Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping - 3 Common Reasons

Here are 3 common reasons the breaker in your electrical panel will trip. This is basic information to give you and idea of what could be wrong and how to troubleshoot the loss of power in an outlet or circuit.

To reset a tripped breaker, you simply need to turn it off then back on. If the breaker immediately trips when you reset it, you have a short somewhere. Start by unplugging anything in that circuit and see if the breaker holds. If not, you have a problem in the wiring or inside a receptacle box somewhere.

Remember to disconnect the power before working with any electrical circuits. It is dangerous.

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[robertapierce]

Another superb video to help the "regular joe' homeowner to understand wiring, circuitry and home appliance trouble-shooting. We are very appreciative of your step- by- step visuals on this.

[fredr]

Great explanations Bill. Yes, I like your vids. Very well presented. As a mechanical and electrical designer by profession, I can honestly tell you how well your videos seem to be presented IMHO. Great job again Bill.

[frankpeck]

Thanks, Bill...for your common sense, straight forward approach, to trouble shooting a faulty circuit breaker.

[jimx]

Good, simple, straightforward. Good job.

[regthebackyardjackofalltrades]

Thanks, I tried to explain to my sister but she couldn’t understand me. Thanks for making it easy so I didn’t have to repeat myself or calm down because she said I was yelling at her. Plus I’m in California and she’s in Queens N.Y. and there’s no way I’m flying back East to fix an outlet during this pandemic. I love my sister but she’s going have to pay someone.

[ivo]

Simple yet straightforward and informative!! Thanks, sir.

[ABEairsoft]

You just saved me so much time and frustration. I had a wire that had a gash in it where my wifi router was plugged in

[HikeHuntHaul]

Thank for the great video. Just had this happen in my garage....had a thought that it might actually be the original wall breaker plugin (maybe from age). I had trouble shooted the entire system. Replaced it and all is well :) thanks for the great video! Saved me probably 300-500 bucks! Much appreciated. Thumbs up!

[davey]

1. Overload due to accessories on circuit pulling more than the breaker rating.
2. Fault due to dead short.
3. Loose connection causing high resistance.

[velonamoses]

I can’t understand the dislikes here??? Guy is speaking sense ☝️💯

[kevinjones]

We had record low temps(-30 celcius) an outdoor extn cord was causing the tripping of the circuit thanks for the help!

[nycelectriciandavid]

The 3rd one you just explained can also sometimes be attributed to the bad "jaw" of a plug-in type c.b. A simple non-contact thermal detector ( very common these days because of covid-19 to check human temperature ) is pretty handy to check the circuit breaker's temperature just to make sure its contact to the busbars is up to par, otherwise excessive heat from loose, pitted and dirty jaws because of arcing, can trip a breaker even with the right current load.

[onecrazywheel]

Crazy thing is probably all of the breaker manufacturer's inform customers in writing in their specs to change a breaker once it has tripped! I assume they say that only to cover themselves from liability. That would get expensive for owners though to change circuit breakers for everytime a breaker would trip. Good video, Bill.

Jeff
Journeyman Electrician

[Josearanda]

This was great. Now to make a video and find out how to find out what it was .

[derekthompson]

Thank you man ! Saved me a headache popped like 4 times in 10 mins. Never thought a weak breaker. Lol just been unplugging stuff

[vegandew]

Excellent job explaining things to someone no in the trade.

[akinvests]

Simple but very explanatory and detailed, thanks

[ViperCardCollector]

Thank you for helping us may you rest in peace

[JohnC-kcuh]

Thank you, NOT a lot of bla bla bla, SUPER awesome and to the point. I'd hire you in a snap

[markanthonyvaldez]

Thanks for sharing, im a new electrician working here in the philippines this kind of information helps a lot. Tanks!👏👍