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Breaker is tripping not sure why. Any thoughts?

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  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
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March 5, 2014 11:40:13 AM

Currently all i have plugged in is my custom built desktop with a 700w psu. The weird thing is, is that it doesn't trip the breaker on it's own (or at least thats what i believe.) Sometimes the breaker trips, but only when im not the only one at home. I also live in a condo. My breaker is a 15 amp. My roommates think it's my cpu, but i thought that a 700w power supply tripping a 15 AMP was ludicrous. I have a sneaking suspicion that it's possibly an old breaker though. The breaker is an asci-hybrid/chaf. Not sure if that matters. I've done a bit of research on them and apparently They're known to be a bit odd.

More about : breaker tripping thoughts

March 5, 2014 11:47:05 AM

What else is on that specific circuit?
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March 5, 2014 11:49:16 AM

I would like to know who makes and how old is that 700 watt PSU?
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March 5, 2014 11:55:20 AM

ex_bubblehead said:
What else is on that specific circuit?


Like I said, nothing that i'm aware of. There are 4 different outlets in my bedroom currently and only one of them is in use. I'm using my desktop right now and i'm the only one home ha. it trips at random times. Sometimes it will stay on for 2-3 days and sometimes it trips only an hour of it being on.

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March 5, 2014 11:56:31 AM

anonymous1 said:
I would like to know who makes and how old is that 700 watt PSU?


It's exactly 1 year old. Its an APEVIA ATX-CB700W 700W ATX12V / EPS12V.

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March 5, 2014 12:02:14 PM

Caleb Duggins said:
ex_bubblehead said:
What else is on that specific circuit?


Like I said, nothing that i'm aware of. There are 4 different outlets in my bedroom currently and only one of them is in use. I'm using my desktop right now and i'm the only one home ha. it trips at random times. Sometimes it will stay on for 2-3 days and sometimes it trips only an hour of it being on.


The first thing to do is determine what else, if anything, is on that circuit. Until you do that you're only guessing. Take a couple of desk lamps and plug them into sockets in two different rooms, turn them on, then turn the breaker off. Note the results, turn the breaker back on and move the lamps to another wall plate. Continue this until you have tested every wall jack in the condo.

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March 5, 2014 12:06:02 PM

ex_bubblehead said:
Caleb Duggins said:
ex_bubblehead said:
What else is on that specific circuit?


Like I said, nothing that i'm aware of. There are 4 different outlets in my bedroom currently and only one of them is in use. I'm using my desktop right now and i'm the only one home ha. it trips at random times. Sometimes it will stay on for 2-3 days and sometimes it trips only an hour of it being on.


The first thing to do is determine what else, if anything, is on that circuit. Until you do that you're only guessing. Take a couple of desk lamps and plug them into sockets in two different rooms, turn them on, then turn the breaker off. Note the results, turn the breaker back on and move the lamps to another wall plate. Continue this until you have tested every wall jack in the condo.



Well, the only plug ins that go out are in this room. Everything in this room has gone off when the other plug ins were in use. Most plugs in the rooms adjacent to this one have something plugged into them. Laptop charger, lamps, televisions. The bathroom is adjacent as well. Do you think a plug from all the way across the condo could be affecting my room? hmm

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March 5, 2014 12:10:26 PM

Quote:
....Everything in this room has gone off when the other plug ins were in use....

That's not "nothing that i'm aware of". If that entire room is on a single 15amp breaker you could very easily overload it to the point of tripping, especially if it's old and worn.
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March 5, 2014 12:18:15 PM

ex_bubblehead said:
Quote:
....Everything in this room has gone off when the other plug ins were in use....

That's not "nothing that i'm aware of". If that entire room is on a single 15amp breaker you could very easily overload it to the point of tripping, especially if it's old and worn.


You think i should just replace the breaker then? It goes of sporadically like i mentioned. It's been doing this for a few weeks now and there were no changes done in the apartment.
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March 5, 2014 12:21:51 PM

That shouldn't even be a question you have to ask. In the case of something like electricity (which can kill you) always err on the side of safety. Replace the breaker before it potentially fails closed and presents a real shock/fire hazard.
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March 5, 2014 12:26:57 PM

ex_bubblehead said:
That shouldn't even be a question you have to ask. In the case of something like electricity (which can kill you) always err on the side of safety. Replace the breaker before it potentially fails closed and presents a real shock/fire hazard.


Thanks a ton for your help! I found some arc fault breakers on ebay and I called a local store that has them for around 15-30 dollars. I'll get an electrician to come and replace it for me. Is there a way to rate your help, good sir?
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March 5, 2014 12:33:11 PM

If everything else is going off when the circuit trips, that means all those other things\outlets are also on the same circuit. So it isn't just your PC on that circuit. Yes it is possible that the breaker is bad but more likely is you are drawing more then the 1800 watts it is designed to allow. I.E, it is doing exactly what it is supposed to do.
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March 5, 2014 12:33:41 PM

No problem. I have a serious soft spot when it comes to electrical safety, having watched a shipmate die in an electrical incident that could very easily have been prevented.
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March 5, 2014 12:41:53 PM

ex_bubblehead said:
No problem. I have a serious soft spot when it comes to electrical safety, having watched a shipmate die in an electrical incident that could very easily have been prevented.


I just called an electrical company, a local one and they mentioned that something on the neutral side could be affecting my room as well. Idk what that means. I'm assuming thats something thats not being used?

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