All categories

Distribution boards

Sub-mains, three-phase boards, busbars and balancing.

Distribution boards Premium

Three-phase distribution board badly unbalanced

One phase of a three-phase board runs much hotter / higher current than the others — nuisance tripping on that phase, a hot neutral, or a warm phase conductor at the board.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedHigh risk
Distribution boards

Sub-main keeps tripping the main board

A sub-board's incoming protective device (or the main feeding it) trips — taking out everything downstream — and you need to tell overload from a fault on the sub-main or sub-board.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedHigh risk
Distribution boards

Busbar or board connection running hot

A busbar joint, incomer, or board connection runs hot / discoloured — a high-energy fire-risk fault on a distribution board that must be addressed quickly.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedHigh risk
Distribution boards

Main switch / incomer not making on all phases

A board's main switch or incomer isn't passing all phases — downstream gets partial supply (single-phasing) or nothing — pointing at the switch contacts or its terminations.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedHigh risk
Distribution boards

Distribution board circuits mislabelled / wrong breaker isolates wrong circuit

Switching off a labelled breaker doesn't isolate the expected circuit (or isolates the wrong one) — a schedule/labelling problem that's a real safety hazard for anyone relying on it.

3 causes2 test steps
QualifiedHigh risk
Distribution boards Premium

Three-phase supply voltage high, low, or unbalanced

Measured supply voltages are out of the expected range or unbalanced between phases — causing equipment trips, poor performance, or protection operating across the board.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedMedium risk
Distribution boards

Surge protection device (SPD) showing a fault / end of life

A board-mounted surge protective device shows a fault indicator (window changed colour / flag) — it has likely reached end of life after absorbing surges and no longer protects.

3 causes2 test steps
QualifiedMedium risk
Distribution boards

Large motor start trips the distribution board

Starting a large three-phase motor (lift, pump, compressor, aircon) trips the board feeding it or dips the supply — an inrush/coordination issue rather than a running fault.

4 causes3 test steps
AdvancedMedium risk