How do circuit breakers trip?

Answer 1

it's when the circuit is overloaded by too many things hooked up on that breaker switch.

Answer 2

Part of the answer previously is correct from the Electcians wife.
However if you have hair Blower,P/C,Microwave then some table lights all on plug that goes to your power box. The power box that has amps or fusess on a slide panel.
Thes are rated like 14-amps,20-amps: When you are pushing or plug all the items on at the same time on the same circut. Yes, the Breaker switch will trip. If your house is ten years old in most states. Thenyou should have what is called GFI- plug.
These can be found either in the following location deepends on
House structure and floors.
1) Either one or two in kitchen:
2) One in Garages and possible back patio area:
3) Down Floor Master Bedroom, Bathroom area:
4) If you have a second Floor Bathroom then a GFI maybe in this
Bathroom:
Now for those that maybe totally unfamilar with a GFI:
This appears to look like a regular two plug ins for lights, and other plug in accessory items. The different is a GFI- will have
possible small red botton or a black button,white button.
If the GFI may get tripped the Red Button normally needs to be reset or pushed in then they will activate the power. This means sometimes all of the affacted GFI on that circut needs to be reset.
Not just the Breaker Turned on and off to reset your plugs for power.[ you sometimes need to reset each GFI on that circuts of
plug power:]

Answer 3

If you draw too much current, a bi metal strip in the circuit breaker heats and trips the switch, as it cools down you can reset it...check the circuit breaker rated amperage, and try and find out which plug/circuit is connected to the breaker and go easy on the amount of appliances on one circuit!

Answer 4

When there is too much electricity flowing into a breaker, the high over wattage energy causes the switch to flip over which disconnects the electrical connection.

Answer 5

If you use too much power all at the same time.