Why My Ceiling Fan Keeps Tripping the Breaker

ceiling fan keeps tripping breaker

If your ceiling fan keeps tripping the breaker, this means that something is wrong with it. The good news is that this is usually a minor problem. Most of the time, your problems are due to the fact that the appliance is using too much power or because of an overload of electricity in the circuit. If you have too many appliances on a single circuit, it can overwork the breaker and cause it to trip. Try to redistribute the load by removing some devices or switching them to another outlet.

A faulty capacitor may also cause your ceiling fan to trip the breaker. This is because the capacitor doesn’t transfer enough energy to the motor. This causes the motor to overheat and triggers an electrical signal that the breaker can’t handle. It’s important to replace the capacitor as soon as you notice it is faulty.

The paddle blades of your ceiling fan collect a lot of dirt and dust over time. This can alter the delicate balance of your blades. If this becomes too great, the blades might start to vibrate while running. This can lead to loose wire connections which will eventually break down and cause a short circuit. To avoid this, make sure your fan is clean and tighten all screws and terminal nuts after each use.

If your ceiling fan is plugged into a GFCI outlet, it might keep tripping the breaker. GFCI outlets are designed to protect against electrocutions by cutting off the power when there is an electrical shock. They might start to trip because of a variety of reasons such as water spills, wiggled plugs, or overheating. To fix this, you can disconnect the faceplate, remove the rear wires, and replace the GFCI with a like-for-like one.