How do I stop tripping the circuit breaker.

[Arctucas]

If you have any advice I would be glad to hear it, need something to do after I just failed at fixing my old PS3 :/

It may very well be the circuit breaker, as others have said, but why not isolate the problem for certain?

Can you verify that another equivalent load causes the breaker to trip? For example, as I asked you previously, do you have power tools or a blowdryer you can plug into that circuit?

Also, I would ask if the PSU (and everything else on the circuit) operates with no problem, (unless I misunderstood the procedure you are following) and the breaker only trips when you turn on the PSU power switch, why turn the PSU power switch off at all?

 

[Derek12]

It's a brand new PSU so I doubt that would be the problem especially since it does fine once it is on and stays on with no issue for 12+ hours, I'm probably just going to do a Home Depot run sometime this week for a new breaker and if that doesn't work just call an electrician maybe.

The TV I commented also worked fine indefinitely "when it wanted" but in other cases it caused the breaker to kick. I think you have a bad appliance like the PSU (even if it's new), or even the surge suppressor.

If you said when computer worked fine and you could turn on every appliance in you room without any problem then I would think the breaker is fine, maybe I am wrong and the problem was the breaker,
but my experience was that with identical symptoms as yours.


EDIT: the TV I am commenting WORKED FINE IN STANDBY, but when turning it on with the remote control kicked the breaker SOMETIMES, in other cases it WORKED fine the problem was the TV and not the breaker. I think the same could apply to a computer. So I would try another things before touching the breaker, but anyone can do what they want.

I think Arctucas is totally right.

 

[Wile E]

It may very well be the circuit breaker, as others have said, but why not isolate the problem for certain?

Can you verify that another equivalent load causes the breaker to trip? For example, as I asked you previously, do you have power tools or a blowdryer you can plug into that circuit?

Also, I would ask if the PSU (and everything else on the circuit) operates with no problem, (unless I misunderstood the procedure you are following) and the breaker only trips when you turn on the PSU power switch, why turn the PSU power switch off at all?

Fair enough. I bow to your superior knowledge on this topic.

 

[Darkleoco]

It may very well be the circuit breaker, as others have said, but why not isolate the problem for certain?

Can you verify that another equivalent load causes the breaker to trip? For example, as I asked you previously, do you have power tools or a blowdryer you can plug into that circuit?

Also, I would ask if the PSU (and everything else on the circuit) operates with no problem, (unless I misunderstood the procedure you are following) and the breaker only trips when you turn on the PSU power switch, why turn the PSU power switch off at all?

I do have an ancient blowdryer somewhere but no power tools at all, also it's not when I turn the PSU power switch on/off it's when I power on the system, if I have left it just in standby and turn on the system it will trip the breaker and also if I don't wait around 10 seconds after plugging it in before turning it on it will also trip it.

 

[Arctucas]

I do have an ancient blowdryer somewhere but no power tools at all, also it's not when I turn the PSU power switch on/off it's when I power on the system, if I have left it just in standby and turn on the system it will trip the breaker and also if I don't wait around 10 seconds after plugging it in before turning it on it will also trip it.

I am still a bit confused.

The PSU is plugged into the receptacle, and the PSU power switch is on, correct?

You are not unplugging the PSU or turning off the PSU power switch at any time?

 

[Darkleoco]

I am still a bit confused.

The PSU is plugged into the receptacle, and the PSU power switch is on, correct?

You are not unplugging the PSU or turning off the PSU power switch at any time?

I am turning off the PSU power switch after I power down the computer, if I don't do that then then it has tripped the breaker on two separate occasions when trying to turn my computer back on.

Procedure for powering on:
Plug power cable into surge protector.
Flip Power switch on PSU.
Wait 10 seconds.
Power on computer.
All good.

Procedure for turning off:
Shut down computer.
Flip PSU switch off.
Unplug from surge protector.

If I had done that earlier I would have made myself clearer I think, sorry.

 

[Arctucas]

I am turning off the PSU power switch after I power down the computer, if I don't do that then then it has tripped the breaker on two separate occasions when trying to turn my computer back on.

Procedure for powering on:
Plug power cable into surge protector.
Flip Power switch on PSU.
Wait 10 seconds.
Power on computer.
All good.

Procedure for turning off:
Shut down computer.
Flip PSU switch off.
Unplug from surge protector.

If I had done that earlier I would have made myself clearer I think, sorry.

No problem, I understand now.

Now, load the circuit with the blowdryer and see if it also trips the circuit breaker. Ideally, the blowdryer should be about 1000 Watts.

Plug it directly into the receptacle outlet, not the surge protector.

 

[mastrdrver]

Sorry to seem rude but I don't think you read that clearly.

Very true. I missed the very end part.

 

[Darkleoco]

No problem, I understand now.

Now, load the circuit with the blowdryer and see if it also trips the circuit breaker. Ideally, the blowdryer should be about 1000 Watts.

Plug it directly into the receptacle outlet, not the surge protector.

That worked fine, and it says it is a 1600w blowdryer but it's also nearly 20 years old or more I think and doesn't really have much power to it so I'm not sure if that's a good test or not :/

 

[Arctucas]

That worked fine, and it says it is a 1600w blowdryer but it's also nearly 20 years old or more I think and doesn't really have much power to it so I'm not sure if that's a good test or not :/

OK, so the blowdryer did not trip the circuit breaker?

