Skip to main content
Home  ›  FAQs  ›  Cable Basics
Cable Basics

Why does my MCB keep tripping?

Quick answer

An MCB trips to protect the circuit, so a repeat trip is telling you something, not misbehaving. The three usual causes are overload, a short circuit and, if it is actually the RCCB tripping, an earth leak. Overload is the common one at home: too many heavy appliances, an iron and a geyser and a microwave, on a circuit sized for less, so the wire would overheat and the breaker cuts in. A short circuit trips instantly and hard, often with a flash, and points to a damaged cable or a faulty appliance.

Unplug things and reset once. If it holds, you were overloading it. If it trips with nothing on, or trips the moment one appliance is plugged in, stop resetting and call an electrician: you have a fault in the wiring or that appliance, and repeated resetting only risks the very fire the breaker is trying to prevent.

Looking for the right cable for your project?

Get expert guidance on grade, size and standards from APAR Cable Solutions.

Request a quote →