A tripping circuit breaker can mean there is a problem with your electrical system. A circuit breaker does the same job that fuses once did. A circuit breaker trip occurs when the circuit becomes too hot from heat generated by the electrical current running through the circuit. The circuit breaker trips, shutting off electricity at that location until the wires cool.
Tripped circuit breakers can be reset. This gives them the advantage over fuses, which must be replaced each time one is blown. To reset the circuit breaker, you simply go to the electrical panel, find the tripped breaker switch and push it back to the “on” position. Because the tripped breaker switch may rest somewhere between "on" and "off," it is sometimes difficult to find the one that has tripped. Some breakers show red when tripped to make them easier to identify.
Most people find a tripping circuit breaker to be a problem for electricity flowing to the bathroom or kitchen. To stop the bathroom circuit breaker from tripping repeatedly, go through the house and find out which other electrical devices shut off when the circuit breaker tripped. Turn off some of those devices and then reset the breaker. You should find the problem solved. If you can move the problem devices to an area in the home on a different circuit, the breaker should stop tripping.
Kitchens can be a problem because we run many devices that are always on, like the refrigerator. If you find the circuit breaker keeps tripping, simply turn off a device like the coffee maker or crock-pot while you use the mixer. This should solve your tripping circuit breakers.
If you find the tripped circuit breaker recurs repeatedly, you may have a problem with a receptacle or the wires in the receptacle. Sometimes, a faulty switch will cause the problem, tripping at a lower temperature than it was designed for. If a tripping circuit breaker trips again immediately after you reset it, do not try to resetting it again. Unplug devices that run on that circuit and contact an electrician immediately.
Because circuit breakers are there to prevent fires and serious electrical failures, is vital that you unplug all devices and call an electrician to a tripping circuit breaker. It may be that you need an additional circuit installed to handle the overload of electricity, or you may simply need repairs to the receptacle. You might also need a new circuit breaker.
