0
Yes, if the fixture itself has a shorted wire or a socket, the light bulb in some cases will cause the breaker to trip. Remember there are other things connected on that same circuit. Other outlets, lights, switches, etc. etc.. Check out everything that is on that circuit first, as well as the entire light fixture for burned wiring or a burned socket.
An alternative answer
Sometimes, if the alternating voltage - and corresponding peak current - happen to be at or near to peak value at the instant when the filament of an incandescent light bulb blows, the sudden break in the flow of current can induce a "spike" of current which causes the circuit breaker to trip. Good quality light bulbs have a fuse inside them which is intended to blow in this situation but, sometimes, the fuse may not melt in time and the breaker reacts faster than the fuse.
So, if you replace the light bulb and the breaker does not trip again when you switch the light on, the breaker most probably tripped for the reason just explained. It is then unlikely that there is any fault in the lamp fixture or in any of the other outlets, lights, switches, etc. on the same circuit.
If, after you have changed the blown light bulb for a brand new one and have switched it on, the breaker still keeps tripping, then the advice given in the very first answer to this question must certainly be followed: check out the entire light fixture for burned wiring or a burned socket, and also, if necessary, everything else that is on the same circuit.
Before you do any work yourself,
on electrical circuits, equipment or appliances,
always use a test meter to ensure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized
IF YOU ARE NOT REALLY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB
SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY
REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What would cause a short periodic low hum to come from a circuit breaker?
A bad circuit breaker. Replace it.
Why would a circuit breaker switch spark?
the circuit breaker spark when it comes an over load, loss contact,but the probable cause is loss contact...and also the circuit breaker is going to be damage or destroyed.
Circuit breaker trip cause smoke will homeowner insurance pay for it?
A circuit breaker does not "cause" smoke. A circuit breaker "breaks" a circuit when there is too much current, creating a hazardous condition for the wires that are connected to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker PROTECTS you from electrical fire. Find the source of the smoke; what burned? If a circuit breaker tripped during the incident, it is usually caused by melting/burning wire insulation, either inside or outside of an appliance. If the insulation inside the walls of your house has burned/melted, it could be that the circuit breaker was too large for the wire or that the circuit breaker failed to shut off at the appropriate current load. If the circuit breaker failed, your insurance should help you. If an appliance overloaded the circuit, your insurance should help you. If someone connected an oversized circuit breaker, causing the wire to overheat, your insurance company may refuse to help you.
Will a short circuit cause smoke detectors to beep after resetting the circuit breaker?
If your smoke detector is bleeping you have a serious risk of fire and the circuit breaker must not be reset until the fault that caused it to trip is investigated.
Can a 8 amp be changed to 15 amps on circuit breaker?
If you are asking if you can change an 8 Amp Circuit Breaker to 15 Amps, the answer is no. If there is an 8 A breaker in place it is sized to protect the wiring and devices on the circuit. Increasing to 15 A would defeat this protection and could cause a fire or cause a connected device to be destroyed with higher amperage.
What would cause a circuit breaker heating element to trip off?
There are two conditions that would cause a breaker to trip off. One is an overload of the circuit and the other is a short circuit on the circuit. The heating element within the breaker is what monitors for circuit overloads.
What would cause a short periodic low hum to come from a circuit breaker?
A bad circuit breaker. Replace it.
What do you do if your Lighter fuse keeps blowing each time you replace it on your 1998 Tacoma?
Anytime a fuse blows, or a circuit breaker trips, indicates an excessive current [measured in Ampheres (Amps)] flowing in the circuit. This is an abnormal condition, and could be hazardous which is why fuses or circuit breakers are installed in electrical circuits. These safety devices are designed to cut off the electricity to prevent damage to the system, or in a worst case scenario, a fire. When repeated fuse blowing, or breaker tripping, occurs, you must troubleshoot the circuit to find the cause of the overload or short, and then remove/repair the cause before a new fuse can remain in place without blowing.
Why would a circuit breaker switch spark?
the circuit breaker spark when it comes an over load, loss contact,but the probable cause is loss contact...and also the circuit breaker is going to be damage or destroyed.
Can a circuit breaker on my 1992 grand prix cause my headlights to stay on?
No. A circuit breaker is like a fuse, it protects a circuit from a catastrophe if a dead short should occur.
Circuit breaker trip cause smoke will homeowner insurance pay for it?
A circuit breaker does not "cause" smoke. A circuit breaker "breaks" a circuit when there is too much current, creating a hazardous condition for the wires that are connected to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker PROTECTS you from electrical fire. Find the source of the smoke; what burned? If a circuit breaker tripped during the incident, it is usually caused by melting/burning wire insulation, either inside or outside of an appliance. If the insulation inside the walls of your house has burned/melted, it could be that the circuit breaker was too large for the wire or that the circuit breaker failed to shut off at the appropriate current load. If the circuit breaker failed, your insurance should help you. If an appliance overloaded the circuit, your insurance should help you. If someone connected an oversized circuit breaker, causing the wire to overheat, your insurance company may refuse to help you.
What might cause a breaker to trip when switching on a light when resetting the breaker and checking the fuse doesn't restore power to one circuit?
Overloaded circuit, short in circuit, or defective switch.
What procedure should be followed when a circuit breaker trips?
Look for the cause of the trip and correct. Reset the circuit breaker. If it continues to trip it might be an overloaded circuit, loose connections in the circuit, or a short in the wiring somewhere.
Will a circuit breaker be the cause of an air conditioner not turning on?
It is possible if the circuit breaker has tripped or is faulty. The best way to check is by unplugging the air conditioner, and plugging in a table lamp. If the lamp lights up, then you know that the circuit breaker is working, if not then it is faulty.
Why not to overload a socket?
Yes! A socket is a part of a circuit. Usually there are a number of sockets and lights associated with a specific circuit. The wiring of the circuit and the circuit breaker are limited to a specific amperage. If you exceed the amperage, you can blow the breaker. If the wire is rated for 15 amps and the circuit breaker is rated for 20 amps, the wires can overheat and cause fires.
Will a short circuit cause smoke detectors to beep after resetting the circuit breaker?
If your smoke detector is bleeping you have a serious risk of fire and the circuit breaker must not be reset until the fault that caused it to trip is investigated.
Can a 8 amp be changed to 15 amps on circuit breaker?
If you are asking if you can change an 8 Amp Circuit Breaker to 15 Amps, the answer is no. If there is an 8 A breaker in place it is sized to protect the wiring and devices on the circuit. Increasing to 15 A would defeat this protection and could cause a fire or cause a connected device to be destroyed with higher amperage.
