Electrical emergency
Electrical panel smells burnt
A burnt smell near the electrical panel is a sign of abnormal heating and should be treated as a serious issue.
Possible causes
- loose terminal screws
- heated breaker or RCD
- undersized conductor
- overload on a circuit
- old, oxidized or incorrectly modified panel
What to do immediately
- turn off large consumers
- do not open the panel cover under voltage
- if there is smoke or noise, switch off the main supply if safe
- send a photo from outside the panel
When it is urgent
Burnt smell, melted plastic, sparks or a hot panel require fast intervention.