Red Seal Appliance Service Technician Practice Exam

What might cause an electric appliance to trip a circuit breaker?

1. Low voltage supply

2. Overloading the circuit or short circuit

3. Faulty appliance plug

4. Corroded wires

The correct answer is: Overloading the circuit or short circuit

A circuit breaker is designed to protect an electrical system by cutting off power when it detects an unsafe condition. Overloading the circuit occurs when too many devices draw power beyond the circuit's capacity, generating excessive heat and triggering the breaker. A short circuit happens when current flows along an unintended path, typically due to a fault in wiring or connections, causing a surge in current that the breaker identifies as a hazardous condition. In both cases, the protective nature of the circuit breaker comes into play: it interrupts the electrical supply to prevent potential fire hazards or damage to the wiring. Therefore, any overloading or short circuit situation will promptly lead to a tripped breaker, making this the most relevant and accurate cause for an appliance tripping a circuit breaker in this scenario.