Electrical guidance
Why Does My Breaker Keep Tripping?
A breaker that repeatedly trips may be responding to an overload, a fault, damaged equipment, or another condition that needs qualified evaluation.
Prepared by Sims & Sons. Published .
Why do breakers trip?
A circuit breaker is designed to interrupt power when electrical conditions exceed what the circuit should safely carry or when a fault is detected. Repeated trips can relate to the connected load, an appliance, damaged wiring, a loose connection, or another condition. The trip alone does not identify the cause.
When should I stop resetting it?
Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips again, feels hot, makes noise, or is associated with odor, sparking, discoloration, or moisture. Leave the affected equipment alone and call for help. Repeatedly restoring power can re-energize an unsafe condition.
What is safe to observe?
Without opening electrical equipment, note which lights or outlets lost power and what was operating just before the trip. Do not remove the panel cover, replace a breaker, probe wiring, or defeat protective devices. Share the observations with an electrician.