My lights have started tripping????

[InvisibleM]

Hey Moon, I'm no electrican, but I have changed out my breakers, sockets and even minor wiring. Not easy if you don't really know what you are doing, but play it safe turn EVERYTHING off(at main breaker). Like if you took apart a toy and put it back together, hard at first easier as you go. I kept tripping breakers so I had to upgrade, was nervous at first, thought I was going to eclectrocute myself. But I'm still here!

"I kept tripping breakers so I had to upgrade"

What do you mean by this?

 

[InvisibleM]

Ok. I switched the outlet I was using (I have 3 double sockets in the room) and things seem to be back on track. Should I just replace the socket that was giving me trouble? Changing the breaker sounds scary for a novice electrician.

Are the 3 receptacles on the same circuit? Turn off the breaker and find out. If so it's not the circuit but the bad receptacle...

 

[Spliff-killa]

InvisibleM- When I started they only had 15amp breakers in the box. With all that I had going I kepting tripping the breakers, so I went to Homer Depot and picked up some 20amp breakers. I live in an older home so I'm sure the breakers might be old or worn out, IDK. Switched them out and its all gravy baby!

 

[Seamaiden]

Ooo... is that really a good idea to just change out the breakers, but not the wiring? Our main breaker panel is almost all 15A except for the HVAC breakers. We installed a second breaker panel downstairs for my grow and it's all 20A breakers and nice, fat, heavy wiring (can't remember what gauge, sorry).

Am I the only one who thinks about a light on a weird head trip when reading the thread title? :\

 

[Spliff-killa]

Hey Seamaiden, my cousin is a sparky(love that title), went over the whole house and said things look good. If I was to move up to a bigger breaker that I would have to upgrade my wires. Plus I asked the master elect. at HD and he said that I should be fine with a 20amp and the original wiring, but got my cousin to check it out, just to be safe!

I think his light took one too many hits of acid!!! lol

 

[dentonland]

one thing about changing your outlets.. wrap the wire around the screw. dont use the holes on the back to stab them in.. been an electrician for 20 years and have seem many problems with that. if you kill your main at the panel, your breakers will be dead and its alot safer that way

 

[cindy99 king]

take one off at a time and place it in ur new breaker and make sure ur not stoned when u do.also turn the power off that would help u :)

 

[Dr.stickerdick]

Spliff-Killa, If you had 15amp breakers the wire was most likely 14awg which is rated for 15amps, changing to 20amps(breaker) requires you having 12awg wire. Seamaiden, sounds like you have bad,,,, JOINTS ,, lol. If you hear sisseling that is a bad connection. Back about 2005/ 2006 or so there were bad CHINA made sheetrock that let off caustic gasses deneigrating even electrical wires and connections, do a search. asside from that I'm sorry as an electrician for your problems but do endever to right them. Peace

 

[Seamaiden]

Are you shitting me? Built by a Russian from Chinese materials. How rich is that??

 

[Underground]

If you know it works off of an extension cord it's obviously not the light. It's either the circuit or the breaker. Take the wire off the breaker and flip it, if it trips still it's bad. Replace it. If it does not, it's somewhere it the circuit. If that's the case start looking for ground wires touching hot wires or screws in the device boxes. Many times a stabbed in connection can walk out of the device.