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If the breaker trips when nothing is turned on it could be a mouse problem. If it only trips when certain lights or appliances are turned on one of them is probably the reason.If it trips when nothing is being turned on or off something is getting hot. You should then have qualified electrician look at it. Hope this is usefull.

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19y ago
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15y ago

A breaker will keep tripping until the fault that caused it to trip is corrected. That's what it is designed to do. There's either a circuit overload or a short circuit. How fast the breaker trips can indicate how overloaded it is. If you are very close to the rating of the breaker you can actually trip it over time. If you are definitely over the breaker will usually trip instantly. If there is a short circuit you can usually tell that by how violently the breaker trips. If you have conduit you can hear the wires banging around in the pipe. A frequently tripping breaker may also be faulty and need to be replaced - breakers are designed to fail by tripping prematurely rather than by not tripping at all, as this is much safer. This is very often the case for breakers that trip at seemingly random intervals, often when very little load is being drawn.

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11y ago

Get a new fuse and replace the old one, or buy a new breaker.

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9y ago

A bad breaker

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Q: What can cause a circuit breaker to suddenly start tripping?
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How does a circuit breaker use an electromagnet?

The electromagnet in the circuit breaker is used for instantaneous tripping if short-circuit condition arises. At defined current level the electromagnet develops the force high enough to cause the tripping of the mechanism.


Why do people consider it a real bother when a circuit breaker switches off?

It means that the person has to go and re set the breaker. If people understood that the tripping of the breaker is a safety device and by its tripping it might have just saved them some money. By preventing a fault that a short circuit or an overload could cause might just have stopped a potential house fire.


Which circuit faults will not result in overheating the circuit?

An open circuit won't cause any overheating because no current is flowing. Other faults like ground fault or a breaker tripping should happen fast enough not to cause any overheating either.


What would cause circuit breaker to trip in new box from old box?

A circuit breaker will trip if it is faulty or if the connected circuit has a short circuit or a connected device is trying to draw more current than the breaker rating. If you disconnect the output wire from the breaker and it still trips, it is a faulty breaker. If the breaker is tripping immediately when it is turned on then start disconnecting elements of the circuit to see what might be causing the problem. If everything was working and now isn't, it is likely that the wire from the breaker is nicked where it exits the box and is shorting to the feedthru connector.


Can you have two circuits off one breaker?

No, a breaker is designed to handle the load of only one circuit. Connecting two circuits to one breaker can overload the circuit and potentially lead to electrical hazards such as overheating, tripping the breaker, or causing a fire. Each circuit must have its own dedicated breaker.

Related questions

How does a circuit breaker use an electromagnet?

The electromagnet in the circuit breaker is used for instantaneous tripping if short-circuit condition arises. At defined current level the electromagnet develops the force high enough to cause the tripping of the mechanism.


Why do people consider it a real bother when a circuit breaker switches off?

It means that the person has to go and re set the breaker. If people understood that the tripping of the breaker is a safety device and by its tripping it might have just saved them some money. By preventing a fault that a short circuit or an overload could cause might just have stopped a potential house fire.


What would cause circuit breaker to trip in new box from old box?

A circuit breaker will trip if it is faulty or if the connected circuit has a short circuit or a connected device is trying to draw more current than the breaker rating. If you disconnect the output wire from the breaker and it still trips, it is a faulty breaker. If the breaker is tripping immediately when it is turned on then start disconnecting elements of the circuit to see what might be causing the problem. If everything was working and now isn't, it is likely that the wire from the breaker is nicked where it exits the box and is shorting to the feedthru connector.


Which circuit faults will not result in overheating the circuit?

An open circuit won't cause any overheating because no current is flowing. Other faults like ground fault or a breaker tripping should happen fast enough not to cause any overheating either.


What would cause a breaker to trip?

A breaker will keep tripping until the fault that caused it to trip is corrected. That's what it is designed to do. There's either a circuit overload or a short circuit. How fast the breaker trips can indicate how overloaded it is. If you are very close to the rating of the breaker you can actually trip it over time. If you are definitely over the breaker will usually trip instantly. If there is a short circuit you can usually tell that by how violently the breaker trips. If you have conduit you can hear the wires banging around in the pipe. A frequently tripping breaker may also be faulty and need to be replaced - breakers are designed to fail by tripping prematurely rather than by not tripping at all, as this is much safer. This is very often the case for breakers that trip at seemingly random intervals, often when very little load is being drawn.


Cause of a circuit breaking tripping?

Tripping is caused by excessive current, which is usually the result of a fault in cable or equipment. The circuit breaker is there for safety and it trips to prevent a possible fire starting.


Can you have two circuits off one breaker?

No, a breaker is designed to handle the load of only one circuit. Connecting two circuits to one breaker can overload the circuit and potentially lead to electrical hazards such as overheating, tripping the breaker, or causing a fire. Each circuit must have its own dedicated breaker.


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 makes a circuit go out without tripping the breaker?

For the entire circuit to go out, the breaker has to trip. The breaker tripping is what causes the loss of power to everything pulling power from that circut. Any single power surge at any point along the circut can cause it. If you have experienced what you are questioning, I suggest you have an electrician take a look at your wiring. You may have serious issues. Breakers a designed to protect the wiring from getting too hot. It's a safety feature for your appliances, your home and those who live in 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.


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.