Why Does My Power Keep Tripping? An Adelaide Electrician Explains

By Marcus Derbali — Licensed Adelaide Electrician (PGE 305056) • 4 min read

I'm Marcus from Amped Up Electrical Adelaide — licensed, owner-operated, and on the tools across Adelaide every week. Here's the plain-English version of something worth knowing.

Related: emergency electrician • switchboard upgrade.

It is a warning, not a nuisance

A breaker or safety switch trips to protect you. Repeatedly resetting one that will not stay on is exactly the wrong move.

Common causes

A faulty appliance, an overloaded circuit, moisture in an outdoor point, or damaged cabling. Systematic testing finds which.

What to do

Unplug recently used appliances and test. If it still trips with everything off, it needs a licensed electrician.

When an electrical problem can't wait in Adelaide

Some electrical faults are an inconvenience. Others are the house telling you something is genuinely wrong. A burning smell, sparks, a warm switch, repeated tripping you can't explain, or a shock off an appliance or tap are all in the second category — they don't get better on their own.

The single most important thing: stop resetting a breaker that won't stay on. It's tripping because it's doing its job. If there's a burning smell or sparking, turn off the main switch if it's safe to reach and get a sparky on the phone. Methodical fault-finding isolates the real cause instead of guessing — a failed appliance, water ingress, damaged cable or a failing board.

Treat these as urgent

• A burning or hot-plastic smell near outlets or the board
• Sparks, buzzing or scorch marks at a fitting
• A breaker or safety switch that keeps tripping
• A shock or tingle off an appliance, tap or surface
• Lights browning out or flickering across the house
• Visible damaged cabling or water near electrics

Make it safe first, then call. Emergency electrical issues get prioritised — phone 0468 008 822 and I'll tell you honestly how fast I can get to you and what to do in the meantime.

Frequently Asked Questions

My power keeps tripping — what do I do?

Stop resetting it. Unplug recent appliances; if it still trips, it needs a sparky. Repeated resets can be dangerous.

Is a burning smell an emergency?

Yes. Turn off the main switch if safe and call straight away — don't wait.

Do you do same-day callouts?

Emergency electrical issues are prioritised. Call 0468 008 822 and I'll tell you honestly how fast I can get to you.

Do you cover Adelaide?

Yes — Adelaide and Adelaide's inner metro suburbs. Call 0468 008 822 and I'll confirm I can get to you and roughly when.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. Amped Up Electrical Adelaide is a licensed SA electrical contractor (PGE 305056), fully insured and owner-operated — you deal with the electrician, not a call centre.

Serving Adelaide and Adelaide's inner suburbs: Walkerville, Norwood, Prospect, Unley, Burnside, Magill, and surrounds.

Amped Up Electrical Adelaide • Licence PGE 305056 • ampedupelectricaladelaide.com.au

Published 2026-06-12