Breaker tripping immediately

[honza.vosalik]

I plugged in an appliance last night in the garage. Once I turned it on, the breaker tripped. So I unplugged all the appliances on that curcuit, but the breaker still trips immediately as I try to flip it. Now what? Change the outlet or the breaker?

 

[sberry]

Look for a pinched wire.

 

[Bert_]

You have already gotten rid of the short by unplugging your appliance. Chances are it's just a bad breaker. The mechanism inside gets sticky if they don't get moved for years and sometimes they don't like to reset. You might even just take the breaker out, smack the thin side on a table and have it work fine again.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What is the make and model of the panel and breaker?

 

[pattenp]

Also pull the outlet and make sure you don't have a bare ground that has gotten too close to one of the hots terminal. If everything worked fine prior to plugging in your appliance to that outlet that may be the culprit.

 

[walta]

My wild guess is the breaker is a GFIC breaker and the appliance has a small ground fault.

Does your breaker have a test button?

Walta

 

[Musicinabottle]

My wild guess is the breaker is a GFIC breaker and the appliance has a small ground fault.

Does your breaker have a test button?

Walta

He unplugged everything on the circuit.

 

[Negen]

In my rental house when the breakers trip they need to be moved a bit further to the off position and then moved to the on position in order for it to reset. My current house I just need to move them from the tripped position back to the on position for them to work.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

In my rental house when the breakers trip they need to be moved a bit further to the off position and then moved to the on position in order for it to reset. My current house I just need to move them from the tripped position back to the on position for them to work.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

I find the Square D bad for resetting.
Swap a couple of breakers, same amperage around to test for a bad breaker.
Is it possible that your first outlet on the circuit is GFCI (on BXCable) if so maybe it tripped.

 

[James-W]

If I suspected a circuit breaker was defective, I would just replace it rather than screw around flip-flopping breakers around. If replacing the circuit breaker doesn't fix the problem, then the breaker was most likely good and I can keep it for use later on should I need it.

 

[honza.vosalik]

I haven't had much time to mess with it today, sorry. The breaker does have a test button. I had an extra new outlet, so I replaced it, but that didn't do a thing. I think I'll plan on going to HD on Monday and just buying a brand new breaker.

I had one more thought - shutting down the main breaker and trying to flip the tripping breaker when there's no power. Would that reveal if the breaker is at fault? I assume that might reveal if the breaker is literally mechanically damaged.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I haven't had much time to mess with it today, sorry. The breaker does have a test button. I had an extra new outlet, so I replaced it, but that didn't do a thing. I think I'll plan on going to HD on Monday and just buying a brand new breaker.

I had one more thought - shutting down the main breaker and trying to flip the tripping breaker when there's no power. Would that reveal if the breaker is at fault? I assume that might reveal if the breaker is literally mechanically damaged.

What is the brand and model of the breaker panel and breaker?

Is the breaker GFCI or AFCI?

I would troubleshoot the circuit before buying a new breaker. The breaker may be doing its job by preventing a shock hazard or fire....

 

[rlitman]

If I suspected a circuit breaker was defective, I would just replace it rather than screw around flip-flopping breakers around. If replacing the circuit breaker doesn't fix the problem, then the breaker was most likely good and I can keep it for use later on should I need it.

That sounds good, but when you're standing at the panel, you can move the wire around and test right away.

Your method requires going to the panel, seeing which breaker you need. Stopping everything and heading to the store.

I'm all for having spare breakers around if you know how to safely use them, but dropping everything to go buy parts before troubleshooting doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[dogdog]

OP, have you tried to unhook that wire that is connect to the breaker and then turn it back on and see if it still trips... while you have it unhooked, I think you can test continuity on that circuit between that unhooked hot wire and the ground and that unhooked hot wire and the Neutral..... if it beeps you know it is your wiring or you have still plug in something defective shorting the circuit... . (safety first, shut off whole house breaker if you are not confident in what you are testing of cause)

When I don't have any testers around, and I just move the wire between a known good breaker, if the current suspected bad circuit still trips the known good circuit breaker then you know it's wiring or something still plugin... there are chances that your outlet is bad as well.

unless of cause, you only have one circuit breaker in the whole panel.... it happens sometimes then you are SOL but to go get a tester.... multi meter in this case... don't have to be a fancy meter. Unless you are one of them insisting on a Makita multimeter or refuse to do the work crowd

 

[honza.vosalik]

I shut the main breaker off and then tried to flip up the breaker for the garage. it still tripped immediately with no power in it, so I think it's safe to say I just need a new breaker at this point.

 

[Bert_]

If you just want to get it working, take it out and smack the thin side of the breaker on a table. Do it pretty hard but not enough to break it. Not guaranteed on that GFCI breaker but it usually works on regular breaker if you don't have a replacement with you. The mechanism inside gets sticky from non use and won't reset when it trips.

 

[ddawg16]

I shut the main breaker off and then tried to flip up the breaker for the garage. it still tripped immediately with no power in it, so I think it's safe to say I just need a new breaker at this point.

