breaker keeps tripping
#1
01-06-03, 09:13 PM
breaker keeps tripping
I have an 82 yr old home which was rewired in 1997. I have had no problems and nothing new has been added. But tonight one breaker has tripped 8 times. Is it just an overload, or is something else wrong?
#2
01-07-03, 06:15 AM
You might be faced with an overloaded breaker. Did you add more load in the recent past? Try diconnecting a few items and see if it does it again.
The next thing is a wire shorting out somewhere, maybe burnt off or broken. If the receptacles were wired with the backstab method then somewhere a wire may of fell out and is shorted against another. It is a common problem with that method of wiring.
The third thing is could be although not very common given the age of the breaker is a defective breaker that is just not holding.
These are the most common areas to explore first. Post back and let use know what you find or if you need more help.
The next thing is a wire shorting out somewhere, maybe burnt off or broken. If the receptacles were wired with the backstab method then somewhere a wire may of fell out and is shorted against another. It is a common problem with that method of wiring.
The third thing is could be although not very common given the age of the breaker is a defective breaker that is just not holding.
These are the most common areas to explore first. Post back and let use know what you find or if you need more help.
#4
01-08-03, 06:36 AM
Member
By the way, after a breaker trips a second time, stop resetting it until you figure out what's wrong. You can cause permanent damage to your wiring.
#8
01-08-03, 12:54 PM
You weren't having a storm at the time were you? There is a chance of power surges, it has been know to trip breakers although usually it doesn't just pick on one breaker, check with you neighbours and see iff anyone else experienced a strange electrical problem at the same time as you.
