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Paul
Lv 5
Paul asked in Home & GardenMaintenance & Repairs · 1 decade ago

Electrical problem, can someone help?

My breaker keeps popping when I reset it. Their is nothing plugged in to create a load, so what's wrong. Is it the breaker that's bad, or the wall socket. The breaker is rated at 20A. I first had problems with it when I hook up my security system to that socket and it pop. (The fuse that is) So I re-set it and it keep popping, then I'd try unplugging it and it still pop. Can some one help me out. Thanks

5 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You do not have a loose connection you have a short most likely unless the breaker is bad . Check the wires and outlet to see if anything melted and shorted if ok start at the first outlet or device closest to the circuit breaker on that line and disconnect the wires with wires in the air turn on breaker if ok go reconnect and go to next device or outlet in line and so on... to test a breaker swap wires with a breaker of same value by swapping wires in the breaker box or you can test the wires in the circuit same way to narrow down problem you can also use a ohm meter or continuity light to see if a short exist in the wires so there are many ways but i cant walk you through if you dont know something about electricity but you problem is an easy one just dont turn on power if you not sure how to test always disconnect everything when in doubt

  • 1 decade ago

    How sure are you that there is nothing else plugged in to create a load? There may be other receptacles on the same circuit that is fed by the same breaker. Your problem sounds to me like an overloaded circuit. I would check this with an ammeter at the breaker to see how many amps are on this circuit. If is is not overloaded, I would suspect a bad connection, perhaps in the panel where this breaker is installed. This can cause excessive heat, and not only can it cause the breaker to trip from time to time, it can also damage the breaker.

    This next thing I would check is anything and everything that could be plugged into the receptacles being fed on this circuit. A high resistance fault or intermittent fault either in a cord or electrical device can be the cause.

    The last thing I would suspect is a faulty receptacle or wiring.

    Good luck.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    You have a loose connection somewhere on that circuit. Turn of electric breaker and check wall outlets for any loose wires, and check the tightness of the connections. If that is all in order, then turn off the main supply at the fuse board and remove the cover. Then check the connections on the breaker you have a problem with.

  • 1 decade ago

    You may have a loose connection somewhere. Either the wire in the breaker box or wire to an electrical box is loose.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    start by replacing the outlet that you plugged in the security system too

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