Does the circuit breaker keep tripping? Don't simply reset it and forget about it after. Circuit breakers can protect your family and your home; therefore, you should fix that issue with these helpful tips.



Click. Darkness. Where is the flashlight?

We've all dealt with circuit breakers that have tripped. They're a nuisance and occur at the most inconvenient moments.

Circuit breakers track the flow of electricity in circuits. If the flow exceeds a predetermined quantity, it will open the circuit and stops the flow of current. They're an essential part of the electrical system in your home. When they go off, they're trying to tell you something.

A few sporadic trips aren't anything to worry about. If the circuit breaker at your home is constantly tripping, it could indicate that something is not right.

Know if Your Circuit Breaker Is Tripping

If your breaker goes out, you need to go to your electrical panel and then open the cover in the front. There are two circuit breakers and, hopefully, nicely labeled that indicate the circuits that each one regulates. The majority of breakers are in the on position, so be sure to look for one with the handle that is in a different location from the other.

Every breaker, there is an "On" and "Off" position. In the event of a breaker that has been tripped, the handle will appear in the middle, not off nor on. To reset the breaker, turn the handle to Off first, and then switch it to On. Make sure you stand to the left of the panel and turn away when flipping breakers. If you experience an arc flash, the flash could save your life.

Why Does My Circuit Breaker Keep Tripping?

Circuit breakers fail when there is too much electrical current flowing through the breakers. Circuit breakers are rated on the amount of electricity that can flow safely through the circuit that they are protecting. If that's not enough, breakers will trip. A 20-amp breaker will trip when greater than 20 amps current are present on the circuit.

Circuit breakers fail to function due to three reasons.

• Overloads
• Short circuits
• Ground faults

Fixing a Circuit Breaker That Keeps Tripping

If your breaker is constantly tripping, it is time to investigate and solve the issue. Here are some suggestions to pinpoint the possible causes. Always contact a licensed electrician to assist when the problem becomes too complex.

Verify that there is no overload.

Find out which part of your home the breaker that tripped is controlled. Turn off the breaker and disconnect everything from the zone: lights, microwaves, computers, everything. You can then turn on the circuit breaker. If the breaker goes off immediately, even with nothing plugged in, there is a short and not an overflow.

If the circuit breaker holds, head back to the room, and begin plugging in things and switching them on one by one. After each one, stop and then proceed to the next. If the breaker is triggered again, you've exceeded the limit of the circuit. Re-distribute the load more evenly across circuits when feasible.

Look for a short in an appliance.

Shorts and ground faults may be found in an appliance or any other electrical device if an electrical wire is hot enough to touch the housing.

Take note of the last device you connected when the circuit breaker went off while you were checking to see if there was an overload. If you plug the appliance or device into another circuit, will the circuit also trip? If so, disconnect the device right away and do not utilize it until it's replaced or repaired.

Contact an electrician to report problems with grounding and shorts wiring.

If the breaker is triggered immediately after resetting and even without anything connected or on, it's probably something within your wiring which is the cause. It could be due to an issue with the connection to the receptacle or another device or even something more complex or even worn-out insulation inside the walls.

If you have experience and know which device is responsible for the short, either replace the device or fix the problem with the loose wire. If you're not an expert or you notice something burning or notice burn scratches on the wall, you should call an electrician who is licensed by the state. The same is true when you're experiencing repeated issues that cause flickering lights or tripping breakers.

Electrical shocks and fires can be hazardous, while shorts and ground faults are hard to identify. An expert can identify and correct the problem and provide peace of assurance.