There are normally two different devices that could trip out in a consumer unit - a breaker (also known as an MCB or Miniature Circuit Breaker) or an RCD (which stands for Residual Circuit Device).
If your RCD is tripping out then this is due to what is known as an earth fault. What this means is that either there is a fault with your wiring which needs to be tested by a competent, qualified electrician or that there is a faulty appliance plugged into a socket somewhere.The first thing to do is unplug all items from your plug sockets and try to reset the RCD. If the RCD resets then plug your items in one-by-one until you identify the item that is causing the problem. If you cannot identify the offending item then please call an electrician.
If it is an MCB that is tripping out this is caused by too much current being used on the circuit. Sometimes when a lightbulb goes it can cause an MCB to trip but if you are getting repeated tripping then you will either have a problem with your electrical wiring or with an appliance on the circuit that is tripping out.
If you get repeated tripping of an MCB then it is usually best to contact an electrician to come and check that you don't have a problem with your fixed wiring.
