Circuit trips are common faults in circuit breakers. When there is a power overloadcaused bya lightning strike or when too many outlets are draining too much power, the circuit breaker protects the circuit by switching off. Here’s what to do in the case of a circuit break.
- Turn off all your electrical appliances that were affected by the outage. If a device doesn’t have an OFF switch, unplug it from its power cord. It’s best not to have anything plugged when the power comes back on as this could damage the appliance.
- Find the circuit box and look for the breaker(s) in the OFF position. Some breakers have a red or orange indicator if they have been switched off.
- Flip the switch to turn on the breaker, then turn on all the appliances you had previously turned off.
- If your breaker keeps on tripping, hire a professional electrician to take a look at it
Some Causes of Regular Circuit Tripping
Continuous circuit breaker trippingcauses general wear and tear on the circuit breaker, and it is usually due to one of the following reasons:
Short Circuit
A short circuit is typical yet potentially dangerous. This happens when a live wire is in contact with a neutral wire in a power outlet, which causes a current overload in the circuit, thereby creating heat. The circuit breaker automatically switches off in cases like this to prevent an electrical fire.
Overloaded Circuit
This common occurrence is simply an overloaded circuit. If your electrical system or specific circuits can’t handle the currents coming through the circuit, it will turn off the breaker, and this could result in electronics damage or even starting a fire.
Ground Fault
This is when a live wire and bare earth wire simultaneously touch the metal box housing them. This results in more electricity being pushed through the circuit than the circuit can handle. This, in turn, trips the breaker. A ground or earthing fault also leads to a burn in the outlet.
You can read more tips and DIYs for basic electrical installations here. If you require a professional electric service in your home or workplace, contact us at www.stuartjohnstoneelectrical.com.au.
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