Electricians...

[slycat]

..erm..if ur breaker keeps tripping, whats it trying to tell u?

only washer is running...and vacuum cleaner.

 

[imported_Strang]

Stop hiding LSD in the light socket.

 

[Cattlegod]

it is telling you to take the and out of your bottom line.

 

[slycat]

Originally posted by: Cattlegod
it is telling you to take the and out of your bottom line.

?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: slycat
..erm..if ur breaker keeps tripping, whats it trying to tell u?

only washer is running...and vacuum cleaner.

breaker could be bad, or quite simply the load is too big.

 

[slag]

it means you have too heavy of a load rated for that breaker. Your breaker is probably rated for 15-20 amps and your vacuum pulls 12-15 amps probably and your washing machine another 15-20 amps minimum.

Plug your vacuum in elsewhere.

 

[Colt45]

something is shorted, you have too much shite running off of one line, or the breaker is fuct.

 

[TechnoKid]

You have a short, or something is drawing more amps than the breaker is designed for. Does it trip immediately after resetting the breaker, or say when one of the two (or both) devices you listed are running?

 

[Bassyhead]

is the breaker tripping frequently a new problem or has this been ongoing?

 

[MetalMat]

Like I tell everybody with "faulty" breakers, use the old penny trick. Wont trip no more

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Like I tell everybody with "faulty" breakers, use the old penny trick. Wont trip no more

i thought that was for fuses?

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid

Originally posted by: MetalMat
Like I tell everybody with "faulty" breakers, use the old penny trick. Wont trip no more

i thought that was for fuses?

My bad, I thought we were talking about an old fuse box. The house I just moved out of had that, really needed to be changed.......

 

[slycat]

first time i heard of breaker tripping in 2yrs.

-washer
-vacuum
-toaster oven(newly bought) <---culprit?

toaster oven was on...just bought 2 days ago...some no-name brand from walgreens.

 

[sharkeeper]

Why does a circuit breaker trip?

It's legs are too long and the wires are strung too high!

Why does a fuse blow?

Your circuits need anger management.

Seriously, if you are tripping CB's and you KNOW the draw is not in OL territory, you may have loose terminals/lugs or a bad CB.

If you don't know what that means, have a qualified electrician check out the branch circuit in question with a clamp on ammeter, etc.

Also remember that most kitchen resistance heater appliances can pull close to 100% of a 15A circuit. This is why a properly wired kitchen has no less than two 20 amp circuits just for outlets!

Cheers!

Cheers!

 

[OZEE]

Toaster ovens are notoriously high-current. You'll need to make sure you're not vacuuming or washing when you're cooking. Or get 'em on different circuits. It could also be a bad breaker -- it does have a mechanical trip mechanism that could be worn out, though you don't often see this (usually only when someone has literally been using the breaker as a switch...) If you're concerned, call a licensed electrician to come check it out. It's not something you'll probably want to replace/repair yourself.

 

[arcas]

I'd be rather surprised if your washer is on the same circuit as your vacuum and toaster. Your vacuum and toaster are almost certainly mutually incompatible if you're trying to use them on the same circuit. Most vacuums draw 10-12 amps. Toasters generally draw at least that much (12 amps = ~1500W). Your circuits probably only rated for 15-20 amps and likely only have 15 amp breakers installed. Do not simply install a bigger breaker if this is the case. That'll lead to a fire. Just make sure your vacuum and toaster aren't on the same circuit if they're both on at the same time.

If your breaker starts tripping with no appliances in use or with only one appliance in use (one that you know draws less than the breaker's rating) then it's time to examine the breaker and maybe replace it with one of equal capacity. If the problem still persists, have an electrician take a look.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: slycat
..erm..if ur breaker keeps tripping, whats it trying to tell u?

only washer is running...and vacuum cleaner.

breaker could be bad, or quite simply the load is too big.

and the load could be too big because of a short, OR, the load is just too big

 

[mdcrab]

It means don't wash and vacuum at the same time.

 

[The Stigenator]

it means you got a short or your power drain is higher than what's rated for the breaker.. which can happen when you got a short.