LGD Electric / Breaker Keeps Tripping
Breaker Keeps Tripping: 7 causes and when to call an electrician.
A breaker that trips repeatedly is not a nuisance. It is your building warning you about a real fault condition. Here are the seven causes, ordered by frequency, and the threshold where you stop resetting and call a licensed electrician.
A circuit breaker that keeps tripping is doing its job. It is protecting you from one of four conditions: an overloaded circuit, a short circuit, a ground fault, or (if the breaker is an AFCI type) a parallel or series arc fault. If the breaker trips immediately when you reset it, or trips with nothing plugged in, the issue is upstream of any appliance and you need an electrician. Do not keep resetting it. LGD diagnoses breaker-trip conditions using infrared thermal scanning, load measurement and continuity testing before replacing any hardware.
The 7 most common causes (ordered by frequency)
- Overloaded circuit (the most common cause).
- Loose termination at a device or the panel lug.
- Short circuit in a downstream device or cable.
- Ground fault in a wet location.
- Arc fault (AFCI-specific).
- Damaged conductor behind a wall.
- Failed breaker (the hardware itself).
Overloaded circuit
The most common cause. A single 15-amp branch circuit can supply roughly 1,800 watts continuous. A 1,500-watt space heater plus a 1,000-watt hair dryer on the same circuit guarantees an overload trip. Unplug the highest-draw device and see if the circuit holds. If it does, split the load across two circuits or install a dedicated circuit for the big appliance.
Short circuit: why it trips instantly
A short circuit is a fault where a hot conductor directly contacts the neutral or another hot conductor. Current spikes to hundreds or thousands of amps within milliseconds. The breaker's magnetic trip element fires immediately. Causes: a damaged cable inside a wall, a failed appliance, a rodent chew, a nail through a cable from a recent renovation. This is a "find it and fix it" condition, not a reset condition.
Ground fault: where GFCI outlets come in
A ground fault is a fault where a hot conductor contacts ground (a grounded appliance case, a metal box, a plumbing fixture) instead of the intended neutral. Ground faults in wet locations (kitchens, bathrooms, exterior, laundry, garages) are exactly what GFCI receptacles are designed to catch. A standard breaker will also trip on a ground fault when the fault current is high enough. A persistent ground-fault trip usually means moisture intrusion into a receptacle box, a failed appliance motor, or an outdoor conductor with damaged insulation.
Arc fault: AFCI breakers and what they protect against
An AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) breaker detects the specific signature of an arcing fault (either a parallel arc between conductors, or a series arc in a single conductor) and trips before the arc can start a fire. The current Canadian Electrical Code requires AFCI protection on bedroom and living-area circuits in new and renovated Vancouver homes. AFCI breakers are also more sensitive than standard breakers, which means they occasionally trip on conditions a standard breaker would ignore. If an AFCI breaker trips repeatedly on a specific circuit, the fix is almost always in the wiring, not the breaker.
Failed breaker (the hardware itself)
Breakers are mechanical devices. They wear out. Symptoms: trips for no apparent load reason, does not reset cleanly, feels loose in the panel. LGD tests suspect breakers with a continuity tester and an overload test before replacing. Replacing the breaker without ruling out the other six causes sends you back to the same trip in a week.
When to call an electrician vs reset one more time
Reset exactly one time after unplugging all loads on the affected circuit. If the circuit holds with nothing plugged in, add loads one at a time until you identify the culprit device. If the breaker trips immediately on reset with nothing plugged in, stop. The fault is upstream of any device and requires a licensed diagnostic. Call LGD at 604 347 8372. See also our electrical repairs page.
Breaker tripping FAQ
Why does my circuit breaker keep tripping?
One of four conditions: overload, short circuit, ground fault or arc fault. Persistent tripping is a symptom that needs a licensed diagnostic, not a reset.
Is it safe to keep resetting a tripping breaker?
No. Repeated resetting can overheat the breaker and defeat the trip function, removing your overcurrent protection. Stop resetting and call an electrician.
Short circuit vs ground fault?
A short is hot-to-neutral. A ground fault is hot-to-ground. Both trip the breaker but the causes and fixes differ.
How does LGD diagnose a tripping breaker?
Isolate the circuit, measure load, infrared scan for hotspots, continuity and insulation resistance testing, replace the breaker last (not first).