Why is my circuit breaker tripping? 4 common reasons
One of your circuit breakers is tripping? Not again!
How many times do you have to turn it off and on every time you lose electrical power in that particular area of your house?
Circuit breaker tripping may be a common electrical problem in your home that can happen anytime, but how long can you bear its frequency?
If you’re sick of dealing with a randomly tripping circuit breaker, the best thing to do is call an emergency electrician in Melbourne!
Are you experiencing a power interruption? Does it happen when you use your hairdryer, do your laundry, or even when you’re in the middle of watching your favourite series on Netflix?
Then you should do something about your safety switch tripping by giving us a call!
Let an electrician in Melbourne do the checking and testing of your circuit breaker every quarter so you can avoid the hassle of random trips!
Save the number of our emergency electrician: 1300 300 222 – you never know when you’ll need it!
Why is my breaker tripping all of a sudden?
Your circuit breaker protects your entire electrical system from high and excessive electrical currents from a short or overloaded circuit. Breakers usually interrupt the current flow after an electrical fault is detected.
Circuit breakers usually can reset and resume normal operations after being shut down.
What does it mean when your circuit breaker trips?
If you see that your house or a particular area in your home loses electricity, then something is wrong.
You might also experience flickering lights when your circuit breaker trips.
Your circuit breaker should protect your electrical system from electrical shocks and electrical damage due to faulty electrical wirings, overloading and even appliance failure.
So instead of resolving things with DIY effort, find an expert electrician in Melbourne who’s certified and qualified to inspect and fix any electrical issue right away.
What are the signs of a bad breaker?
Your circuit breaker’s job is to protect your entire power system from an excessive electrical load that could lead to electrical shock and electrical damage.
So if you’re wondering if you need to have your circuit breaker replaced or repaired, then here are some red flags that you need to watch out for.
All of which, importantly, negate the expert assistance of an emergency electrician!
1. Circuit overload
Electrical outlets will only have a certain amperage that they can handle.
When there’s a circuit overload, it can cause your electrical connections to stop suddenly.
Power then goes out to your kitchen or living room, which means that your home uses a single circuit to power your home.
When this happens, you need to:
- Go to your electrical panel and turn off your switches
- Reset or unplug your appliances
- Turn on/turn off your circuit breaker
You may need to assess what appliances are causing the sudden power trip by switching on each appliance individually to assess if the item in question is leading to the overloaded circuit.
You may then need to have a local electrician near you update your home wiring system or even add more circuits if needed.
Electricians may need to add a separate circuit to your living room and to your kitchen so that overloading will no longer be a problem.
2. Short circuits
When an electric current veers away from the intended electrical path, a short circuit happens.
There is a low resistance connection between two electrical conductors that supply power to the circuit. When the electricity goes to a different path or suddenly takes a different shortcut to other materials, it can cause a fire and an electric shock if you come into contact with it.
Improper care and attention to short circuits will eventually lead you to experience:
- Excessive heating
- Damage to the power system
- Power tripping
- Power interruption
There are a few reasons why short circuits happen. Some of these may include:
- Faulty electrical wiring
- Loose wire connections
- Faulty appliance wiring
You may need to have your electrical system checked by a certified electrician in Mentone or emergency electrician Richmond to replace your electrical safety switches in Victoria.
3. Faulty safety switch
Poor electrical installation and maintenance can often cause faulty electrical wirings. Such a situation happens if electrical wires have been damaged during a renovation or the electrical wires are old and outdated.
You should also watch out for these red flags of faulty electrical wirings:
- Smoke
- Burning smells
- Buzzing sounds
- Flickering lights
- A blown fuse
- Power points that are warm to the touch
You can have your electrical wirings repaired or completely replaced by an expert electrician in Melbourne at any time.
4. Faulty electrical appliances
Old, damaged, or faulty electrical appliances are some of the most common causes of tripping.
Since some appliances have wear and tear, there may be times that the electrical current leaks, causing imbalances in the electrical circuit. When this happens, your safety switch is triggered to shut off. You need to unplug all of your electrical appliances and turn the safety switch on until the power comes back.
However, if this happens frequently, you will need to contact an emergency electrician in Melbourne to get the best remedy and electrical solution to your emergency electrical problems.
How do you fix a breaker that keeps tripping?
Circuit tripping can happen anytime.
Not only is it dangerous, but it can also put you and your family in danger if not fixed immediately.
So here are some things that you can do when you experience a sudden trip:
Turn off all your lights and appliances
If the safety switch does not reset, you need to turn off all your lighting and appliances, especially those areas that may be overlooked.
Reset your circuit breaker
When you have a circuit breaker tripping, you should immediately reset your circuit box.
Safety switches will automatically reset; however, it might be best to call an expert electrician right away if the problem happens frequently.
Test your circuit breaker
Testing your circuit box will give you an idea about the performance of your safety switch.
Doing so will let you know beforehand if there are any problems regarding your safety switch, electrical appliances, outlets or wires.
Call a 24 hour electrician
When in doubt about checking and inspecting your safety switch, it is best to call an expert 24 hour emergency electrician right away to deal with sudden circuit breaker tripping.
Do I need an electrician to replace a circuit breaker?
A licensed Melbourne electrician can do an inspection and maintenance of all your electrical systems, so you have fewer worries when it comes to electrical emergencies!
Got a problem with circuit breaker tripping? Call an emergency electrician in Melbourne now!
Let an emergency electrician in Melbourne regularly check your safety switch and make sure that it is working properly. This will save you from the hassle and danger of dealing with it yourself – as well as the accompanying risks.
Briggs Electrical prioritise your safety, so if you’re experiencing circuit breaker tripping or need to upgrade your circuit breaker or switchboard, or need other residential or commercial electrician Melbourne service, contact our team of licensed and qualified electricians in Melbourne.
Call us on 1300 300 222 or lodge a job online.
