An RCBO combines a circuit breaker and a safety switch in one device, protecting a single circuit. That's good news when one trips: the fault is on that circuit alone, so finding it is usually quicker than with an older shared safety switch.
Work through the checks below. If the RCBO won't stay on, call 0421 772 661 and we'll find the fault.
Don't force an RCBO on or keep resetting it. If it trips along with a burning smell, smoke, sparks, a hot power point or switch, or water near electrical fittings, turn off the main switch if it's safe and stay clear. Call 000 for fire or injury, and an electrician for everything else.
Operate only the switches on the front of the switchboard. Never remove the switchboard cover or the panel around the devices.
Check which circuit the tripped RCBO is labelled for: a particular group of power points, lights, the oven, the air conditioner. That tells you where to look.
Turn off and unplug everything on that circuit, then reset the RCBO once. If it stays on, plug things back in one at a time to see which one trips it.
Was a particular appliance just switched on? Was it raining? Was it under heavy load, like a heater and kettle at once? These details help tell an earth leakage trip from an overload.
If the RCBO is for a hardwired appliance such as an oven, cooktop, hot water system or air conditioner and it trips again, leave it off and call us. Those can't be unplugged to test.
If several RCBOs or the main switch tripped together, mention it. That's a different kind of problem from a single circuit tripping.
Earth leakage from an appliance. A worn kettle element, a washing machine with a leak, an old fridge or a damp outdoor appliance can leak current to earth. The RCBO detects it and trips. Repairing or replacing the appliance fixes it.
Overload or short circuit. The breaker part of the RCBO trips when a circuit draws too much current, such as several heaters on one circuit, or when there's a short. Spreading loads helps with overloads; a short needs finding and repairing.
Wiring faults and moisture. Damaged cables, water in an outdoor outlet, or deteriorating older wiring can cause leakage that trips the RCBO, sometimes only in wet weather. These need proper insulation testing.
A faulty device. Occasionally an RCBO itself fails. We confirm that with testing before replacing it. Most of the time, the RCBO is reporting a genuine problem.
Call us if the RCBO trips with nothing connected, if it's on a hardwired appliance circuit, if it trips at random, or if the circuit feeds anything outdoors that's been exposed to rain.
We test the circuit and the connected equipment, find the fault and fix it. If your Hager board was installed recently and it's under warranty from the installer, mention that. Our Hager switchboard page explains how these boards are set up, and the RCD vs RCBO guide explains the protection.
An RCBO trips on either earth leakage or overcurrent. Working out which helps diagnosis. We can tell from testing the circuit.
Your board now has RCBOs, so each circuit is protected separately. That's the main benefit: one fault, one circuit off.
Leave it off and call us. We'll test the circuit and the oven to see whether it's the wiring or an element fault for the appliance repairer.
Yes. Press each test button periodically; it should trip immediately. Then reset it.
No. Breaker sizes are matched to the cable and circuit. Fitting a bigger one to stop trips is unsafe. Find the fault instead.
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