More breakers?
#1
11-29-01, 01:39 PM
More breakers?
Ok, this came up last Xmas and I did not pursue it, but now I have to remedy the problem.
Each year we do quite a few Xmas lights. This is second year in our home. Last year we kept blowing breakers (GFI) so of course I scaled back. In the past year I have discovered that all the wall outlets in one side of the house and all outside outlets are on one GFI and one breaker. The other half of the wall outlets are scattered around. How easy or difficult would it be to have some of these wall outlets "split off" and add breakers to the box. In other words, I want to increase my capacity, and keep my whole house from blowing a fuse when a breaker trips.
Thanks for the advice as always.
mw
Each year we do quite a few Xmas lights. This is second year in our home. Last year we kept blowing breakers (GFI) so of course I scaled back. In the past year I have discovered that all the wall outlets in one side of the house and all outside outlets are on one GFI and one breaker. The other half of the wall outlets are scattered around. How easy or difficult would it be to have some of these wall outlets "split off" and add breakers to the box. In other words, I want to increase my capacity, and keep my whole house from blowing a fuse when a breaker trips.
Thanks for the advice as always.
mw
#2
11-29-01, 02:57 PM
I suspect your problem not to be too many amps kicking your breaker.
You should look at the xmas tree box and see if these xmas lights are approved for outside use. If the weather is not sealed out of those light sockets the GFI will kick because of dew moisture, or rain. If moisture gets into the light sockets the GFI will trip because of leakage in the lines reacting to a minor short usually caused by wet light sockets. Xmas lights approved for outdoor use will say outdoor Xmas lights and Xmas lights designed for indoor use will say indoor Xmas lights. You can usually tell the difference between weatherproof Xmas lights and nonweaterproof Xmas lights by the design of the light sockets. If you can see holes where water can enter then they are indoor lights not weatherproof. If you see the plastic molded tight to the wires entering those sockets and the connection where the bulb enters the light socket is tight and sheds water then you have a weatherproof lighting string.
Just to confirm what I am saying you might want to look. If you still need convinced then ask to borrow an amp probe tester and measure the amps on the conductors connected to the breakers that are kicking out. Most likely you will not be overloaded compared to the amp rating on the breaker.
I strongly suspect moisture leakage.
Let us know what you find
Wg
You should look at the xmas tree box and see if these xmas lights are approved for outside use. If the weather is not sealed out of those light sockets the GFI will kick because of dew moisture, or rain. If moisture gets into the light sockets the GFI will trip because of leakage in the lines reacting to a minor short usually caused by wet light sockets. Xmas lights approved for outdoor use will say outdoor Xmas lights and Xmas lights designed for indoor use will say indoor Xmas lights. You can usually tell the difference between weatherproof Xmas lights and nonweaterproof Xmas lights by the design of the light sockets. If you can see holes where water can enter then they are indoor lights not weatherproof. If you see the plastic molded tight to the wires entering those sockets and the connection where the bulb enters the light socket is tight and sheds water then you have a weatherproof lighting string.
Just to confirm what I am saying you might want to look. If you still need convinced then ask to borrow an amp probe tester and measure the amps on the conductors connected to the breakers that are kicking out. Most likely you will not be overloaded compared to the amp rating on the breaker.
I strongly suspect moisture leakage.
Let us know what you find
Wg
