchboard upgrade is usually the better investment. We will tell you which option makes sense for your home.
How much does circuit breaker work cost?
Replacing a single breaker on a modern board is a small job. Fault finding takes longer when the cause is hidden in a wall or an outdoor fitting, and adding new circuits depends on cable runs and switchboard space. Rather than charge by guesswork, we diagnose the problem first and then quote a fixed price for the repair. Our call-out costs nothing, and new customers receive 15% off their first service. Typical Melbourne price ranges for common work are listed in our electrical upgrade cost guide.
How long does it take?
Replacing a faulty breaker usually takes under an hour once the cause is known. Tracing an intermittent fault can take longer, because we may need to test each part of the circuit. Adding new circuits typically takes a few hours to a day depending on access. Every job is tested before we leave and certified with a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
Signs the breaker itself is failing
Sometimes the circuit is fine and the breaker is the problem. Watch for:
- A breaker that trips with almost nothing running on the circuit
- A toggle that feels loose, spongy or will not latch
- Discolouration, a burning smell or heat around one breaker
- A breaker that never trips, even when a known fault is present
Breakers in older switchboards were often made by brands that are no longer around, and some models have known problems with age. If one breaker on an old board is failing, it is worth having the rest checked at the same visit, because they have all lived through the same years of heat and use.
Breakers, fuses and safety switches
Older Melbourne homes may still have rewireable ceramic fuses rather than breakers. They do a similar job but are slower, easy to fit with the wrong fuse wire, and give no protection against electric shock. If your board still uses them, ask us about replacing them with breakers and safety switches in one go. We cover homes and businesses across Melbourne, listed on our areas we service page.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my breaker trip when I use the microwave and kettle together?
The circuit is overloaded. Two high-draw appliances on one circuit can exceed its rating. Run them on different circuits, or ask us to add a dedicated kitchen circuit.
Can I fit a bigger circuit breaker so it stops tripping?
No. The breaker is sized to protect the cable. A larger breaker lets the cable overheat before it trips, which is a fire risk.
Do circuit breakers wear out?
Yes. Heat, age and repeated tripping wear them down. An old breaker can trip too easily or fail to trip when it should, so faulty ones need replacing.
What should I do if a breaker will not reset?
Leave it off and call a licensed electrician. A breaker that trips instantly or will not reset usually points to a short circuit that needs to be found.
Is a circuit breaker the same as a safety switch?
No. A breaker protects wiring from overload. A safety switch protects people from electric shock. Modern switchboards need both, or RCBOs that combine them.
Breaker keeps tripping? Call 03 6358 2028 and we will find out why. $0 call-out, fixed written quotes and 15% off your first service. Urgent at night or on weekends? Call 0432 220 069.
Real work from the Powerhaus crew
Every photo is one of our jobs, taken by our team.
