Request: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Archived on 10/06/2009
I have a 15 amp breaker that started tripping last night. I unplugged everything on that circuit and it still trips. I even replaced the breaker with a 20 amp breaker from another circuit and it trips. Any ideas?
By JtownEsquire from Johnstown, PA
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RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
My husband suggests that you have a short in the wiring somewhere and the circuit breaker is doing what it is suppose to do if that is the case. (09/14/2009)
By Lorelei
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
NEVER put a larger breaker on a smaller circuit. It is sized to protect the wire that is installed and all devices that are attached, putting a larger size breaker can cause over-heating and a fire. My suggestion would be first to look for something on the circuit you don't know about. With the breaker off, check every receptacle and switch to see which ones don't have power-you may be surprised by what is on the circuit.
Second, go with the first person's post and start checking for a short. This would involve removing the devices that aren't working and looking for burnt or damaged wires. If it can't be found this way hire an electrician. With the tools at their disposal, they can find a short in no time. (09/14/2009)
By zoodad
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Put the old 15 Amp breaker back in, and don't ever admit to anybody, that you put a larger breaker in. That can void your insurance and even get your electricity cut off. Hire an electrician.
A competent electrician will put a "tone" from a 9 Volt tone generator onto that wire and follow it with a tone paddle, that traces from a few feet away where the electricity flows to. It could be that a nail or screw is shorting the wire to the metal siding or the plumbing, or it could be that a wire has come loose in an outlet or fixture.
A bigger breaker will just burn the trailer or house down or kill somebody. That is a very costly and inconclusive way to find where the short is. The "tone" or warbler doesn't damage anything and can not hurt even a baby, but it tells a professional instantly where the problem is.
Have fun. DearWebby http://webby.com/humor/blog
(09/14/2009)
By DearWebby
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Just because something is plugged in, but not turned on, does not mean it is not a "load" to a circuit. (09/14/2009)
By Carol L.
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Request: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Archived on 09/14/2009
My 15 amp circuit breaker keeps tripping. The only things that it operates are the garage door opener and the garage lights. I unplugged the garage door opener and turned off light and flipped back on, but it still trips.
When it does trip I can see an electric current or spark in the wire where it goes through the panel and out the bottom of the fuse box. Never any problems before, do you have any ideas? Thanks.
By Madcalf from Indianapolis, IN
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RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
There are some things best left to professionals. Electricity is one of them. If you can see sparks you have a potentially serious problem. Don't mess with it yourself. (07/31/2009)
By grannygirl
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
A ditto on grannygirl's advice. Sounds like you have a short somewhere in that circuit that is tripping the breaker. It may be in the circuit breaker itself, they can "go bad" over time.
However, a competent electrician can fix this problem for you properly and safely. It is not something for the novice to mess with.
As a member of this website, we want to save money, but do so wisely. Paying for an electrician to do the job correctly may be a little costly up front, but it may save us money in the long run by not having our home burn down because of faulty wiring. It may not cost as much as you think to call in a pro.
Nockmoi (07/31/2009)
By Nockmoi
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Request: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Archived on 07/29/2009
I have a 20 amp breaker with red test button. The only thing running off it is a microwave. The breaker has never tripped till about 2 weeks ago. Can the breaker just be worn out and if so would it just trip any time you put some power to it? Thanks. Thomas
By thurst from Champaign, IL
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RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Here's what my husband says:
Try plugging something else into the outlet and see if the breaker still trips off. If it doesn't then it is your microwave causing the problem, but a breaker can wear out. (06/22/2009)
By Lorelei
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Replace that breaker with a proper 15 Amp breaker. A 20 Amp breaker does not give you any protection on a 15 Amp line. The breaker or fuse is supposed to be the weakest link, not the strongest.
A breaker with a red test button is a GFI breaker. It trips not just when it's rating (20 A) is exceeded, but also when there is 40 Milli-Amp of current creeping to ground. That is 0.040 Amp. A baby will get very noisy, but not injured by 50 Milli-Amp. That is why GFIs are required for outdoor outlets and other areas where kids might play unsupervised.
