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Why a breaker keeps tripping

A breaker that trips is doing its job. The question is what it is reacting to, and whether that is a busy circuit or a fault.

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The short version

Most likely cause
Too many things running on one circuit at the same time.
Safe to check
Unplug what is on that circuit and reset the breaker once.
Call an electrician when
It trips again with nothing plugged in, or the panel is warm, buzzing or smells burnt.

Burning smell, sparks or a hot outlet? Stop using that circuit, switch its breaker off if you can reach the panel safely, and call now. If there is smoke or fire, leave and call 911.Call (844) 505-0813

Safe to check yourself

  • Note what was running when it tripped.
  • Unplug everything on that circuit, then reset the breaker once.
  • Plug things back in one at a time to find what trips it.
  • Move a heater or other heavy appliance to a different circuit.

Stop and call

  • The breaker trips again the moment you reset it.
  • The breaker or the panel is warm, buzzing or smells burnt.
  • There are scorch marks on an outlet or plug.
  • The same breaker trips whatever you plug in.

What a tripping breaker is reacting to

  • Overloaded circuitMore load than the circuit is built for. Space heaters, hair dryers and microwaves are common culprits, especially on a circuit shared with other rooms.
  • Short circuitA live wire touching another conductor, often inside a damaged cord, a failed appliance or a loose connection. The breaker trips at once.
  • Ground faultCurrent leaking to ground, often where there is moisture. GFCI devices react to a difference as small as 0.006 amperes, according to the CPSC.
  • Worn breakerBreakers age. One that trips under an ordinary load may have weakened, and only testing at the panel will show it.

What an electrician will do

  1. Ask what trips, how often and what was running.
  2. Measure the load on the circuit while it is in use.
  3. Inspect the connections at the panel and at the devices on that circuit.
  4. Fix the cause: split the circuit, repair the fault or replace the breaker.

The CPSC's advice for any breaker or fuse: "Do not simply replace the fuse or reset the breaker." Find out why it tripped first, because it often points to an overloaded circuit.

Related guides

Sources

  • US Consumer Product Safety Commission, release 83-008
  • US Consumer Product Safety Commission: GFCI fact sheet
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