Main circuit breaker keeps tripping

Why Does My Breaker Keep Tripping? If there is frequent tripping in your circuit breaker, it indicates something going wrong with the circuit. There may be a short circuit in one of your appliances or a ground fault. Maybe there is a circuit overload or a sign indicating the circuit breaker box is faulty.

1. How do you fix a main breaker that keeps tripping?
2. Why would the main breaker keep tripping?
3. How do I find out what is tripping my main circuit breaker?
4. Why does main breaker trip and not the circuit breaker?
5. Should I be worried if my breaker keeps tripping?
6. Should I replace my breaker if it keeps tripping?
7. What happens when the main breaker trips?

How do you fix a main breaker that keeps tripping?

To fully reset the breaker, you will need to turn the breaker all the way off and then back on before it will hold. If the breaker trips again you may have a short circuit or overloaded circuit, which will need to be checked out by a local licensed residential electrician.

Why would the main breaker keep tripping?

Overloaded Circuits

The most common cause of a tripped circuit breaker is an overload in that circuit. Each circuit is only intended to carry a certain electrical load, and if it exceeds this load, it will cause the breaker to trip.

How do I find out what is tripping my main circuit breaker?

To help determine what caused the problem, unplug all the items on the circuit before resetting the breaker. After it's reset and rested for a few minutes, turn on or plugin items, one at a time, to determine what may have caused the overload.

Why does main breaker trip and not the circuit breaker?

As others have mentioned, the main is sized less than the sum of the branches; if all the branches pull heavy loads, you can exceed the main without exceeding the branches, and the main will trip. If this is the cause, you can; Accept the overload, and be ready to flip your main breaker when it happens.

Should I be worried if my breaker keeps tripping?

Don't ignore a circuit breaker that keeps tripping. This is a sign that one of your circuits is getting overloaded on a regular basis. Your circuits are only able to handle up to a certain level of voltage. Beyond this voltage, you run the risk of starting an electrical fire.

Should I replace my breaker if it keeps tripping?

When the breaker is tripping, it is almost never a good idea to replace it with a larger one. Here's why: It increases the risk of fire. If the breaker is tripping because it's overloaded (say, drawing 25 amps on a 20-amp breaker), increasing the size may cause the wire or the receptacle to overheat.

What happens when the main breaker trips?

When a circuit breaker trips, too much electricity is trying to move through the circuit at once, causing the circuit breaker to literally break the circuit. Too much electricity passing through a circuit can overheat the electrical wiring in your home or electrical devices, which can cause a fire or electrocution.