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—What you are noticing

A distribution board that buzzes or crackles

Most distribution boards are silent. A new buzz, crackle or repeated clicking is worth taking seriously.

Some devices in a board can hum faintly — contactors for water heaters, timers or certain RCDs — and a single click when something switches is normal. A continuous buzz, an intermittent crackle or a sizzling sound is different. It often means a terminal has worked loose and current is arcing across a small gap, which produces heat and can damage the device and the cable.

This guide describes what people notice and what is safe to do. It does not diagnose your installation; only someone who has seen it can.

Do not open the board cover. If the sound is accompanied by heat, a smell, discolouration or flickering lights, switch off the main switch if you can reach it safely and keep people away. If the sound is faint and there are no other signs, avoid heavy loads and have the board checked promptly.

01In short

The points that matter most

  • Silence is normal

    Continuous buzzing or crackling is not.

  • Arcing creates heat

    A loose terminal can arc and damage the board.

  • Keep the cover on

    The inside of a board is for qualified hands only.

02Detail

What is checked inside

  • Terminals

    Each connection is checked for tightness and signs of heat.

  • Devices

    Breakers, RCDs and contactors are checked for faults and noise.

  • Load

    Whether circuits are overloaded and running devices hot.

03Checklist

Note this

  • When it buzzes

    All the time, or when certain appliances run.

  • Other signs

    Warmth, smell, flicker or tripping.

  • Board age and type

    A photo of the board front helps.

04Questions

Questions people ask

Is a humming board normal?
A faint hum from certain devices can be; crackling or sizzling is not.
Can I tighten the terminals myself?
No. The inside of a board must only be worked on by a qualified person with it isolated.
Should I switch off everything?
If there is heat, smell or smoke, yes. Otherwise reduce load and have it checked soon.

05Related

Related guides

This guide sits under troubleshooting. All topics are on the guides page.

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