breaker keeps tripping for overhead bedroom lights

[Jimwib]

I have a home that is about 5 years old.
Suddenly the overhead bedroom lights didn't come on.
I discovered the groundfault was tripped so I reset it,
but as soon as I did it tripped again. All the plugins
around the room work...just not the fan+light, and 4
cannister lights and a string of christmas like lights that
are recessed in the tray ceiling. So....I bought a new (exact same kind
15 amp breaker) and installed it. Bang, it tripped again so
a new breaker was not the solution. I also should tell you
that there are 4 wall switches that control the overhead lights
on one wall and 2 switches on another wall. Lastly, I removed
the light switch places and looked inside and vacummed out
the space because I was thinking that maybe a cobweb could
cause the problem. I am at a loss...any other suggestions.
Thanks

 

[hardhat]

A wire is touching somewhere. I had them same problem when I moved in. Turns out the wall switch for the celing fan was the problem. Ground wire was loose touching something. Cob web shouldnt trip the breaker. Gonna have to inspect connections, I would start with the fan since it has movement/ vibration and could slowly loosen wires that arent secure in the first place.

 

[KenC]

I have a home that is about 5 years old.
Suddenly the overhead bedroom lights didn't come on.
I discovered the groundfault was tripped so I reset it,
but as soon as I did it tripped again. All the plugins
around the room work...just not the fan+light, and 4
cannister lights and a string of christmas like lights that
are recessed in the tray ceiling. So....I bought a new (exact same kind
15 amp breaker) and installed it. Bang, it tripped again so
a new breaker was not the solution. I also should tell you
that there are 4 wall switches that control the overhead lights
on one wall and 2 switches on another wall. Lastly, I removed
the light switch places and looked inside and vacummed out
the space because I was thinking that maybe a cobweb could
cause the problem. I am at a loss...any other suggestions.
Thanks

The parts I bolded above are confusing. Is this a GFCI breaker or do you have a GFCI recept??

 

[madosta]

Hopefully its just a GFCI receptacle you are tripping. Sometimes neutral/hot will break and ground to the junction box if pinched.

Have you changed anything recently?
Been in the attic?
Moved some stuff around?

Try unplugging those Christmas-like lights.
Then start digging. I would start at the ceiling fan first as well after checking the rope lights or whatever you have.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Those GFCI breakers ****, but are code. I had one giving me **** so I replaced it with a regular one. No issues since.

Jim

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

If you have a GFCI outlet, try replacing it. If not it may be that a wire worked loose somewhere in one of the boxes. Or worse, you have critters eating through wires in your attic...

 

[Norcal]

Are you sure it's a GFCI? A 5 YO house should have AFCI's.....

 

[RECox286]

Rodents just love all types of house wiring. The insulation is a rice

based product.

Uncle Bob

 

[ccgeedy]

I had this problem a few years ago and found that the receptacle for my septic pump was on the same circuit and the pump had shorted out. Maybe you have some other circuits outside the bedroom that are the problem.

 

[kb2tha]

Has anyone recently hung a picture using too long of a nail? Have seen it happen, although not likely.

 

[Big-Foot]

After making sure that nothing else is dead other than that bedroom -

I would:
1) make sure I had a tight connection at each switch
2) take apart light fixture and ensure solid connections
3) replace the most commonly used switch
4) call an electrician

 

[darkk]

Has anyone recently hung a picture using too long of a nail? Have seen it happen, although not likely.

I haven't hit an electrical wire yet. But! I did put up a trim piece around my heating line for the garage heater and grabbed a longer trim screw than I thought and it punctured a hole in the hot water heating line. Then we had to cut the NEW drywall about 4"x18" in the wall at 10ft high to repair the line. The ***** about it is the trim was there once already, we just hung the heater and I was just putting the trim piece back up! Life never slows down does it?

 

[Aceman]

You need to have the circuit megged. Call an electrician.

 

[Browns1964]

First thing turn off the GFCI and take off the black wire. With a meter on ohms check from the back wire to ground you should have a open circuit. If you do read anything start by finding out everything that is on the circuit and unplug or turn off. Check to see if you now have a open circuit between hot and ground if it is now open turn things on one at a time and see if it comes back. If you turn something on or plug something in and it comes back that is your problem. If you unplug everything and you still read on your meter you will have to try and find the end of the circuit and unwire one thing at a time until you get the problem to go away. It is best to check with a meter and not by tripping the breaker. Hope this helps.

 

[rancherbill]

All the plugins
around the room work...

They are on a different circuit.

.....just not the fan+light, and 4
cannister lights and a string of christmas like lights that
are recessed in the tray ceiling.
.......I also should tell you
that there are 4 wall switches that control the overhead lights
on one wall and 2 switches on another wall.

Turn off all the lights, if you have a three way switch remove the bulb. reset the breaker. Turn on the breaker. If it blows immediately go through the whole house and also the exterior looking for things that are not on. There are potentially many more outlets on this circuit.

 

[VWPORSCHEGT3]

check your nuts!!! your wire nuts that tis! lol you wouldnt know it but electricity can make the wires vibrate , 440Volts you can see it ...kinda crazy.

if your overhead lights are light/fan combo check the wiring there first , it could have vibrated loose.