 

[Darkleoco]

OK, so the blowdryer did not trip the circuit breaker?

Yeah the circuit breaker was fine with the blowdryer plugged in but I think it's only because it's a poor quality blowdryer since if im not mistaken this room should only be good for 1800w and I'm sure my computer is exceeding at least 400w and the blowdryer was supposed to be 1600w.

 

[Arctucas]

Yeah the circuit breaker was fine with the blowdryer plugged in but I think it's only because it's a poor quality blowdryer since if im not mistaken this room should only be good for 1800w and I'm sure my computer is exceeding at least 400w and the blowdryer was supposed to be 1600w.

If the blowdryer was getting hot and was blowing air full force, I would guess it was loading the circuit considerably, enough for our purposes anyway.

Next, try plugging the PC directly into the receptacle, not the surge protector, and see if that trips the circuit breaker.

 

[Darkleoco]

If the blowdryer was getting hot and was blowing air full force, I would guess it was loading the circuit considerably, enough for our purposes anyway.

Next, try plugging the PC directly into the receptacle, not the surge protector, and see if that trips the circuit breaker.

Plugging the PC directly in was fine, it didn't trip the breaker and I also went and redid the blowdryer test to make sure it got hot and went full force, that also was fine and did not trip the breaker.

 

[Arctucas]

OK, plugged directly into the receptacle, the circuit breaker does not trip, so maybe the surge protector is the problem?

What brand/model is it?

 

[Darkleoco]

OK, plugged directly into the receptacle, the circuit breaker does not trip, so maybe the surge protector is the problem?

What brand/model is it?

Philips SPP1189

 

[Arctucas]

Philips SPP1189

Well, at least it is not a 'no-name', but if taking it out of the circuit means the breaker no longer trips, perhaps a replacement is in order.

I would try using the PC plugged directly into the receptacle for a couple of days, just to be sure, and if the breaker is not tripping, then I would consider a new surge protector.

Since the 1600 Watt blowdryer did not trip the circuit breaker, I believe the circuit breaker is OK.

 

[Darkleoco]

Well, at least it is not a 'no-name', but if taking it out of the circuit means the breaker no longer trips, perhaps a replacement is in order.

I would try using the PC plugged directly into the receptacle for a couple of days, just to be sure, and if the breaker is not tripping, then I would consider a new surge protector.

Since the 1600 Watt blowdryer did not trip the circuit breaker, I believe the circuit breaker is OK.

I have been needing a new surge protector anyway since my modem and router have odd shaped plugs that make certain outlets on the surge protector unusable anyway so I guess this works just fine for me, do you have any recommendations for a good surge protector?

 

[Sinzia]

I have been needing a new surge protector anyway since my modem and router have odd shaped plugs that make certain outlets on the surge protector unusable anyway so I guess this works just fine for me, do you have any recommendations for a good surge protector?

if you can, get a decent UPS and skip the surge protector. UPS's will protect you better for over/under voltages and general oddities that can occur in power lines.

 

[Darkleoco]

if you can, get a decent UPS and skip the surge protector. UPS's will protect you better for over/under voltages and general oddities that can occur in power lines.

I might do that then since it sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[Arctucas]

I am using an APC P11VT3.

However, there are several quality units available from reputable manufactures such as APC, Belkin, Tripplite, to name a few.

There is some debate as to whether surge protectors, also known TVSS (Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor) devices actually do anything to protect electrical equipment. It is up to you to decide if you need one or not.

I am also using an APC Back-UPS RS 1500VA.

 

[Darkleoco]

I am using an APC P11VT3.

However, there are several quality units available from reputable manufactures such as APC, Belkin, Tripplite, to name a few.

There is some debate as to whether surge protectors, also known TVSS (Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor) devices actually do anything to protect electrical equipment. It is up to you to decide if you need one or not.

Well that is certainly encouraging me to get a UPS since I don't want my electronics fried.

 

[Arctucas]

Well that is certainly encouraging me to get a UPS since I don't want my electronics fried.

See my edited post^^^

 

[Darkleoco]

See my edited post^^^

If only the equivalent they recommend was 150 $ cheaper lol 199 $ for that thing is way out of my current price range after building my new system in mid September.

 

[blkhogan]

If only the equivalent they recommend was 150 $ cheaper lol 199 $ for that thing is way out of my current price range after building my new system in mid September.

If you want to properly protect that new build in mid Sept. You might have to bite the bullet and get protection first. A new build is worthless if its burnt up.

 

[stinger608]

Well, at least it is not a 'no-name', but if taking it out of the circuit means the breaker no longer trips, perhaps a replacement is in order.

I would try using the PC plugged directly into the receptacle for a couple of days, just to be sure, and if the breaker is not tripping, then I would consider a new surge protector.

Since the 1600 Watt blowdryer did not trip the circuit breaker, I believe the circuit breaker is OK.

I just went through this exact issue about 6 months ago. After trouble shooting the problem as Arctucas has explained I did in fact find that the surge protector was this problem all along. About the only difference was that my system would be running just fine and all of a sudden the breaker would trip. I am running on a 20A breaker with the computer room and one hall light is all.

As with many suggestions, I first figured it was the breaker. However before just running out and buying a Square D breaker for the main box I did in fact test the plug first. As with your scenario, everything was fine Bottom line; it was the surge protector.

Change that and keep us posted