curcuit breaker question

[pheasantpro10]

I need some advice my dryer keeps tripping the breaker so I thought it's too old so I bought a new one thinking maybe it was just old but the new one trips it also, can breakers just get wore out or could it be something more. The breaker gets alittle warm also just not sure what to do or think. Thanks in advance.

[Steve Foss]

I need some advice my dryer keeps tripping the breaker so I thought it's too old so I bought a new one thinking maybe it was just old but the new one trips it also, can breakers just get wore out or could it be something more. The breaker gets alittle warm also just not sure what to do or think. Thanks in advance.

I'm not clear on whether you bought a new dryer or a new breaker.

[delcecchi]

After reading it three times it sound like a new dryer. If he had put in a new breaker he wouldn't be asking if breakers wear out.

I don't think breakers are supposed to get warm.

[JohnMickish]

Breakers, as a rule do not wear out and get week, but stranger things have happened. Without putting a meter on it and recording what happends it's all going to be a guess.

Does it trip right away when you start the dryer? If so, that could be a plug/cord/dryer problem, hard to tell without more questions.

Does it take a while to trip? If so, I'm going to go with a bad coil in the dryer that sags when it gets warm and causes a short, but that is all a guess.

[Steve Foss]

After reading it three times it sound like a new dryer.

That's what the wording indicates, but I thought buying a new dryer simply because the old one keeps tripping the breaker might be a bit extreme, so I thought I'd ask the OP to be sure. It could be either, and which it was has a bearing on the answer he will get.

There are a number of possibilities. I could run through each and every one of them but would prefer to know a bit more first.

[CAMAN]

I'm thinking he replaced the dryer also.

And in fact, breakers do weaken over time. When current runs through them they heat up, when the current shuts off it cools down. The constant heating up and cooling down causes fatigue in the springs and inner workings of the device. A machine like a dryer is the perfect thing to cause breaker failure, a heavy current draw, and constant on/off. That would be the first thing I checked. And since you say the breaker is warm would be another sign it may be bad.

[pheasantpro10]

I did buy a new dryer our old one was 12 years old so I thought it was time. But the dryer will run for about 10 to 15 min. then it trips but it won't do it all the time the breaker doesn't get as hot with the new dryer but it got very warm almost hot to the touch just thought it might be the breaker because it never use to do this. Thanks for the replies

[Steve Foss]

OK, it could be the breaker. Or it could be something else in wiring and/or connection.

If you are comfortable turning off the main and replacing the breaker, it may or may not fix the problem. If you have any level of discomfort with this, it's time to call the electrician. Electrical current is nothing to take chances with.

[JohnMickish]

Did you reuse the old power cord on the new dryer?

[pheasantpro10]

Yes I did I guess I didn't think the cords could go bad. Is it poss. that it could be the cord? I just bought a breaker this morning so I hope this works thanks for the responds.

[Nutty Fisherman]

check and make sure all you connections are tight

[jeffreyd]

isn't the new code for dryers a 4 plug cord where an older one was a 3 wire? Could that be an issue?

[pheasantpro10]

Put the new breaker in and one load of clothes dry ran perfect got my fingers crossed that it keeps going love this forum thanks everyone for their input.

[JohnMickish]

isn't the new code for dryers a 4 plug cord where an older one was a 3 wire? Could that be an issue?

Yes and no.

The code now (it was changed back in the late 90's/early 00's for this) is that all new installations use a 4 wire installation. If your old dryer is of the three wire style you can keep it a three wire because changing it over to a 4 wire is a major project.

As long as you use the right cord with the right jumper configuration in the dryer it should all be good. The instructions will tell you what to jumper in the dryer for an old style 3 wire cord.