Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping

RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Post By Joe (Guest Post) (10/23/2008) For all of you that have both asked questions or replied to them your answer is easy. Call a qualified ELECTRICIAN to come find and fix your problem. It could be any number of things but the qualified person can solve it, and you not burn down your house or shock yourself. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Post By Donnie Anderson (Guest Post) (01/09/2008) First thing is to make sure your not overloading the breaker. Do not put more than 12Amps on a 15Amp breaker or 80%. They are only rated for continuous duty at 80% unless you have 100% rated commercial breakers. Next you need to remove the receptacle and inspect the wiring. The receptacle screws could be shorting against the box, or the insulation could be damaged from a poor installation and it's shorting. Make sure the wires are properly tucked in the box without the ground wire coming up and hitting the receptacle screws causing a short. Also make sure the strap holding the cable isn't too tight. This also would cause nuisance tripping. It's only meant to hold the wire from being ripped out during construction. Do not clamp down on the wire. The receptacle and ground wire in the box will hold the wire in place. Most beginners assume you need to clamp it down good so it doesn't move. This is false...just enough to hold it in place so it's not all loose...nothing more. If it still trips replace the breaker. Some arc faults, GFCIs, or regular breakers can be faulty and always trip regardless of the circuit being good or bad. If after replacing the breaker it still trips assume that your wiring is damaged and shorting. Use a multimeter and ohm or continuity tester to check if your cables are shorted in the wall. If so it's time for some destruction and replacing of the wires. You could check the wires for a short before replacing the breaker to avoid the trouble and cost of the breaker. This is guaranteed to solve your problem. It cannot be anything else. If it still trips then your plugging something faulty in that keeps tripping the breaker. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Post By curtiss (Guest Post) (11/16/2007) Our vacuum trips the 20 amp breaker on some of the outlets but not all of them. Its' a 12 amp vacuum. It works in some outlets but not all of them.. Any ideas? Curtiss in GA Report Spam or Abuse RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Post By Paul (Guest Post) (05/23/2006) I just wired a new circuit run. Nothing is plugged into it yet. When i turn on the breaker, it instantly trips. What to do? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Post By bbarger (Guest Post) (03/06/2006) Thx for the feedback. There are few items plugged in (fan, light, laptop computer adapter). No siding to worry about. How can one tell which outlet? There are 8 in two bedrooms. Elec Bill shouldn't be a problem -the breaker remains tripped. I disconnected the 2nd outlet from breakerbox disabling all others in parallel. No joy, same problem. But I agree -seems to be between breakerbox and 1st outlet. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Post by gator10tx (51) | (03/06/2006) Profile | Contact Another thing I'd do is check to see if I needed a larger circuit breaker/more amperage for all the appliances you plug into that outlet, or on that circuit. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Post By (Guest Post) (03/06/2006) Hi Bill Don't worry about magnetic screws. It makes no difference at all whether screws are magnetic or not. I would replace the outlet. If that does not instantly and permanently fix the problem, then you will have to replace the wiring between the breaker and the outlet. Either the outlet or the wiring seems to be leaking through a weak connection through wet insulation or to the siding. If you have metal siding, don't touch it! It could be a shocking experience! Expect your electricity bill to be noticeably higher until the problem is fixed. Have FUN! DearWebby http://webby.com/humor/ Report Spam or Abuse