Electrical problem
Why does my breaker keep tripping?
A breaker trips for one of three reasons: the circuit is carrying more than it is rated for, a hot wire is touching neutral or ground, or the breaker itself has worn out. How quickly it trips after you reset it tells you which.
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What the timing of the trip tells you
| What happens | Most likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Trips after minutes of use, usually with several things running | Overload | Move a heavy appliance to another circuit. If that cures it, the circuit is simply too small for the load. |
| Trips the instant it is reset, with a snap | Short circuit or ground fault | Leave it off. Unplug everything on the circuit and try once more. If it still trips, call an electrician. |
| Trips only when one appliance is switched on | A fault in that appliance or its cord | Try the appliance on a different circuit. If it trips that one too, the appliance is the problem. |
| Trips in wet weather | Moisture in an outdoor box, fixture or underground cable | Have the outdoor wiring checked. |
| Handle feels loose, or trips with almost nothing running | Worn breaker | Breaker replacement. |
What is safe to check yourself
Find what is on the circuit
Note which lights and outlets went dead. That is the circuit.
Unplug and switch off
Disconnect everything on it, especially heaters, hair dryers, microwaves and vacuum cleaners.
Reset once, properly
Push the handle firmly to OFF, then to ON. A tripped breaker sits in the middle and will not reset from there.
Add loads back one at a time
If it holds with nothing plugged in and trips when one item is added, you have found the cause.
Stop after the second trip
Do not keep resetting. Each reset sends fault current through whatever is damaged.
How much can one circuit carry?
A 15-amp circuit delivers about 1,800 watts and a 20-amp circuit about 2,400 watts. A single space heater or hair dryer uses around 1,500 watts, which is most of a 15-amp circuit by itself.
- Kitchens
- A microwave, toaster and kettle together exceed one 20-amp circuit. That is why kitchens are required to have at least two countertop circuits.
- Older homes
- Fewer circuits serve more rooms, so overloads are common once modern appliances are plugged in.
- The lasting fix
- A dedicated circuit for the heavy appliance. A larger breaker on the same wire is never the fix.
Stop and call an electrician if
The breaker or panel is hot, or smells of burning
You see scorch marks at an outlet on that circuit
It trips with everything unplugged
The fault is in the fixed wiring or a hard-wired fixture.
It is an AFCI breaker tripping repeatedly
It may be detecting real arcing from a damaged cord or loose connection.
The main breaker trips
The whole house is overloaded or there is a serious fault. Do not keep resetting a main.
Tripping breaker questions
Is it dangerous to keep resetting a breaker?
Yes, if it trips immediately. The breaker is interrupting a fault, and each reset reheats the damaged point.
Can a breaker go bad?
Yes, though a real circuit problem is more common. An electrician can test the load on the circuit and the breaker itself.
Why does my breaker trip at night with nothing on?
Something on the circuit is cycling: a refrigerator, sump pump, furnace or dehumidifier. A failing motor draws high current on start-up.
This page is general safety information, not a diagnosis. Electrical faults can cause fire and electric shock. If you are unsure whether something is safe, switch it off and have a licensed electrician inspect it.
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