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breaker trips all the time

Teikas Dad

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Joined
Dec 13, 2009
Messages
132
Location
Connecticut
I have a small shed in my backyard where we used to have a pool house. A 220v line runs out to the shed (40amp breaker in the house leading to the pool house). After the pool shed was torn down the shed was delivered and set on the concrete slab that was still there. I ran the 220v line into the shed and split off one leg into a box with a 20amp breaker, then added a single light inside and three duplex 15amp outlets. Everything worked fine for six years.
My wife decided that she wanted the shed moved back 12 feet. I've been married for 32 years so I know by now that I just use the magic words "Yes Dear" and do it. For those newlyweds among us, trust me, it's easier in the long run.

Anyway...to move the shed back I had to extend the electrical line to it. The 220v line was buried 6 feet under and runs about 30 feet to the house so I couldn't dig it up. What I did was get some 12/2 UF romex and still only using one leg of the 220v line I connected the 12/2 to the 220 line with waterproof exterior connectors. I used the black and white wires in the 220 line and cut the red wire. I put a twist on waterproof connector cap on the red wire just to make sure it wouldn't ground out. I then wrapped the bejeepers out the entire thing with electric tape. The connection is just about dead center under the shed now so I can't get at it...at least not without jacking the entire shed up 3 feet in the air. After I ran the 12/2 into the 20amp breaker box in the shed I checked all the outlets with my tester and they all showed that they were wired correctly.

The problem is this, for no reason the main 40amp breaker inside the house now trips. At first it happened when my wife plugged in her weedwacker battery charger, so I thought something was wrong with that. I reset the breaker, turned on the light in the shed, plugged in another battery charger for another tool and she used a corded weedwacker all at the same time. It didn't trip the breaker. We shut everything off, then later when she want back the breaker had tripped again.

I'm at a loss.... what am I missing.
 
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pattenp

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Jun 4, 2008
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10,175
Location
Virginia - USA
If I'm understanding this correctly you have #12 wire spliced to whatever size wire that is protected by a 40 amp breaker. The first thing is that #12 is only rated for 20 amps, so that 40 amp breaker needs to be replaced with a 20 amp single pole breaker. As for the 40 amp breaker tripping, I think you have moisture shorting out your splice.
 
Last edited:

Charles (in GA)

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Jan 11, 2006
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12,489
Location
50 mi south of Atlanta
Is it a GFCI breaker?

If so, that is most likely your problem.

What did you use for a neutral on the 240v run, or was it just two hots and a ground? What are you using for a neutral now with one hot for 120v? If it is a GFCI double pole breaker (for 240v such as a spa) it is sending out current on one hot and looking for current returning on the other hot, which you do not now have.

Charles
 

Aceman

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Jan 28, 2007
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2,513
Location
Eastern Oregon
Call a licensed electrician.

He can meg the circuit. The most likely cause is your underground splices are bad.
 

tdkkart

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Jun 17, 2006
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Location
Eastern Iowa
Besides the fact that you could burn down your house or shed, if something's drawing enough current to blow a 40A breaker it may be running your electric bill through the roof too.
 

Gary S

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Dec 27, 2008
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Bismarck, ND
Call a licensed electrician.

He can meg the circuit. The most likely cause is your underground splices are bad.

Agreed, and now you know why lots of people here recommend that any underground wire should be put in conduit. Direct burial will leave you will problems like this and they are very difficult to repair.
 
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jocono

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Aug 11, 2009
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23
Location
Florida
Call a licensed electrician.

He can meg the circuit. The most likely cause is your underground splices are bad.

I agree with Aceman. Let a pro do it. I hired an electrician to wire my shop and I am glad I did.
Regards,
Joe
 
OP
T

Teikas Dad

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Joined
Dec 13, 2009
Messages
132
Location
Connecticut
Thanks everyone....I was worried it was going to be the splice. What I did was take the black hot lead on the 240 (I saw the other thread advising me that it's NOT 220) and used that for my hot lead, then used the white line for my neutral. I didn't use the red hot lead, so I just cut it off and put a waterproof twist connector on it.

I'm going to build a new deck on the back of the house and do some wiring there. I think what I'm going to do is bite the bullet and dig a trench, put in some conduit and run new lines all the way from the main load center in the house out to the shed. I've got the 40 amp breaker shut off until I do so.
 

rburke65

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Nov 10, 2007
Messages
12,349
Location
Canfield, Ohio
There are a lot of folks on this GJ site that will not be real happy with you for call "it" 220 volt!!! They will be picketing your house!!
 

Motofixxer

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Oct 10, 2009
Messages
681
The quick and easy route is rarely the better one. Better to do it one time, and do it right.
 

nehog

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Jan 2, 2010
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7,935
Location
Jaffrey, NH
FWIW, buried splices for power wires are difficult to do. Electrical (plastic) tape is not suitable for direct burial either. Best way is a proper splice kit, which you can get.
 
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