How do you fix a breaker that keeps tripping?

A circuit breaker that keeps tripping can be very frustrating. However, there are several potential causes for a tripped breaker and solutions to fix the underlying problem. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through the steps to diagnose why your breaker is tripping and the best ways to repair the issue.

What Causes a Breaker to Trip Repeatedly?

There are a few main reasons why a circuit breaker will trip repeatedly:

• Overload on the circuit – Too many appliances or devices drawing power on the circuit will cause the breaker to trip.
• Short circuit – A short circuit occurs when electricity takes an unintended path, often caused by frayed wiring or loose connections. This creates excess current flow and will trip the breaker.
• Faulty breaker – The breaker itself may be malfunctioning, resulting in nuisance tripping even when there is no underlying problem with the circuit.
• Faulty appliance – An appliance with a short circuit or drawing too much current on the circuit can trip the breaker.
• Voltage spikes – Surges in power from the utility company can cause a breaker to trip. This is common during storms or blackouts.

Incorrectly rated breaker – If the circuit breaker amperage rating is too high or too low for the wire gauge on the circuit, it may trip frequently.

How to Troubleshoot a Tripped Breaker

When a breaker trips repeatedly, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check the amperage rating on the breaker and verify it is appropriate for the wire gauge on the circuit. Breakers should be matched to wire size.
2. Turn off or unplug all appliances and devices on the tripped circuit. Turn the breaker all the way OFF and then back ON to reset it.
3. Plug in appliances one at a time, letting the breaker reset after each one. If the breaker trips with a certain appliance, that indicates a problem with that device drawing too much current.
4. For outlets and lights on the circuit, plug in a voltmeter or test light. Check for power at multiple points on the circuit. No power indicates a broken wire or loose connection.
5. Examine the length of the wire from the breaker to outlets. Check for punctures, exposed wires, burn marks, or cracks that may indicate a short.
6. Remove the cover of the breaker box and visually inspect the breaker for signs of damage. Test the breaker using a multimeter to check for proper continuity.
7. Consider energy spike causes like lightning strikes which could have damaged a breaker or appliance. Unplug sensitive electronics during storms.

This systematic process will help pinpoint what is causing the excessive current flow leading to tripping. If a faulty appliance or wiring issue is found, those will need to be repaired first before the breaker can operate normally.

How to Replace a Faulty Breaker

If troubleshooting indicates the circuit breaker itself is defective, follow these steps to replace it:

1. Turn off power to the breaker box by flipping the main breaker switch to OFF.
2. Remove the cover plate from the breaker box.
3. Identify which breaker needs replacement. Double check it is the correct amperage for the circuit wire size.
4. Disconnect the wires from the faulty breaker. There may be multiple hot wires, a neutral wire, and a ground wire to detach.
5. Remove the bad breaker from the breaker box by unscrewing the fastener or brackets.
6. Install the new replacement breaker in the same spot. Screw it securely in place.
7. Reconnect each of the wires to the new breaker, matching hot, neutral, and ground.
8. Double check the tightness of each wire connection and make sure they are in the proper ports.
9. Flip the main breaker back ON to restore power.
10. Test the circuit by turning ON appliances. The new breaker should function normally without tripping.

Safety is crucial when working inside a breaker box. Always turn off the main breaker switch, wear insulated gloves, and use insulated tools when replacing breakers. Never touch bare wires or terminals inside a live electrical panel.

How to Increase Circuit Amp Capacity

If you find that the circuit breaker is appropriately rated but is tripping due to overload from too many appliances, there are a couple options to increase the circuit capacity:

• Distribute devices over additional circuits – Add new circuits with higher amperage breakers and re-wire devices in the panel box to balance the load across circuits.
• Replace the breaker with a higher amperage rating – After verifying the wire gauge can safety handle more current, install a higher amp breaker matched to the circuit wire size.
• Upgrade the wiring – Replace existing wire with new wires one gauge thicker to handle higher amp loads. This may require running all new wire from the panel.

Hire an electrician if re-wiring circuits or upgrading wiring. Never install a breaker with a higher rating than what the existing wires are rated for.

Tips to Prevent Nuisance Tripping

To help avoid nuisance breaker tripping in the future:

• Label each circuit at the breaker box to understand what is running on shared circuits.
• Stagger use of large appliances like dryers, air conditioners, etc to prevent overload.
• Plug high wattage devices like space heaters directly into wall outlets instead of power strips.
• Install arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breakers to prevent tripping from frayed/damaged wires.
• Upgrade to #12 or #10 gauge wire and higher amp breakers to increase capacity.
• Hire an electrician to add additional circuits to spread out electrical demand.
• Replace old outlets, switches, and wiring when re-modeling to boost electrical reliability.

Avoid overloading circuits with extension cords and too many devices plugged into one outlet. An electrician can assess your home’s circuits and wiring to recommend improvements.

FAQs

Why does my breaker trip when I plug in an appliance?

The additional current draw from the appliance may overload the circuit, causing the breaker to trip. This indicates the circuit has insufficient capacity for the additional device.

Why does my breaker trip with nothing plugged in?

Frequent tripping with no load on the circuit often indicates a short circuit somewhere in the wiring from damage, moisture, worn insulation, etc. It can also signify a faulty breaker.

Can I replace a 15 amp breaker with 20 amp?

Only if the circuit wiring is rated for 20 amps, typically #12 AWG wire. Never install a breaker rated higher than the wire gauge as this poses a fire risk from excess current.

Why do GFCI outlets trip more easily?

GFCI outlets detect small leakage currents and trip more readily for safety. They may nuisance trip from moisture or damaged cords. Test cords and reset the GFCI outlet more frequently.

How much does it cost to upgrade an electrical panel?

Upgrading a main service panel can range from $1,000 to $4,000 including parts and labor. Costs depend on the amperage, type of replacement panel, number of circuits, and complexity of the installation.

Conclusion

Persistently tripped breakers should never be ignored, as they indicate an underlying issue in the electrical system. Tracing the cause using a systematic troubleshooting approach can reveal if the problem is due to circuit overload, faulty wiring, or defective breakers. Replacing aged breakers, updating wire gauges, and re-distributing circuits are solutions that can prevent nuisance tripping issues. For major panel or wiring projects, hiring a licensed electrician is highly recommended for safety during repairs or upgrades. Paying attention to tripped breakers and making necessary corrections will keep your home’s electrical system running safely and reliably.