breaker trips when too much is used
 

my 15 amp breaker is connected to 3 bedrooms with a total of 12 outlets & three ceiling fans. it trips when hair dryers , hair straighteners ect. are being used. can i change the 15 amp breaker to a 20 amp breaker will this solve the problem.

Ummmmm, there is NO problem to be fixed. If a breaker trips because too much is being used it is simply doing it's job.

NO, you cannot simply replace the breaker. That is what folks used to do with old fuse boxes and houses burned down.

Either diversify the loads to other circuits or run new circuits.

so the 3 bedrooms would have to be split up to another circuit. thank you, that's what i thought, it could start a fire.:thumbup:

You can't change the breaker without changing the wiring too.

I may be assuming too much, but I would assume that circuit is 14 GA conductors (as it would be silly to use 12 GA and only put a 15A breaker on it).

If you can prove otherwise, then go for it. But either way, for a 20A breaker you need 12 GA conductors.


EDIT: took too long typing..lol

also i was told to look at the breaker to see if there is 2 black wires connected to it. if there is disconnect them & put a 2 pole 15 amp breaker in. that will do the job. i checked it there is only 1 black connected to it

Doesn't apply to you since you only have one conductor, but:

You can't just go making multi-wire branch circuits without checking what you're getting into first. There are several requirements that have to be met in a MWBC.

There should not be two black wires ( or any color) under the screw on any breaker in the panel, it is illegal and a fire hazard .

so is there a fix for it or just leave it be.i'm not playing with it just wanted to get some input on it. i'll get an electrican to do it.

one more question do breaker go bad or need to be replaced after a certian amount of time. house is almost 30 years old.

THANKS FOR THE HELP FELLAS:thumbup:

What you said is exactly right but some breakers have two screws or two sides to the clamp.

There's a fix for it. Splitting the circuit into 2 or more circuits...

or

Quit using the hair dryers and such in the bedroom.

As far as breakers going bad...I guess anything's possible, but that's unlikely the cause of your "problem" (which isn't really a problem)

I really have to clarify this.
Two wires on a breaker is usually not legal, and is rarely, if ever, a "fire hazard".

Some breaker are designed to accept two wires as jproffer stated, and I am curious as to how it could be a fire hazard.