Pot lights suddenly tripping breaker every time turned on

[mwhyte]

Hi --

I have a series of 5 pot lights, 10-12 years old, in my kitchen, installed (not by me) when the kitchen was redone in 2010. Never had a problem with them, but now all of a sudden they trip the breaker every time I turn them on.

I replaced the halogens with LED bulbs almost 2 years ago and never really had a problem, though they would flicker a bit at low settings on the dimmer.

The pots are on a circuit with 5 other LFs, all single bulb. Shouldn't be anywhere near enough load to trip the breaker, and never has before.

I've done a bit of reading suggesting that it might be a load issue, but why now when it's never been a problem before? Would love any suggestions. Thanks!

 

[westward10]

What is tripping, a breaker or GFCI.

 

[telectrix]

short circuit on the wiring???. fire nuts anywhere???

 

[mwhyte]

It’s the breaker on the box in the basement that trips. Really bizarre, as we haven’t changed anything at all in years (except bulbs, and that was 2 years ago).

I’m guessing it’s some kind of short, but no idea where. When I take all the bulbs out, everything else on the circuit is fine.

Since the OP, I put all halogen bulbs back in to see if that made a difference. Nope. So it’s not the bulbs.

wondering if there’s something in one of the lights that’s causing it? Or the switch? Suppose I could try replacing the switch with a new one first to see if it makes a difference ...

 

[mwhyte]

What is tripping, a breaker or GFCI.

It's the breaker, which is a GFCI. Not sure what that means.

 

[westward10]

A GFCI operates on low current fault to ground in milli-amps whereas a breaker operates on higher current in amps. Either way it sounds like a fault has developed.

 

[telectrix]

and the lights all went out in Massachusetts.

 

[DPG]

Are pot lights something they use in a grow farm?

 

[mwhyte]

A GFCI operates on low current fault to ground in milli-amps whereas a breaker operates on higher current in amps. Either way it sounds like a fault has developed.

maybe it could be solved by replacing the breaker? Do I need a GFCI breaker if there’s a GFCI outlet in the bathroom?

 

[telectrix]

best you get a local electrician to find the problem in a half hour.

 

[Megawatt]

Hi --

I have a series of 5 pot lights, 10-12 years old, in my kitchen, installed (not by me) when the kitchen was redone in 2010. Never had a problem with them, but now all of a sudden they trip the breaker every time I turn them on.

I replaced the halogens with LED bulbs almost 2 years ago and never really had a problem, though they would flicker a bit at low settings on the dimmer.

The pots are on a circuit with 5 other LFs, all single bulb. Shouldn't be anywhere near enough load to trip the breaker, and never has before.

I've done a bit of reading suggesting that it might be a load issue, but why now when it's never been a problem before? Would love any suggestions. Thanks!

It’s not a load issue, it’s a short circuit issue. If it was a load issue it wouldn’t trip immediately. Somewhere you have a wire going to ground. All I can tell you is open each light until you find your problem