When a safety switch trips only in wet weather, water is almost always reaching something electrical. The safety switch is doing its job by cutting power before that leak can hurt someone.
The fix is finding where the water gets in. Ring 0421 772 661 and we'll test each circuit and trace it.
Don't touch outdoor fittings, power points or switches that are wet or that you think may have water in them. If water is coming through a ceiling near a light fitting, or is pooling near the switchboard, keep clear and turn off the main switch only if you can reach it without standing in water. Call 000 if there's fire or injury, and Ausgrid on 13 13 88 if wires are down or the street has lost power.
Reset the safety switch once. If it won't stay on, leave it off until the weather clears or the fault is found. Never bypass a safety switch to keep the power on.
A safety switch compares the current going out on a circuit with the current coming back. If some leaks away, through water to earth for instance, it trips. Rainwater in an outdoor power point, a cracked light fitting or a damp junction box creates exactly that kind of leak.
Because the water dries out, the fault often seems to disappear the next day. That's what makes rain-related trips frustrating, and why it pays to note which switch trips and when.
Do this in dry weather, from a safe distance, without opening anything.
If your switchboard has several safety switches or RCBOs, note which one trips. Its label tells you which circuits to look at.
Check that weatherproof covers close fully and aren't cracked. Leads left plugged in with the cover open let water straight in.
Look for cracked lenses, missing seals, fittings that fill with water, or spike lights sitting in puddles.
Water stains on ceilings near downlights or exhaust fans suggest water is reaching a fitting from above.
Pond pumps, garden lighting transformers and extension leads left outside are frequent culprits. Unplug them and see if the trips stop.
Outdoor power points and isolators. Old or damaged weatherproof outlets, or outlets mounted where water runs down the wall, are top of the list.
Lighting. Older outdoor fittings lose their seals, and downlights under a leaking roof or a deck can collect water.
Underground and external cables. Cables to sheds, gates or garden lights that weren't installed in suitable conduit or have been damaged can let moisture in. See power to a shed or garage for how those runs should be done.
Old wiring. In older homes, perished insulation can allow small leakage that only becomes enough to trip when things get damp.
We insulation-test each circuit, separate sections of a circuit to isolate the fault, and inspect the outdoor fittings involved. The fix might be replacing a weathered outlet with a suitable weatherproof one, resealing or replacing a light fitting, or repairing a damaged cable run.
Our broader guide to power tripping when it rains covers storm damage and water through ceilings. If trips happen in any weather, start with safety switch keeps tripping.
Water is getting into an outdoor fitting, cable or light and leaking current to earth. The safety switch detects the leak and cuts power.
Yes. The water path is still there and the fitting may be corroding. It will keep happening, and damaged fittings can become unsafe.
No. It's protecting people from shock. Removing or bypassing it is dangerous. The water entry needs fixing instead.
You can narrow it down by unplugging outdoor equipment and noting which switch trips. Testing and opening fittings needs a licensed electrician.
No. Insulation testing can often show a weak spot when it's dry, and your notes about which switch trips help us know where to look.
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