Why is My Toaster Tripping the Electrics Circuit Breaker?

Picture this, you’re whipping up a delicious meal for your family and suddenly, your toaster trips the electric circuit breaker. If this has ever happened to you, then you’ve probably asked “why is my toaster tripping the electric circuit breaker?”

There are several reasons why your toaster trips your circuit breaker. Some of these reasons include that the power cord to your toaster is damaged or even that the electric circuit breaker is defective.

We will take a closer look at the possible reasons your toaster keeps tripping the circuit breaker and what you can do to stop it from happening. Let’s get down to it. 

4 Reasons Your Toaster Keeps Tripping the Circuit Breaker

The Power Cord of the Toaster is Faulty 

A faulty power cord is a valid reason why your toaster keeps tripping the circuit breaker. So, unplug your toaster and carefully inspect the cord for damage. Check for areas where the cord is burnt, cut, or melted. All of these damages can cause the circuit breaker to trip.

Your Electrical Outlet/Wall Socket is Faulty

If you’ve checked the toaster’s power cord, and it’s in good shape, then you should check the wall outlet it is plugged into. Check for any burn marks and if it smells like burnt or burning plastics. The easiest way to test if the electrical outlet is faulty is to use a voltage meter – that’s if you have one in your home.

Check If the Circuit Breaker is Faulty

If the wall socket is fine, then you should check the circuit breaker itself. It could be that the circuit breaker cannot support the wattage of the toaster. It gets worse if you have other appliances plugged into the same circuit

The Toaster Itself is Faulty

If you’ve checked the power cable, circuit, and wall outlet and they all seem fine, then the issue may just be the toaster. One of the mechanical or electrical parts may have become damaged, causing the whole toaster to start short-circuiting.

How Do I Keep My Toaster from Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

Replace Your Toasters Power Cable

If you have confirmed that the power cable of the toaster is damaged, you should go ahead and replace it. However, if the cost of replacing the power cord is almost equivalent to the price of a new toaster, then you may want to consider getting a brand-new toaster.

Get a Dedicated Circuit for Your Toaster

To prevent your circuit from tripping off when other appliances are connected, we advise that you use a dedicated circuit for your toaster. The dedicated circuit should be at least 20 A to handle any power draws.  

If you cannot assign your toaster to a separate circuit, then you can try plugging in a lighter appliance like a radio rather than a microwave.

Conclusion

Faulty power cables, wall outlets, and circuit breakers can cause your circuit breaker to trip off when you plug in your toaster. Try changing the power cable and dedicating a circuit to the toaster to prevent the electric circuit breaker from tripping.