Commercial buildings and industrial facilities require additional power to operate heavy machinery and electronic equipment. However, when a circuit gets overloaded, the circuit breakers trip and switch the circuit off, thus preventing a fire hazard. In such an instance, you can get the power back by following these simple steps:
- Turn of all the appliances and lights affected by the tripped breaker. Switch everything off that is affected by the power outage. Unplug all the devices that don’t have an off switch. Make sure no electronic device is drawing electricity before proceeding to the next step.
- Look for the tripped breaker inside the main panel. Look for the breaker that’s switched off in your main electrical panel. Some breakers have a red or orange color tint to indicate a switched-on position.
- Switch the breaker from OFF to ON. Carefully switch on the breaker that tripped. Hopefully, you will get your power back at this point. You can now turn all the appliances back on that you turned off in step one.
Breaker Keeps Tripping
A circuit breaker that keeps tripping is a sign of a serious problem. This problem can be caused by wear and tear on the breaker itself and generally requires the installation of a new circuit breaker.
Repeated tripping of a circuit breaker usually happens because of one of the following problems.
- Short Circuit: Short circuits are common but can be potentially dangerous. They happen when a hot wire comes in contact with a neutral wire. This causes excess current to flow through the circuit. The heat created from this excess current triggers the defense mechanism inside the circuit breaker, and it automatically shuts down to prevent an electrical fire.
- Circuit Overload: Overloaded circuit is another common occurrence in situations as such. When the circuit breaker or electrical system fails to handle the amps flowing through the circuit, it can either trip the breaker, or damage electronic devices, or can even cause a fire.
- Ground Fault: When a ground wire and a hot wire come in contact with the metal box housing them, it results in more electricity flowing through the circuit than it is supposed to hold. This excess electric flow repeatedly trips the breaker. A gound fault surge usually burns the power outlet.
If you are a resident of Lake Tahoe, California, or Reno, Nevada, and you have a circuit breaker that keeps tripping, you can reach out to Lakeview Electric. We house the best commercial and residential electricians in Lake Tahoe and Reno. Contact now to schedule an appointment.