Find the switch that is pointing down or sitting in the middle, and push it firmly back up to on. Some RCDs need pushing fully down first. If it trips again straight away, do not keep resetting it: unplug everything on that circuit and try again, or leave it off and call an electrician. If the whole street is dark, it is a power cut: call 105.
Before you touch anything
Dry hands, a torch, and that is all you need. Boards in Greater Manchester homes are usually under the stairs, at the top of the cellar steps, in a hallway cupboard or in the garage.
Step by step
- Check it is not a power cut. If neighbours and street lights are off too, it is the network, not you. Call 105, the free national power cut number.
- Find what has tripped. Look for one switch pointing the opposite way to the rest, or sitting in the middle. A switch with a "T" or "Test" button next to it is an RCD and covers several circuits.
- Reset it. Push it firmly to on. If it will not stay, push it fully off first, then on.
- If it trips again immediately, unplug everything on that circuit, reset, and plug things back in one at a time. Our tripping guide walks through it.
- If it still will not stay on with everything unplugged, the fault is in the wiring or a fixed appliance. Leave it off and call an electrician.
If you have an old box with fuse wire
Older boxes have pull-out fuse carriers instead of switches. With the main switch off, pull the carrier for the dead circuit and look at the wire. If it has melted, it can be replaced with fuse wire of exactly the same rating: usually 5A for lighting, 15A for an immersion heater and 30A for sockets. Never use a heavier wire, a nail or foil.
A fuse that blows twice is telling you something. And a box that needs fuse wire has no RCD protection at all, which is the best reason there is to replace it.
If the whole house is off and nothing has tripped
Check the main switch is on. If it is, and the street has power, the problem may be at the cut-out or meter, which belong to the network operator. Call 105 and they will send someone. Do not open the cut-out or the meter.
