Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: clerick on October 05, 2007, 10:36:09 AM
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I have a breaker issue. When i'm running high load items together the main breaker is popping NOT the local circuit that the loads are attached to. I'm thinking the main breaker switch is dying... any thoughts?
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Just as likely that the branch circuit breaker serving the actual load is tired and not faulting open in an overcurrent condition. It's pretty common. Of course the main could be soft too. Impossible to diagnose in a forum. Call an electrician.
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Originally posted by Irwink!
Just as likely that the branch circuit breaker serving the actual load is tired and not faulting open in an overcurrent condition. It's pretty common. Of course the main could be soft too. Impossible to diagnose in a forum. Call an electrician.
I was hoping to avoid that, budget is VERY thin these days. I was suspecting the main breaker since it doesn't seem to matter which branch is getting loaded. Microwave, A/C, hair dryer, dehumidifier. All in different places in the house, no specific combination, just seems to be items that have a high initial draw, instead of the lights dimming a bit the breaker goes.
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check your PMs
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Too many unknowns to say Clerick. It could be the main is doing it's job, that your in an overload situation. What's the max amp rating on main? When it trips does it completely trip out, or does just part of the house go dead?
You may have to bring a qualified person to conduct load calculations, in order to determine if there is an overload of the main, or if you have an unbalanced panel. On the flip side of that coin, it could be as simple as a weak main.
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Originally posted by LTARokit
Too many unknowns to say Clerick. It could be the main is doing it's job, that your in an overload situation. What's the max amp rating on main? When it trips does it completely trip out, or does just part of the house go dead?
You may have to bring a qualified person to conduct load calculations, in order to determine if there is an overload of the main, or if you have an unbalanced panel. On the flip side of that coin, it could be as simple as a weak main.
I double checked and found that its 250 amp service, not 300 like i had mentioned to someone earlier.
When it trips it ALL goes. sometimes it only take a hair dryer to pop it, maybe the microwave or the vacuum. No rhyme or reason.
One other note is that the panel is stock, this problem started this year and the house is 20 years old +/-.
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I would buy a new main, pull the meter and replace the main, simple and inexpensive to do.
Make sure you dont have an aluminum drop line, if you do have a pro replace it
shamus
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Got a penny? A full copper one, not a copper plated zinc one...
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REPEAT: CALL AN ELECTRICIAN! I was first licensed as a jouneyman 32 years ago. I won't offer any further advice other than to call a licensed electrician. An internet forum is no place to get do-it-yourself advice for electrical work. Do it yourself electrical work is only recommended for electricians and fools with a death wish.
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Your main could be tripping because there is a bad or loose connection and it is causing it to over heat. The main will trip because of overloading and also overheating. It could be a bad breaker connection or bad bus bar connection. I believe the only way to check for it overheating is to check it hot. I understand about the budget being thin, but as Irwink recommended, I would call an electrician. Since no one is actually there to access the problem, there is too much guessing to risk your life over.
FYI, I am also guessing. I am not an electrician.
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I want to change my previous reply to "get an electrician" :)
shamus
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Originally posted by Shamus
I want to change my previous reply to "get an electrician" :)
shamus
Don't be such a lemming Shamus, stand up for your posts! :lol
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Originally posted by clerick
Don't be such a lemming Shamus, stand up for your posts! :lol
Hehe clerick,
Not knowing anything about you I didn't want to see this post in the future.
Hello Aces High BBS,
My name is Mrs. clerick, You may remember a post that my husband posted a while ago where he asked an electrical question.
A fellow by the name of shamus gave him advice to pull the meter and replace the main.
What shamus didn't know was that there was a secondary feed and that clerick did not own a multi-meter and therefore was fried, I am in the process of trying to identify shamus right now so I can send people to kill him.
Its all about self preservation bud :)
shamus
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If you're going to do anything else on your own than call an electrician, please make sure you got a video recording it up on youtube. We'd like to nominate a new darwin candidate.
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Originally posted by Fishu
If you're going to do anything else on your own than call an electrician, please make sure you got a video recording it up on youtube. We'd like to nominate a new darwin candidate.
Isn't anything we post to the OC by nature a Darwin Award candidate?
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For the record, i'm not a complete noob when it comes to household wiring. I have had classes in electrical circuits, large and small, and have dealt with wiring before. I admit that when it comes to dealing with breakers, my experience is limited to replacing breakers, but really no trouble shooting.
I truly appreciate your concern, but when it comes to self preservation i am king, if there is a chance i will get hurt due to a lack of knowledge i won't even attempt it. I am not about to risk my life over something that is really an inconvenience. Just though i would drop the questions here to see what i may facing.
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A question posed in the OClub is like a bug in a chicken coop -- lots of fluttering and hopping around, squawking and pecking. The question is digested and often recycled several times. Not all chickens are nurtured from the experience, but all are exercised. :confused:
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Do you have electric heat? If so, this may be a long winter:eek:
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Originally posted by Irwink!
REPEAT: CALL AN ELECTRICIAN! I was first licensed as a jouneyman 32 years ago. I won't offer any further advice other than to call a licensed electrician. An internet forum is no place to get do-it-yourself advice for electrical work. Do it yourself electrical work is only recommended for electricians and fools with a death wish.
I rewired my Garage in 1999. It's still standing and has more outlets than I know what to do with. I had to buy the GFCI, and faceplates. My father in law "supervised" (he had his Journeyman's Card). Two weekends worth of work and no more "hey the previous owner spliced the garage door opener into the 20 amp feed (without a Junc. Box.).
Something like this seems to point to a bad Main Breaker. But, I won't touch that. Call an Electrician.