Do it Yourself: Re: [DIY] Tripping breaker workshop

29 December 2011

Re: [DIY] Tripping breaker workshop

don't know much about breakers but I do know they can and do go bad. I always like to look at the cheapest solution first, switching the breaker isn't that hard or expensive----saying that, I call my electrician to do it and it took less than 5 minutes and he didn't charge me. LOL

----- Original Message -----

From: sirpackyderm

To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 2:27 PM

Subject: [DIY] Tripping breaker workshop

The 60 amp breaker keeps tripping for the wood shop. Breaker is in the house. Wood shop is an out building. The breakers in the wood shop never trip. Only the main in the house.

Box in the house is a 200 amp square D QO load center. Box in wood shop is a 150 amp Square D QO load center moved from the house. Conductors from the house to the wood shop are #2 AL rated for 100 amps buried.

The breaker blows even when the load is no where near capacity. Today only the compressor was running 1hp 220 volt and less that 700 watts of lights. The other day it was only the lights.

Is it possible the breaker is simply worn out? I do not know the age of the breaker. But it is at least 21 years old. When I installed the new service in 1990 some of the breaker were reused since we stayed with Square D.

If the shop is running full capacity there could be a 3hp saw, 2hp dust collector, air compressor 1hp, and 1500 watts of light all at once. But usually only one thing at a time unless the compressor kicks on.

Dale in the flat lands any thoughts?