Topic 'Tripped Main Breaker' in forum 'Home Improvement' - dslreports.com http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Tripped-Main-Breaker-23188158 en Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:36:31 EDT Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:36:31 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23844155 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23844155 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:42:02 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23843418 said by mattmag:

Well reading back, I'd say you are absolutely correct, it was a small-claims process. I should have read that closer to begin with. He's gonna have a longer battle now to get back those costs...
At the end of the day its $80 if he goes forward.
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standard disclaimers apply.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23843418 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:38:53 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23843305
Well reading back, I'd say you are absolutely correct, it was a small-claims process. I should have read that closer to begin with. He's gonna have a longer battle now to get back those costs...]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23843305 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:20:23 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842852 --
standard disclaimers apply.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842852 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:04:59 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842801
It happens in some smaller jurisdictions. But that's why I asked if it was the state or not, so we could determine if the OP has to do this on his own or not.

If it is actually a civil suit filed in small-claims court, then you are correct, he needs to do it himself. An unfortunate side-effect of civil courts, for sure.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842801 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:56:54 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842676 said by mattmag:

said by AVD:

not until a judge says so. He has to get the sheriff or a marshal to enforce the judgment. Of course he then has to sue to recover the sheriff or marshal's fees.
You're missing the entire point. if the State prosecuted the case, then the State will follow-up the contempt issue. However they need to be aware of it to do so. He does not, as an individual, have to file yet another case to settle a case.

If he hired his own council, or acted as his own attorney, then it is an entirely different process. Hence, my question on who prosecuted the case.
why would the state prosecute a civil (small claims) case?
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standard disclaimers apply.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842676 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:37:28 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842658 said by AVD:

not until a judge says so. He has to get the sheriff or a marshal to enforce the judgment. Of course he then has to sue to recover the sheriff or marshal's fees.
You're missing the entire point. if the State prosecuted the case, then the State will follow-up the contempt issue. However they need to be aware of it to do so. He does not, as an individual, have to file yet another case to settle a case.

If he hired his own council, or acted as his own attorney, then it is an entirely different process. Hence, my question on who prosecuted the case.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842658 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:35:17 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842635 said by mattmag:

said by slcpd6469:

So I finally got my check today and it was short court costs that he was supposed to pay me.
If there is an actual court decision/court order requiring him to pay you costs, then there is no reason to "take him back to court". Do you have such documentation? Did your case get prosecuted by the State's Attorney's office? If so, take them the letter and you shouldn't have to do anything else.

He is in contempt of court for failing to pay the costs.
not until a judge says so. He has to get the sheriff or a marshal to enforce the judgment. Of course he then has to sue to recover the sheriff or marshal's fees.
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standard disclaimers apply.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842635 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:30:06 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842622 said by slcpd6469:

So I finally got my check today and it was short court costs that he was supposed to pay me.
If there is an actual court decision/court order requiring him to pay you costs, then there is no reason to "take him back to court". Do you have such documentation? Did your case get prosecuted by the State's Attorney's office? If so, take them the letter and you shouldn't have to do anything else.

He is in contempt of court for failing to pay the costs.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842622 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:27:23 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842575 said by slcpd6469:

So I finally got my check today and it was short court costs that he was supposed to pay me. I was going to ignore it until I saw the note he included. Quoted word for word from the note "You lied in a court of LAW under oath before God and man. Your n more than a thief using the courts to steal." That's hilarious. I called the courts and they want me to pay $36 to collect the $37.50 I'm still owed. What do you guys think I should do? Should I forget about it, send him a letter telling him he was short or pay the fee for garnishment?
Take him back to court as others have suggested to recoup the $37.50 he shorted you and ask for the $36 or whtever it costs to get the $37.50 back. Also, take the note he included with the payment, do not cash the check before the court date so they cannot in some way say you aceepted what he sent, and show it to the judge. If he is like most judges it will piss him off and he may even hold the guy in contempt which would cost him more money or jail time.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842575 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:20:35 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842569
I guess you can sue him for new expenses, and threaten to sue him for defamation of character.
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standard disclaimers apply.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842569 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:19:38 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842558 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842558 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:17:51 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842478 I don't think they'll look too kindly on him for failing to pay the first judgment.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842478 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:06:25 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842219 --
Tech at the Beach.
I speak for myself, not my employer.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842219 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:25:54 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842129 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23842129 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:10:32 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23768268 said by austinmv:

