In simple words, everyone knows why a breaker trips repeatedly, the common reasons for which can be overload, short circuit, loose wire, earthing fault or old breaker. If the breaker is tripping repeatedly and you turn on the power by turning on the breaker, it can be dangerous, it can cause a lot of damage. Which will not only cause a big loss but will also have a significant impact on your house budget, you will have a lot of expenses. If smoke or sparks are coming out from somewhere, do not turn it on without finding a safe solution.
What does a circuit breaker do?
We are talking about circuit breakers which are usually inside distribution panels, be it industry, shop, residential villa etc. They are installed everywhere according to a specific rated load. The breaker stops the flow of electricity. If the electrical wires are getting hot, there is a short circuit which poses a risk of fire, if the load exceeds the breaker, there is a current leakage somewhere, or someone gets electrocuted, it will trip automatically.
6 Common Reasons for Tripped Breakers
- Circuit Overload
Circuit overload occurs when there is a lot of load on a circuit breaker. For example, your circuit breaker is 20 amps and you have put a load of 30 amps, then the breaker will trip due to overload. If an 18000 BTU (1.5 ton) AC is running in a room of your house and there is a clothes iron or extension cord, etc., then it will overload and the breaker will trip. Similarly, if a microwave oven, coffee maker, air fryer, dish machine are running at the same time in the kitchen, then it will overload and the breaker will trip.
How to check overload
If there are many appliances running on the same breaker, or the light goes dim, the breaker trips, and the breaker recovers when you turn off some appliances, then it is overloaded.
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Safe Solution
For a breaker that trips repeatedly, first check the load on it to see which appliances are running on it. Then turn them all off and turn the breaker on. Then check all the appliances one by one, turn off the load on which the breaker has tripped and turn on the rest of the loads.
Emergency Solution
If you want a quick solution in your home, shop, factory, etc., turn off the breaker and check which loads are on this breaker. You will know which things have been turned off, so you can test them one by one. Turn off the equipment on which the breaker has tripped and call an electrician.
- Faulty appliances
Breakers do not break so quickly, but household, shop or factory equipment can also break down. For example, if you turn on an iron, washing machine or any faulty machine, the breaker trips, or any extension, cooler, fan, refrigerator, etc.
Solution
Turn off each equipment or appliance, turn on the breaker. Now check them one by one, turn off the one on which the breaker trips. If you are a technician, check it, if you do not know, please, your safety is very important, call an electrician.
- Short circuit
It is very important to understand short circuit. A short circuit occurs when two wires are connected together. Now why would someone intentionally connect two wires, but the reality is like this. If the wires are connected together or collide with any metal, the current becomes too high and the breaker shuts itself off as a safety measure.
Causes of short circuit
Wires get hot and connect with each other, wires touch metal, nails go into the wire while hammering a nail into the wall, loose wires inside the breaker, loose wires inside the switches, wires collide with each other while tightening the switches, water in the junction box.
Safe solution
If the breaker trips, check if there is any spark coming from anywhere. If you feel smoke or hear any noise, call an electrician.
- Earthing fault / current leakage
This happens when the current is flowing on its path and hits some metal somewhere on the way, meaning the insulation of the wire is damaged and there is current leakage. This can be very dangerous, as it increases the chances of getting electrocuted. The breakers for them are RCCB, RCD, RCBO or the breaker itself trips.
And yes, it is important, if you have these breakers installed with MCB in your circuit, otherwise the breakers will never trip. Such problems occur in places where there is moisture, water flowing or there are outdoor places. For example, washrooms, kitchens, outdoor outlets, power, garden lights, etc. If you feel a slight shock from any place, call an electrician immediately.
- Weak breaker
Sometimes the breaker trips even though everything is fine. If your breaker is quite old, the plates inside it are damaged, rusted, there is a wire chip inside which gets hot and trips. This makes the breaker hot and a slight sound comes from the breaker. Another important reason is that the wire of the breaker is loose, but still it gets hot and makes a sound.
Solution
You should check the condition of the breaker, check the connection. If the breaker is damaged, get it replaced. An electrician can tell you which part is at fault, check the wiring, check the earthing, check the appliances. The important thing is to choose a breaker according to the wire and load. Installing a bigger breaker will solve the problem immediately, but later it can create a huge risk, a fire can break out.
- Old wiring
The breaker trips even if the house has old wiring, loose connections, or moisture. This happens when there is old wiring and new work has been done in the house. For example, if you have installed an AC, brought a water heater, or any new appliance and the old wiring cannot handle the load, the breaker trips. Sometimes, improper installation also causes such a problem. If there is a burning smell from somewhere, the power socket is damaged, or if welding is being used in the power socket somewhere, this can also happen.
Safe solution before calling an electrician
Turn off the breaker. Do not open anything, i.e. do not open the cover of the panel, switchboard, or junction box. Turn off any switches next to the breaker that you have turned off, unplug the plug, turn everything off. Then turn on the breaker, plug it in one by one, and check from a distance. And note where the problem is. Then tell everything to the electrician, he will quickly find the fault.
When to call an electrician immediately
When smoke comes out of your panel, switchboard or anywhere, an unnecessary sound is heard, sparks come out, the insulation of the wire is broken, an appliance gives you an electric shock, the wire is in water, the breaker trips even though everything is turned off, the electricity in the whole house is intermittent, then call an electrician immediately.
Breaker reset solution?
No, never reset the breaker repeatedly. If something or the wiring is faulty, it will trip. Repeated resetting will increase the fault and the chances of a fire will also increase. Tripping is actually saving you, protecting you.
How does an electrician find a fault?
The electrician starts from the panel, checks the condition of the breaker, checks the wire connections, checks the load on the breaker, checks the rating of the breaker and the appliance, overload, short circuit, earth leakage, old wiring, etc. Sometimes the problem is just in a machine like a microwave oven or an electric fan. Sometimes the wiring of the ceiling fan gets shorted internally and the ceiling fan is connected to some metal, the metal is in the steel roof slab and gets earthed due to rain, which causes the breaker to trip. Remember, this only trips when an RCCB or RCBO is installed, if not installed, your electricity bill will also double, all the time due to leakage.
Safe solution to circuit breaker tripping
Apply the load to the breaker according to its rating. If an appliance is faulty, unplug it. If the load is high, reduce the load. If a plug gets hot and sparks, replace both the plug and the power socket. If the load is high and cannot be reduced, never run an electric water pump, AC or heater at the same time. Never use a larger breaker, according to the rating. Get a proper home inspection done.
Questions
- Is it dangerous for a circuit breaker to trip?
Answer: Yes, the chances of overload, short circuit, earth leakage and current increase.
- Why does the breaker trip immediately after turning it on?
Answer: Wires are connected together, the machine or AC compressor is damaged, the appliance wire touches the body, etc.
- Replacing a small breaker with a large breaker?
Answer: No, never replace a small breaker with a large breaker, the wire may heat up and cause a fire.
- Why does the breaker still trip if all the appliances are unplugged?
Answer: Due to earth leakage, moisture in the junction box, moisture in the switches, faulty breaker.
- Can I replace the breaker myself?
Answer: No, if you are not an electrician or technician.
