Circuit breakers are essential safety components in every home and business—but many people believe myths that can lead to risky practices. Fischer Electric wants to help you know what’s true, what’s dangerous, and what to do instead. Below are some of the most common circuit breaker myths and the realities behind them.
1. You can safely tape a tripped breaker in place to stop it from tripping again
Reality: This is unsafe and often illegal
When a breaker trips, it has done so for a reason—usually overload, short circuit, or ground fault. Taping it to force it to stay on bypasses its protection. A breaker that continues to trip is indicating a problem that needs diagnosing (wiring issue, appliance overload, moisture, etc.).
Taping or forcibly locking a breaker could lead to overheating, fire, or damage to devices. Some jurisdictions consider tampering with safety equipment like breakers a violation under electrical codes.
2. If a breaker is rated for 15 amps, pushing slightly above that (e.g. 16–18 amps) will cause it to trip immediately
Reality: Breakers follow a trip curve — slight overloads might not cause immediate trips
Circuit breakers are designed with thermal and magnetic mechanisms. The thermal portion responds to sustained overcurrents; the magnetic part reacts to short circuits.
A breaker may handle 135% of its rated current without tripping for some time, but it won’t necessarily trip the instant the load exceeds the rating. This is why using appliances that draw more current than the circuit is designed for, even if it doesn’t immediately cause a trip, can still degrade wiring or devices over time.
3. Breakers protect appliances and cords completely
Reality: They protect wiring, not appliance internals or cords
Breakers are intended to prevent the wiring (which has specific current‐carrying capacities) from overheating and causing fire. They are not designed to protect every part of an appliance or the smaller gauge wires inside cords. If the appliance or cord is under‐spec’d, damage can occur before the breaker sees enough overload to trip.
4. Circuit breakers prevent all electrical shocks
Reality: Not even close
Breakers are far less sensitive than what is required to prevent many kinds of shock. The currents that cause shock (much less lethal shock) are far smaller than what trips most breakers.
Devices like ground‐fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) or residual current devices (RCDs) are specifically intended to provide shock protection in certain situations. Normal breakers do not detect small leakage currents to ground.
5. If your breaker has never tripped, everything’s fine
Reality: Absence of tripping does not mean absence of danger
Hidden faults such as loose connections, poor wiring insulation, moisture, or corrosion can slowly degrade safety without ever causing a trip until something catastrophic happens. Many electrical fires occur from issues behind walls or where wiring is hidden.
Regular inspections by licensed electricians are essential—even when your system appears to be working fine.
6. Repeatedly resetting a breaker is okay if it just keeps tripping
Reality: That’s a warning sign, not something to ignore or cover up
If a breaker keeps tripping, that means something downstream is overloading, shorting, or ground‐faulting. Resetting without finding the root cause increases risk.
Continuous tripping can damage the breaker itself, degrade wiring insulation, or lead to heat buildup. In many cases, resetting again is merely a temporary band‐aid. It’s safer to identify what is causing the trips—faulty device, overloaded circuit, moisture intrusion, etc.—and correct it.
7. My breaker never trips, so I don’t need to worry about the panel at all
Reality: Panels age. Connections loosen. Conditions change.
Over time, components inside the panel (breaker contacts, bus bars, terminals) can degrade. Corrosion, loose screws, and dust buildup can cause issues like overheating or arcing, even before a breaker trips.
Meanwhile, the loads in modern homes are increasing—EV chargers, bigger appliances, more electronics, etc. Circuits that were fine years ago may now be pushed toward or beyond their limits.
Panels that are old, from questionable manufacturers, or have had modifications may not meet current codes or safety expectations, and replacing visible fixtures or panels doesn’t always mean the hidden wiring is safe.
What Should You Do Instead?
Here are some guidelines from Fischer Electric for safe practices:
- Don’t tape or force breakers — if a breaker trips, call an electrician to diagnose.
- Balance loads appropriately — avoid overloading circuits; spread high‐draw appliances across different circuits.
- Use GFCI/AFCI protection where required (e.g. bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms).
- Schedule regular inspections — every few years, and especially when adding new appliances or making remodels.
- Upgrade panel or circuits if needed — sometimes what used to be adequate is no longer sufficient.
- Respond to signs like flickering lights, burning smells, hot panels, or frequent trips.
While circuit breakers are critical for electrical safety, they are not perfect nor do they solve every problem. Myths like “taping a breaker so it won’t trip” or “breakers protect everything” can lull homeowners and business owners into a false sense of security.
At Fischer Electric, we believe an informed customer is safer. If you ever have doubts about your breaker panel, repeated breaker trips, or electrical capacity, don’t wait. Reach out to a licensed electrician. It’s always better to investigate early than to pay a high price later.