Some GFCI breakers will not reset with power off.

Before you replace, try disconnecting the wires on it. If it still trips with the main breaker on, then it is bad.

 

[Bert_]

Some GFCI breakers will not reset with power off.

Before you replace, try disconnecting the wires on it. If it still trips with the main breaker on, then it is bad.

That's a good thought, I don't put many GFCI breakers in so a can't say for sure but an outlet will definitely not reset without power.

This is the easiest thing in the world to check. Pop off the cover and unhook the black wire from the breaker. Try to reset breaker with all other power on.

 

[alfredeneuman]

T Pop off the cover and unhook the black wire from the breaker.

The wire going to breaker isn't necessarily black. It could be any color (except for white, gray, or green) if in conduit. If in NM, AC, or MC cables it would be black,

 

[walta]

I see from the photo we are troubleshooting a GFIC circuit.
To test the breaker it is necessary to disconnect all the wires connected under screws on this breaker. There should be 2 wires one will be white the other will likely be black or red, but leaving the white pig tail wire from the breaker connected.

Walta

 

[James-W]

That sounds good, but when you're standing at the panel, you can move the wire around and test right away.

Your method requires going to the panel, seeing which breaker you need. Stopping everything and heading to the store.

I'm all for having spare breakers around if you know how to safely use them, but dropping everything to go buy parts before troubleshooting doesn't make much sense to me.

I have an assortment of spare breakers on hand so I don't need to go to the store to buy one. But that is just me and I tend to have spares of a lot of things in the house and in the garage. Anyway, I am just rambling and that is neither here nor there as far as this circuit breaker tripping thing is concerned.

The thing is, as you read over what the opening poster said it tends to make me think that the breaker went bad. He said that when he plugged in the appliance, the breaker tripped. After that, it trips all the time even with nothing plugged into the outlets the breaker feeds. If everything worked just fine until he plugged in that one appliance and now the breaker trips for no apparent reason, it makes me think the appliance has a problem, it drew too much current and the breaker just happened to trip and fail at that time.

I could be wrong, I am not an electrician and I am only guessing, but to me that is what it appears to be from reading everything in this thread.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I shut the main breaker off and then tried to flip up the breaker for the garage. it still tripped immediately with no power in it, so I think it's safe to say I just need a new breaker at this point.

Looks like you have several mismatched breakers.

What is the brand of panel?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I have an assortment of spare breakers on hand so I don't need to go to the store to buy one. But that is just me and I tend to have spares of a lot of things in the house and in the garage. Anyway, I am just rambling and that is neither here nor there as far as this circuit breaker tripping thing is concerned.

The thing is, as you read over what the opening poster said it tends to make me think that the breaker went bad. He said that when he plugged in the appliance, the breaker tripped. After that, it trips all the time even with nothing plugged into the outlets the breaker feeds. If everything worked just fine until he plugged in that one appliance and now the breaker trips for no apparent reason, it makes me think the appliance has a problem, it drew too much current and the breaker just happened to trip and fail at that time.

I could be wrong, I am not an electrician and I am only guessing, but to me that is what it appears to be from reading everything in this thread.

Can only use breakers that are listed for use in that panel. Read the panel label.

 

[James-W]

Can only use breakers that are listed for use in that panel. Read the panel label.

When I built my garage I bought a 200 amp QO panel. When I bought the breakers I needed for use in the garage I also bought some spare breakers just in case I needed them in the future. I have not needed to replace any as of yet and I doubt that I will need to replace any, but in the event that I do have one fail I have some on hand.

 

[sberry]

It doesn't sound like a breaker tripping but gfci, different.

 

[James-W]

It doesn't sound like a breaker tripping but gfci, different.

He says in the opening post that the breaker is tripping. He resets it and it keeps tripping.

 

[ddawg16]

He says in the opening post that the breaker is tripping. He resets it and it keeps tripping.

And a GFCI will do that if there is a ground fault somewhere.

It could be a bad breaker...but there have been plenty of stories on here about guys who replace what they think is a bad breaker and it ends up being something else.

 

[Ji m]

If its your first time or 500th time flipping a breaker,
turn your head, and be aware that when you have a dead short its possible for the breaker to actually BLOW UP.

Like flames flying out of it, or worse.

It could happily trip 3 times in a row and try to blow itself out of the panel the 4th time.

Dead shorts are a violent thing,
it's only through the fraction of a second reaction time, and high interupting current rating that a breaker can even survive a dead short.
Sometimes they don't open as fast as they should and you'll know it right away.


I have also had GFCI outlets blow up on me when I hit the test button.

 

[James-W]

And a GFCI will do that if there is a ground fault somewhere.

It could be a bad breaker...but there have been plenty of stories on here about guys who replace what they think is a bad breaker and it ends up being something else.

