Upgrade Your Electrical System to Avoid a Tripped Circuit Breaker
Every home’s electrical system features a set of circuits that are controlled and protected by circuit breakers. If you live in an older home, your electrical system may still be using fuses and require an upgrade. Circuit breakers trip when too much electricity flows through them or when they cannot handle the excess current load. This helps prevent the circuits from overheating and causing more damage.
Why Does My Breaker Keep Tripping?
In older homes or those with faulty wiring, tripped circuits are more common. This can also happen during power surges and bad storms. While circuit breakers offer a level of safety to your home’s electrical system, it is a good idea to determine the cause if you are experiencing constant circuit breaker tripping. There are a few main reasons that can cause a circuit breaker to trip:
- Circuit overload. A circuit overload occurs when the amount of electricity flowing through a particular circuit exceeds its capacity. This can result from having too many appliances operating on one circuit, causing the circuit to overheat. An increase in electricity can damage any appliances or electronics on that circuit or even cause a fire. The circuit breaker trips to prevent this from happening and redistributing your electrical devices to other circuits.
- Short circuits. Circuit breakers can also trip because of a short circuit, which can be more dangerous than a circuit overload. A short circuit occurs when a "hot" wire encounters a "neutral" wire inside one of the electrical outlets. This event can cause a circuit to overheat due to the large amount of current flowing through it. The circuit breaker will trip to prevent a fire or further damage to the circuit and any devices on it. There are several reasons a short circuit could occur, including faulty wiring or loose connections.
- Ground fault surges. Similar to a short circuit, a ground fault surge occurs when a “hot” wire touches a ground wire or the metal outlet box connected to the ground wire. When this happens, more electrical current will begin passing through the circuit. If it is more than the circuit can handle, the circuit breaker will trip.
Talk to us to find out why your breaker keeps tripping.
Professional & Certified Electricians Here to Help
Bradley Mechanical has a team of certified and expert electricians, led by our lead electrician with decades of experience. When it comes to power and electricity, we lead with safety. We never want our customers to live in an unsafe situation, and we will do everything we can to help you discover why your breaker keeps tripping and discuss how to prevent future issues.
If you are experiencing frequent circuit breaker trips, it is time to call Bradley Mechanical.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you check circuits when a breaker trips?
Some common signs of a tripped circuit breaker include visible damage (dark burn spots), hot breakers and a burning smell. Another way to determine the health of a circuit breaker is by using a digital multimeter. Your local electrician can use this device to test your circuit and ensure the tripping breaker continues to do its job.
Why are certain circuits off in my home when nothing is tripped?
Your circuit breaker may need to be reset. You can do this by unplugging all devices and turning the breaker on and off again. There could also be faulty wiring at play, impacting the power to your devices. If you’re still unsure, call your Bradley Mechanical electrician, and we’ll help you troubleshoot the issue.
Where do tripped power circuits drop?
Every home is different, meaning your circuit breaker could be located in various areas. Typically, circuit breakers are placed in low-traffic areas, like basements or garages. These placements also allow for easy access.
