How to Fix Circuit Overloads

A overload occurs when too much current is running through one circuit, causing the circuit to throw a breaker or blow a fuse. The breaker box keeps the house from catching on fire and each circuit has a fixed amount of current it can carry to keep the house safe. Here are the steps to find a overload.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Turn all the switches off, then turn the switches on, one at a time, to see which switch throws the breaker. A breaker will trip if there's a short circuit in a fixture attached to that switch. If none of the switches throw the breaker, than the problem is in the appliances.

2. Unplug all the appliances. Plug each appliance in one by one and if the circuit goes dead the problem is in the plug or the cord. If the circuit isn't blown when the appliance is plugged in, then turn on the appliance. If the circuit goes dead when the appliance is turned on, the problem is in the appliance.

3. Reset the breaker by pulling the lever off then on again. If the breaker box has a fuse, it may have to be replaced, because sometimes the fuses melt. Change the fuse by unscrewing it and replacing it with a fuse of the exact same amperage, available at most hardware stores.

Tips & Warnings

• To make it easier to find overload problems without having to turn off the electricity to the entire house, make an electrical map.
• Don't ever use breakers or fuses with a higher amperage than the breaker box calls for. This disables the safety mechanism on the breaker box and increases the risk that your house will catch on fire.

[projectmgr]

on 8/11/2008 Another reason for a breaker to trip or fuse to blow is simply that there are too many appliances plugged in to one circuit. Try not to use all of the appliances at one time. For example, do not run the dishwasher and laundry at the same time that you are vacuuming and cooking a roast in the oven with the computer and TV on.