A circuit breaker trip might seem麻烦 to some, but I urge you not to think of it that way. Each time a circuit breaker trips, it means it has saved the life of an appliance or, more importantly, the user's life. If it trips occasionally, it might be due to a misoperation of the breaker or environmental factors. However, if it trips frequently, it's a matter that deserves serious attention. After all, we can't entirely rely on circuit breakers for our safety.

Breakers tripping are usually due to the following five reasons. By assessing the actual situation, you can identify and resolve the issue. Note: Always ensure that the upper-level breaker is in the off position when inspecting the circuit.

Reason one: Overload

Overload protection is a basic function of circuit breakers, which is present in all circuit breakers.

Overload protection refers to a situation where the current in the circuit exceeds the predetermined value of the circuit breaker. For instance, if the circuit breaker is set at 16A and the actual current in the circuit is 17A, the circuit breaker will automatically trip.

How was this 16A selected? It was determined based on the ability to handle high currents of the circuit breakers' protected objects, such as outlets, wires, and appliances.

Unaccompanied circuit breakers are almost certainly due to circuit overload; for those with added attachments, observe if there are changes in the attachments. If there are no changes, they too are likely due to circuit overload.

The cause of circuit overload is the excessive total power of appliances being used simultaneously in the circuit. Simply remove high-power appliances from the circuit or reduce the number of appliances, then close the switch.

Reason Two: Short Circuit

Broadly speaking, a short circuit is an extreme form of overload.

Short-circuiting occurs when the neutral and live wires touch each other without passing through any electrical appliances. This situation can generate an enormous current (infinity), which not only can instantly destroy electrical appliances but can also electrocute or injure users in mere seconds.

Therefore, if such a situation arises, ensure that the circuit breaker remains open until the issue is resolved.

How can you determine if this is the issue? If you notice a blackened electrical plug, a blackened outlet, sparks, or if the circuit breaker trips even after removing all plugs, it indicates a short circuit in the circuit.

Reason Three: Leaking Electricity

Now, let's talk about a commonly used accessory for circuit breakers—the residual current protector. This device features a leakage protection function, which means the circuit breaker will automatically trip when a leakage occurs in the circuit.

Breakers with attached accessories will possess the functions of both the breaker and the accessories. How can one determine whether the breaker tripped due to overload or leakage?

Now, it's essential to inspect the attachment's condition. A common attachment features a "reset button" with accompanying text labels. Normally, this button is flush with the circuit breaker's casing. However, if a leak occurs in the circuit, the button protrudes. Moreover, the breaker cannot be closed directly; it's only operational after pressing the button.

If this situation occurs after a power trip, it indicates a leakage fault in the circuit; otherwise, other faults should be considered.

Reason Four: Under-voltage

In addition to the common leakage protector accessories, there's another attachment called the "under-voltage release." As the name implies, it automatically trips when the voltage is too low.

This attachment is commonly installed in areas with unstable voltage to prevent electrical appliances from operating under low-voltage conditions and avoid damaging the appliances. However, there's a drawback to using this device—it trips the circuit breaker during power outages.

On the under-voltage release attachment, there will be a reset button identical to that of the leakage protector. If the button sticks out after tripping, it indicates an under-voltage fault in the circuit.

Once the voltage stabilizes, simply close the switch directly.

Reason Five: Overvoltage

In addition to the under-voltage release, there's also a type called the "over/under voltage release," which adds an extra function: the circuit breaker trips even when the voltage is too high.

After a voltage relay trip, a reset button is also present. However, it is not discernible whether the trip was due to overvoltage or undervoltage at this point, but it can be confirmed that it was caused by voltage instability.

At this point, once the voltage stabilizes, simply close the switch directly.