Not trying to start a fight about it, it's just that everything was working just fine until he plugged in this one appliance. When he plugged in the appliance, the circuit breaker tripped, in this case a GFCI circuit breaker. He unplugged the appliance and tried to reset the circuit breaker and it tripped immediately. He made sure EVERYTHING on that circuit was unplugged, and he got the same result when he tried to reset the circuit breaker.

My reasoning is that since the wiring was just fine before he plugged in the appliance, I am making the assumption (right or wrong) that the wiring is still just fine. At the present time there isn't anything connected to the circuit so either there is a short in the wiring or the GFCI circuit breaker decided to pick this time to go bad.

If I am overlooking something,please tell me. I would really like to know if my thinking is flawed. It may very well help me out in the future so please, tell me what I am missing here.

 

[Bert_]

Not trying to start a fight about it, it's just that everything was working just fine until he plugged in this one appliance. When he plugged in the appliance, the circuit breaker tripped, in this case a GFCI circuit breaker. He unplugged the appliance and tried to reset the circuit breaker and it tripped immediately. He made sure EVERYTHING on that circuit was unplugged, and he got the same result when he tried to reset the circuit breaker.

My reasoning is that since the wiring was just fine before he plugged in the appliance, I am making the assumption (right or wrong) that the wiring is still just fine. At the present time there isn't anything connected to the circuit so either there is a short in the wiring or the GFCI circuit breaker decided to pick this time to go bad.

If I am overlooking something,please tell me. I would really like to know if my thinking is flawed. It may very well help me out in the future so please, tell me what I am missing here.

I'm with you.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Not trying to start a fight about it, it's just that everything was working just fine until he plugged in this one appliance. When he plugged in the appliance, the circuit breaker tripped, in this case a GFCI circuit breaker. He unplugged the appliance and tried to reset the circuit breaker and it tripped immediately. He made sure EVERYTHING on that circuit was unplugged, and he got the same result when he tried to reset the circuit breaker.

My reasoning is that since the wiring was just fine before he plugged in the appliance, I am making the assumption (right or wrong) that the wiring is still just fine. At the present time there isn't anything connected to the circuit so either there is a short in the wiring or the GFCI circuit breaker decided to pick this time to go bad.

If I am overlooking something,please tell me. I would really like to know if my thinking is flawed. It may very well help me out in the future so please, tell me what I am missing here.

Yes youre overlooking the scenario pattenp outlined in #5. And when i did service calls in the past i have seen this problem many times.

 

[Mr. T]

Yes youre overlooking the scenario pattenp outlined in #5. And when i did service calls in the past i have seen this problem many times.

Yes. Turn off the breaker and pull the outlet. It’s not that breakers can’t go bad, but in my experience that is way down at the bottom of likely causes.

If the breaker is tripping with nothing plugged in I would pull and examine everything on the circuit before I replaced the breaker.

 

[James-W]

Yes youre overlooking the scenario pattenp outlined in #5. And when i did service calls in the past i have seen this problem many times.

If you go back and read post #11 you will see that he has replaced the outlet and it didn't change anything. If there had been anything wrong with the wring at the outlet I have to think he would have discovered it and fixed it. Apparently he didn't find anything wrong, but he still replaced the outlet . . . without success.

 

[honza.vosalik]

I see from the photo we are troubleshooting a GFIC circuit.
To test the breaker it is necessary to disconnect all the wires connected under screws on this breaker. There should be 2 wires one will be white the other will likely be black or red, but leaving the white pig tail wire from the breaker connected.

Walta

Thanks - for the advice! It's exactly what I did, the gfci did reset. Then I connected the wiresback and the outlets are working again!

saved me at least $35

 

[Negen]

I have been reading this and now that the issue is solved can anyone explain if gfic is required for the garage? Where is live bathrooms and kitchens get gfci and I think I only see arc fault in bedrooms.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Norcal]

I have been reading this and now that the issue is solved can anyone explain if gfic is required for the garage? Where is live bathrooms and kitchens get gfci and I think I only see arc fault in bedrooms.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

GFCI's are required for all 15 & 20A, 120 volt receptacles with no exceptions in garages.

 

[walta]

That great but I am afraid you have some leakage current in this circuit that is almost enough to trip the GFIC and if you look at it the wrong way it may trip. If you press the test button can you reset it?

Walta

 

[Negen]

GFCI's are required for all 15 & 20A, 120 volt receptacles with no exceptions in garages.

OK thanks my garage has one but 7 outlets only one has a gfci at the outlet not the breaker but my house is built in 1989 or so.

Sent from my G8141 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[raco232]

GFCI's are required for all 15 & 20A, 120 volt receptacles with no exceptions in garages.

I thought a dedicated single receptacle was acceptable in the garage if it was used for an appliance like a freezer or refrigerator and the outlet for the garage door opener on the ceiling. Maybe it’s changed by now.

If a non gfci is really needed, how about putting in a 30A receptical/circuit?

 

[alfredeneuman]

I thought a dedicated single receptacle was acceptable in the garage if it was used for an appliance like a freezer or refrigerator and the outlet for the garage door opener on the ceiling. Maybe it’s changed by now.

It has changed