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Anonymous Posted on Jun 05, 2014

Suddenly, turning on my light switch trips the circuit breaker. I tried changing the light switch and it still trips the circuit breaker. How can I fix this problem?

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Jim

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  • Expert 101 Answers
  • Posted on Jul 19, 2014
Jim
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It sounds like the problem is in your light. Leave your circuit breaker in the OFF position, as well as, the light switch. Then, take down the light, or lights...and check out each connection in the light box. It's best to do one at a time, this way you can go by process of elimination. If there's a lot of lights working off this switch. You can disconnect all the lights from the middle of the room. Put wirenuts on all the bare wires, and then try and see if your lights come on without tripping the circuit. If it trips, then you know the problem is further down the line. I'm going to assume there's only one or two lights, so take them down and check the splices (connections). It seems like you have a loose wire at one of the lights. Please feel free to check back with me if you have any further questions. Good Luck! - Jim

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 18 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 06, 2009

SOURCE: 2 way light switch tripping breaker

connected wrongly on one switch or neurtal wire is present at one box is shortening,thus tripping

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Anonymous

  • 1305 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 19, 2009

SOURCE: intermatic t10004 control panel trips the circuit breaker

That circuit breaker is letting you know that you've got a problem in the electrical wiring.... What's next is to turn the power off to BOTH legs of the breaker.
Begin by physically inspecting all the connections in the timer box, and at the breaker and all the way to the pump motor. Make sure all connections are dry, and there's no water in any of the conduits...this will cause a short circuit and trip the breaker. If there's any bare power leg wires touching a grounding point , this can cause the breaker to trip. Lastly check the motor on the pump; on the motor end, there should be a cap you can remove and use a crescent wrench to make sure the motor shaft is moving freely. It could be jammed with debris....this happens around my pool often because I'm surrounded by trees with needles. If the motor cannot turn freely, this will cause the breaker to blow... I'm pretty sure that your timer isn't the issue... Please let me know what you find out.

Silverdragon

electronic & computer repair& servicre

  • 12061 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 11, 2010

SOURCE: I'm trying to connect a GSW-SK door switch to an

The circuit breaker trips because you have some sort of short circuit. Use a Meter set to OHMS, and try to find the "Short". Check the wiring in the Plug also.

Anonymous

  • 351 Answers
  • Posted on May 14, 2010

SOURCE: Lights won't come on

If the breaker is tripping, then there is a short in the circuit. The two wires in your lighting circuit are touching somewhere. Could be at the broken light, or below it in the ground. You will likely have to pull that stake or dig around it carefully to see what is going on, When the light was broken, the wire may have gotten damaged also.

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Anonymous

  • Posted on Nov 13, 2010

SOURCE: I installed a new garbage disposal. The way I

It sounds like you put in ordinary wall switch.
You use the word 'pigtail' which implies electrical knowledge, so without a photo it's hard to tell where the switch is shorting the circuit.
You need a single-pole switch with 2 screws and a ground screw.
If you use a 3-way switch, your wires are connected to dark screw and one of the brass screw
You have 2 wires running between receptacle and disposal.
The wall switch interrupts one wire. Not both wires.
So one wire from receptacle runs continuously to disposal.
The other wire is cut and one end attaches to a switch screw, the other end of the cut wire attaches on the other switch screw.
The bare ground wire connects to green screw.
Preferably the Hot wire is cut.

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