What Trips a Circuit Breaker?

Circuit Overload

Circuit overload is typically the most common problem that causes a tripped breaker. You may have plugged multiple devices into the same circuit, such as a hair dryer, CD player, heater or a curling iron all in one bathroom; this can trip the circuit. The circuit only allows a certain amount of amps to flow, so the circuit will shut off to prevent more serious problems from occurring.

The remedy to this problem is to redistribute items to a different circuit. Keep the hair dryer and curling iron in the bathroom, but plug in your CD player to the hallway or bedroom outlet.

Short circuits are a more serious problem to consider. A short circuit occurs when two black, or hot, wires touch each other; or when a hot wire touches a white wire. Shorts are also caused by breaks in the wire, which can occur either on the electrical wiring end or the wire on your device that is plugged into the wall. Shut the power off to the part of the house where you believe the short may have occurred. Examine the wiring on your item for melting. If nothing is wrong, look at the outlet itself for brown or black discoloration.

If you have ruled out an overload or a short circuit, the next option is to check for a ground fault. Ground faults occur when a hot wire touches the copper ground wire on the circuit box itself. Look at your circuit breaker to see if a black wire is touching the metal on the box or the ground wire leading into the ground. If you see the wire touching either of these places, you have a ground fault. If you're unsure of how wiring works, it is probably best to call an electrician to solve the problem.

Through overcrowding outlets is the main cause of overloads, it's a good idea to be aware of other situations that can cause overloads. While areas such as the kitchen, laundry room and bathroom are equipped to handle high wattage devices including stoves, microwaves, washers, dryers and hair dryers; other rooms such as living rooms and bedrooms are equipped with lower wattage amounts. Generally, it's not a good idea to plug in a microwave or other kitchen appliance into a bedroom socket. Keep items in the room they were designed for.