me = Electrician. seen this scenario time and time again. check your wire size coming into the house, is it aluminum or copper. if you are lucky it will pull 200 amps and all u need to do is install new main breaker *100 smackers or so* worse case, u need a new service entrance cable ect. for 200 amps. your first post is correct, everything just happen to kick on at the same time and 100 amps is not enough. hope this helps. =)
Some bad information there. It's almost *never* as simple as a breaker change.
Fortunately it sounds like the OP had everything taken care of properly. Unfortunately, he got stuck with half the bill.
--
Looks like Reverend Wright got his wish - God Damn America.
Nancy Pelosi - House Minority Leader 2010
Harry Reid - Senate Minority Leader 2010]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23768268 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:50:26 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23767842 said by austinmv:

everything just happen to kick on at the same time and 100 amps is not enough.Please go back and review my first post, where I described the following in detail...if its working properly, a thermal-magnetic main circuit breaker (which is what we have here) is not going to trip on the inrush from a frigerator, furnace, etc., motor loads in the average residence. (Or even in a McMansion for that matter.) It would require an inrush of 1000Amps or more for it to trip. That's just the way they work. And if the inrush was in-fact tripping the 100A breaker, it would very easily trip the 200A breaker as well. (Glad to see its resolved, by the way.)

Assuming a very liberal 7x for inrush, lets say that's 100A for two fridges, 200A for two furnace blowers, and 250A for two air-conditioners, all starting at the exact same time, with a base load of 100A - that gives you an instantaneous inrush of about 650 Amps. Still not enough to trip the 100A main breaker on the instantaneous magnetic portion of its trip curve. And that scenario is plainly ridiculous.

It was either a short-circuit (in which case the problem would have still been happening), or much more likely, the breaker was overloaded (perhaps on one leg). Or, like cowboyro says, it could have been a bad main breaker. Given that one furnace with a 60A breaker was likely drawing more than half of the rated capacity of the main breaker, there is no doubt in my mind that the breaker was overloaded at times (along with the service wiring). Get an amprobe and measure it - we'd love to find out.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23767842 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:55:18 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23766357 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23766357 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:25:18 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23766189 said by EEL BUZZ :

Depending on the square foot of your dwelling, Distance and amps are a key factor when installing a new service;
Example; A 200 amp service is good up to approximately 2500 - 3000 sq ft home
That depends a lot on your source of heat. If you are using something other than electricity for heat and hot water you can usually go a lot bigger before you have to upgrade over 200 amps. Today's high efficiency air conditioning units have made a big difference.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23766189 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:40:29 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23766123 Example; A 200 amp service is good up to approximately 2500 - 3000 sq ft home]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23766123 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:24:54 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23754037 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23754037 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:48:17 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753920 said by scooper:

said by slcpd6469:

I know I made lots of mistakes with this purchase but it was my 1st. I have definitely learned a lot from it.
There isn't ANYONE who was a first time buyer who didn't make some mistakes along the way :D . Live and learn, and don't make the same mistakes next time (you'll probably make another set of mistakes :D ).
I don't think I made any mistakes the first time. The second time is the one that bit me in the ass!]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753920 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:31:37 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753420 said by slcpd6469:

I know I made lots of mistakes with this purchase but it was my 1st. I have definitely learned a lot from it.
There isn't ANYONE who was a first time buyer who didn't make some mistakes along the way :D . Live and learn, and don't make the same mistakes next time (you'll probably make another set of mistakes :D ).]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753420 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:12:24 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753335 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753335 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:53:51 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753258 said by slcpd6469:

I just had 2 companies do estimates today for a service upgrade. My real estate agent is going to fight it out with the seller because the 2nd furnace was supposed to be installed and working according to my contract. Hopefully I'll have it all done in the next few days.
If this was written into the contract/ sales paperwork....did you show that to the judge? That proof should have been enough for him to rule in your favor. But like you said at least you got 50%. Interesting that your real estate agent could not work it out with the seller (did the seller also have an agent?) and the whole thing had to go to court.....did you have to pay for a lawyer? If so, how much?

