Power suddenly off to part or all of the house? Before you panic or pay for a callout, a tripped DB board is often something you can safely reset yourself — and the way it behaves tells you whether it is a quick fix or a fault. Here is how.
Step 1: identify what tripped
Open the DB board cover. Look for a switch flipped to the OFF (or middle) position. It is usually either the main earth leakage (a wider switch protecting much of the home) or a single breaker for one circuit.
Step 2: reset it properly
Switch off appliances on the affected area first. Then push the tripped switch fully OFF, then firmly back ON (a half-push will not re-engage it). If it holds, switch appliances back on one at a time to find any culprit.
Step 3: read what happens
- It holds → it was a one-off or a faulty appliance you have now found.
- It trips again immediately → there is a real fault. Stop forcing it.
When to call an electrician
Repeated tripping, a burning smell, warm switches or buzzing all mean a fault to trace — see why earth leakage trips and fault finding. Resetting a switch is fine; opening the board or touching wiring is not. Call us if you have lost power and it will not reset.