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Why does my RCBO or safety switch keep tripping after a solar or battery install?

Short answer. A trip means the device found a problem and did its job. Do not keep resetting it. Note what tripped and when, reset it once if it will reset, and if it trips again or will not reset, leave it off and call us.

An RCBO is a combined circuit breaker and safety switch for a single circuit. A circuit breaker protects the wiring from overload; a safety switch (also called an RCD) protects people by cutting power in a fraction of a second when current leaks to earth. NSW Government notes that a safety switch only protects the circuits it covers.

Safety first. Only touch the switch on the front of the device. Never open a switchboard, remove a cover from your battery or inverter, or touch any wiring. Anything beyond the app, a light you can read from a safe distance, or your own router is a job for a licensed electrician. If you see smoke, smell burning, hear arcing or see water on or near the unit: keep everyone away, switch off at your main switch only if it is safe to do so, and call 000 if there is any fire or smoke.

What to do

  1. Note it down. Which switch tripped (the label), the time, whether it was storming or raining, and what was running.
  2. Turn off or unplug appliances on that circuit if you can tell which they are.
  3. Reset it once. Press the switch firmly down to off, then back to on. NSW Government notes some switches must be pressed right down to the off position before they can be flicked back on.
  4. If it trips again, or will not reset, leave it off and call us. NSW Government says to contact a licensed electrician if a safety switch does not reset.
  5. Do not keep resetting it. Repeated trips mean something on that circuit needs checking.

Why might it start after an install?

We cannot guess the cause from a web page, and we will not pretend to. What we can say honestly:

  • On our site visit we check your switchboard, including whether any RCBO upgrades are needed to meet current safety standards. New protection devices mean a trip is more likely to be noticed.
  • A trip can be a long-standing problem the new device is now catching, a fault on one circuit, or something related to the new work. Only an electrician at the switchboard can tell which.
  • Your inverter has its own protection. GoodWe’s manual says the inverter has built-in residual current monitoring and quickly disconnects from the grid if it detects leakage above its limit. That shows up as an alarm in the app, not as a switch tripping at your board.

Test your safety switches twice a year

NSW Government recommends testing every six months (for example when the clocks change): tell everyone in the home, press the T or Test button on each safety switch, check the power goes off on that circuit, then reset it. If the power does not go off, or the switch will not reset, call a licensed electrician.

When to call us

If we installed your system, call us on 0483 903 020. Our service help for existing customers is free: we start by working through it with you by phone. If you are not yet a customer, a service call is $250 + GST, which covers one hour on site within 20 km of Mullumbimby; travel further out is quoted separately. Contact us or call 0483 903 020 (Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 7am-4pm).

Quick questions

Is a tripping RCBO dangerous?

It is doing its job, which is to cut power when it detects a problem. What matters is not ignoring it. Do not keep resetting it, and call us.

Is it covered if we installed your system?

If we did the work, call us. For existing customers our service help is free, and we will look at it with you first by phone.

Can I replace an RCBO myself?

No. Switchboard work must be done by a licensed electrician, and your electrician provides a Certificate of Compliance Electrical Work.

Why does it trip in the rain?

Moisture can let current leak to earth in a fitting, power point or outdoor wiring. We would need to find where.

Sources

Last checked 6 October 2026. Only the manufacturer’s or the network’s own documents are used; app menus change between versions, so if your screen looks different, call us rather than guess.

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