Why do so many guys assume a tripping breaker means overload, not a short?

I traced mine back to a nail through a cable in the wall, proving patience beats guesswork.

4 comments

4 Comments

But is it worth stressing over the difference if the breaker just needs a reset? Most people I know just flip it back on and forget it, unless it keeps happening. It seems like only electricians or really careful DIYers bother tracking down whether it was a short or just too many hair dryers.

abby_baker568h ago

davidt73's "just flip it back on" idea could start a fire.

kimk584d ago

Yeah, that part about the nail in the wall proving patience beats guesswork is the real lesson. I read an article by an electrician who said most homeowners, and honestly a lot of handymen, just assume overload because it's the most common and easiest fix. They just start unplugging things. A short feels more scary and unknown, so they don't want to consider it. But like you found, a short is a solid dead short and the breaker will usually trip instantly, not after a delay. An overload might take a minute if you're just over the line. Figuring out which one it is saves so much time and prevents just living with a half broken circuit.

tara6424d ago

Thought all breaker trips were from overloads until I had a short in my kitchen light. The breaker snapped off right away, not after a delay like with too many appliances. In my experience, that quick trip is a dead giveaway for a short, so I stopped assuming and started testing. Your mileage may vary, but knowing this saves a ton of time and stress.