If a brand new 15 Amp GFI breaker trips the same way as the illegal 20 Amp GFI breaker did, then you have current creeping to ground somewhere. If your home has metal siding, it would be a very good idea to get that checked out by an electrician immediately. Even though the GFI will prevent death by electrocution, somebody can get a very nasty shock. And, a creeping short to ground can easily set the place on fire. If the creeping short is in the microwave, touching it and the stove or sink at the same time can get you dancing like a magician quite instantly. Best get it checked out as soon as possible. Have fun. (06/22/2009)
By DearWebby
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
You have an Arc fault breaker which trips faster than a GFI. Do you have an amp meter? If so, start the microwave and see how many amps the microwave pulls. If your meter shows over 18 the breaker will trip. You know there's a short in the microwave. If your meter doesn't show it is drawing over 18 then yes, you have a bad breaker. GFI plug ins are for around a wet area such as a sink etc. Arc fault trips quicker to stop a fire in your house. Hope this helps. (06/23/2009)
By nightrain71
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Request: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Archived on 06/22/2009
My circuit breaker keeps tripping without a load on it. I have a pool cover, a light, and sprinkler timer on the circuit. None of them run at the same time. Even if they do they still will not trip the circuit breaker. When you leave everything off it still trips the breaker, without anything on.
By twmackey from Spokane, WA
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RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
It could simply be a bad breaker. I used to be an apartment manager and on occasion we had to have them changed. It is also possible, since you noted you have them hooked to items associated with water, that you may have a short somewhere that is wet causing it to throw the breaker. In which case you need to find out ASAP before someone gets hurt. (05/24/2009)
By SusLuvsVintage
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Personally I wouldn't try to fix it without an electrician around me. One spark from a faulty breaker could burn down your whole house without you being there even. Hire an electrician for your family's and your safety. (05/29/2009)
By Paula Jo C.
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Request: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Archived on 05/24/2009
I have a 15 amp Federal Pacific Stab-Lok circuit breaker that keeps tripping. In the house the lights flicker every once in a while. On the circuit I have mainly lights and an old GE upright freezer. When it does trip and when I switch it back sometimes I hear a spark like noise which eventually goes away.
I suspect the obvious which is probably the load my freezer requires and maybe the circuit breaker. Any ideas? Also, on this circuit the breaker is a 15 Amp and the wiring is at least 10/2 or 12/2. Would it be acceptable to replace the 15 Amp circuity breaker with a 20 Amp circuit breaker? Without even looking I'm assuming that the outlets are probably 15 Amp. The house I live in was built in 1969.
Gregory from Seattle, WA
Feedback:
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
The circuit breaker was faulty. Replacing it with an identical model solved my problems. (02/24/2009)
By Gregory
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
If the circuit breaker is tripping, you have too much load. Get an electrician to run a separate circuit with its own circuit breaker. It has nothing to do with magnetized screws, replacing wiring between the breaker and the outlet.
To prove you have too much load on that circuit, turn every thing off that is wired to that breaker. Then turn on each receptacle with the freezer being the last item to be turned on. (02/24/2009)
By Harry
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Your local building department may not approve of a 20 amp breaker, but that is what I would do. Keep an eye and ear on it for a while, the amp change is not enough to get excited about. Or you may just have a breaker about to go. Good luck. Leo (02/25/2009)
By Leo the repair guy
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
For someone who is very handy with house electrical work, it would be possible to replace the breaker. Don't replace it with anything but the same size and brand, and watch out while working inside the main panel, especially if not all breakers are in it. It is easy to touch something that will fry you (e.g. if a screwdriver slips). If I had the slightest doubt about what I was doing, I'd do what Joe suggested and let a professional electrician take the risk. If he quotes you a lot of pricey repairs, get a second opinion. (03/19/2009)
By Red Neck
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Whatever you do, don't count on an AFCI from Home Depot or one of the other big box stores. I am an electrician and once went through about 4 or 5 of them. I spent a lot of time testing and tracing only to eventually go to my wholesaler and the breaker purchased there worked just fine. If it comes in a bubble pack, it's got to go back. Beyond that, looks like there's some rewiring in your future. (04/30/2009)
By az516
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Request: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Archived on 02/24/2009
I purchased the home I'm now in three years ago. One bedroom is tripping a circuit breaker (Arc Fault) in a deteriorating fashion where within a 24 hour period it is now unable to maintain service. Anything plugged in and turned on causes a fault; including fans, lights or a clock-radio. So far the only thing that does not cause a fault is the small LED circuit tester. I changed circuit breakers, but no joy. If a screw on an outlet were to become magnetized, could this be a source of the problem? Any ideas? No nails have been used on the walls recently.
Bill from San Antonio, TX
Answers:
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
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. (03/06/2006)
By Webby
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
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. (03/06/2006)
By gator10tx
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
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. (01/09/2008)
By Donnie
RE: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
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 will not burn down your house, or shock yourself.
(10/23/2008)
By Joe
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