Apartment Keeps Tripping Electrical Circuit
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Why an Apartment Unit may be Tripping a Circuit Breaker: Why is my apartment tripping the circuit breaker? © By: Dave Rongey |
Tripping Circuit Breaker at Apartment
Electrical Question: Why is my apartment tripping the circuit breaker?
- I recently moved into a 6 unit apartment. For the past 8 days that I have lived there the breaker has tripped 5 times on different days.
- Once it tripped because I had the portable heater and the fridge plugged in different rooms.
- On other occasions it was because of different lighting combination.
- My point is that it tripped due to few things plugged into the wall.
- My main concern is that my apartment unit only has ONE breaker switch.
- Does this mean all my outlets are going into a single switch, and is this against code in Wisconsin.
- Please let me know who I can call to get this inspected and if it’s up to standard code.
Thank you.
Background: Vang, a Student from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Additional Comments: Very informative website.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Vang.
Why an Apartment is Tripping a Circuit Breaker
- First of all portable heaters typically draw a lot of power and may require their own circuit, so if the heater was plugged in with the refrigerator then it will no doubt trip the circuit.
- Vang, you state that there is only one circuit breaker for the whole apartment, and I’m wondering what size this circuit is.
- If the only circuit is a a 15 or 20 amp circuit then this will not be enough.
- Now I do not know the specifics about your apartment, such as the age and size of the unit, but in any case just one circuit will not be adequate.
- There are agencies in place that should provide assistance should you need it
- You should go through the process of informing the apartment manager of the problem and giving them the opportunity to correct the situation.
- If they do not take care of the situation then you can consult with your local Renters Rights or Housing Authority which can work with you about this problem.
- By the way, a safe dwelling should have the following:
- Smoke Detectors installed
- GFCI protected outlets
- in the bathroom
- and the kitchen
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