Just curious, usually when things like that are written in, the seller does the upgrades/fixes & then you have a final inspection of the house (by a professional, usually a company that the real estate agent as worked with a lot before), so that way you are sure that everything is done BEFORE you sign the final papers & actually 'Buy' the place. Was this a different arrangement?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753258 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:40:28 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753186 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23753186 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 10:27:46 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23752558
On another note the downstairs furnace crapped out about 2 weeks ago. So needless to say it took a lot not to explode on him.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23752558 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:55:00 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23752302 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23752302 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:03:21 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23752297 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23752297 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:01:00 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23382517 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23382517 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:00:02 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23382147 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23382147 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:06:25 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23320480
There's a lot of "meter poppers" operating in the St. Louis area. They give a low bid and slap in a new 200A panel while not actually upgrading the service. What little work they do is usually shoddy. Instead of getting a permit and calling Ameren, they pop the meter and connect it up with jumper wires before control at Ameren dispatches on the outage. Ameren can "see" when the smart meters go offline and treat it as an outage.
--
Looks like Reverend Wright got his wish - God Damn America.
Nancy Pelosi - House Minority Leader 2010
Harry Reid - Senate Minority Leader 2010]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23320480 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:22:44 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23318871 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23318871 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:37:35 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23317289 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23317289 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:04:43 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23317207 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23317207 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:50:57 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23316493 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23316493 Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:39:22 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23304648 said by slcpd6469:

It is a electroic thermostat. Its set to let the temp get down to 67 overnight then warm up to 72 starting at 5:15. The multistage element makes sense since it only trips in the morning. I dont know if this is the case as the unit was installed before I moved in. I will have to find a model number and research it. I am keeping the unit off until a professional can look at it.Bingo. Cause/symptoms have been nailed.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23304648 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:43:27 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23304645 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23304645 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:42:20 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23301940 If you have a heat pump make sure you wait few minutes from the last start, most systems have a built-in protection to not allow the compressor to start again sooner than N minutes.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23301940 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:54:21 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23300211 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23300211 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:56:51 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23299169 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23299169 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:56:51 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23299146 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23299146 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:52:57 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23293147 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23293147 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:32:13 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23216872 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23216872 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:10:23 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23215507 Also, some people have a much larger "idle" load than they realize. I've found most residential homes in the 1000-2000 sf range have an idle load between 20 and 40 amps. This is with no A/C, range, heat, dryer, or other heavy loads on line.
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Looks like Reverend Wright got his wish - God Damn America.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23215507 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:51:56 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23214567 said by mattmag:

said by scooper:

I'm saying we don't know what is in his circuit breaker panel.
There is either something else on that the OP is missing, or as a more significant issue, the furnace is in fact exceeding the rating of the 60 amp breaker which would indicate it is faulty, or even not connected at all, which is why an electrician needs to find out what the actual problem is.
On that I completely agree.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23214567 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:45:09 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23214484 said by scooper:

I'm saying we don't know what is in his circuit breaker panel.
Again, it makes no difference. We know there is a 100 amp main, and a 60 amp on the furnace. That means if the furnace is to be blamed for the main tripping, then the load of the furnace has to be below the trip rating of the 60 amp breaker, and its load is additive to the remaining load in the house which is causing the trip rating of the 100 amp main to be exceeded.

However, he provided the other items that are drawing current at the time the trip occurred, and they are not enough to provide the additional current load over the furnace load to make the main trip.

There is either something else on that the OP is missing, or as a more significant issue, the furnace is in fact exceeding the rating of the 60 amp breaker which would indicate it is faulty, or even not connected at all, which is why an electrician needs to find out what the actual problem is.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23214484 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:25:13 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23214445 http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23214445 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:15:54 EDT Re: Tripped Main Breaker http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23214437 said by scooper:

I think they said the furnace had it's own 60 AMP breaker. The OP never said what size breaker the furnace is being fed from.
If the furnace has a 60 amp breaker, then that is the current-limiting device for the furnace, unless for some odd reason it is fed by a *smaller* rated breaker which would make his scenario even MORE unlikely. I don't understand your point I guess?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/Re-Tripped-Main-Breaker-23214437 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:14:38 EDT