Will A Surge Protector Keep A Breaker From Tripping?

Circuit breakers are electrical appliances that function automatically to shield electronic wiring from damages triggered by excessive electricity either from an overload or short circuit. After a malfunction is discovered, these household appliances are employed to limit the flow of electrical current.

Now, will a surge protector keep a breaker from tripping? There is a prevalent misconception regarding main circuit breakers and the usage of surge protectors to preserve them.

In this section, we will go over the actual function of a surge protector as well as a quick explanation of the relationship between the two.

What Is A Surge Protector?

A surge protector is essentially a small electrical device that primarily serves two purposes. Its primary function is to safeguard your electronic gadgets from a high-voltage power surge, like your computer, television set, or air conditioning system.

In this context, a power surge is defined as a rise in voltage over the specified level in the flow of electric current. In addition to its core purpose, this small household device is used to allow many devices to be plugged into the same electrical outlet.

How Does A Surge Protector Function?

Now, how exactly does it work to guard against high voltage power surges? In general, it transfers electricity along with the source across all electronics that are directly attached to the power strip. When the voltage exceeds the permitted range, the protector directs the excess current to the source’s grounding wire.

Grounding wires are part of the earthing system that runs in the same direction as the hot and neutral lines and offer a channel for electrical current to travel if the system of the wires that typically transport the electricity fails.

Is A Surge Protector Enough To Keep A Breaker From Tripping?

Now that you have some idea about the purpose of a surge protector, you may be wondering if they can help in preventing circuit breakers from tripping. The short answer is that it does not.

Surge protectors work by shorting the neutral and hot lines to cut out excessively high voltage peaks. A circuit breaker, on the other hand, diverts electricity when an unusually high current passes through a circuit.

The fundamental connection between the two is that a surge protector may cause a circuit breaker to trip due to the short it creates. However, given that this is the primary breaker, this is very unlikely to happen.

What To Do If A Circuit Breaker Is Tripping?

Occasionally, you may see your main circuit breaker tripping. This might lead to significant problems. Therefore it is best to have your breaker checked out straight away by someone who understands electronics, ideally a qualified electrician.

There are two possible causes for your primary circuit breaker tripping. It might be due to a defect in the primary circuit breaker or if the overall current flow exceeds the allowed range for your home.

If it is the former, you will need to replace the present circuit breaker; if it is the latter, it poses a risk to the entire family since it might spark a devastating fire. Either way, it is important to be aware of the situation and take preventive measures whenever necessary. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do surge protectors help circuit breakers?

Surge protectors safeguard electrical appliances from possible mishaps caused by power spikes.

Circuit breakers are used to keep wires from catching fire due to excessive electrical current flow, whereas surge protectors are designed to safeguard household appliances from abrupt voltage spikes. They are not connected in any way, and one does not benefit the other.

2. Will a power strip stop a breaker from tripping?

A power strip will not normally prevent a breaker from tripping. In fact, employing many extension cables and power strips around the house may increase the likelihood of a breaker tripping. As a result, it is recommended to restrict the number of strips and cables used around the home.

Final Words

If you have carefully read the details mentioned above, you know the answer to the question, will a surge protector keep a breaker from tripping,  is simply no. You should also be aware that if your main circuit breaker trips, you should get your circuit inspected right away!