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CFL bulb in new light fixture tripping breaker

Asked May 14, 2012, 11:45 AM — 5 Answers
I just installed a new light fixture in the bathroom. I had the breaker off and when I finished installing I put in a CFL bulb and turned on the breaker. I immediately heard a pop and noticed the breaker was tripped. I checked all my connections and reset the breaker. The light stayed on for about 15 minutes before the breaker tripped again. After that I put in an incandescent bulb. It has been on about 2 hours and the breaker hasn't tripped. Is it possible that the CFL bulb caused the breaker to trip and I should only use incandescent bulbs?

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5 Answers
Chic_Bowdrie's Avatar
Chic_Bowdrie Posts: 54, Reputation: 31
Junior Member
  
#2

May 14, 2012, 01:40 PM
First of all, is anything else on the circuit you are working ON? You probably have at least a 10 amp breaker (probably more) on a 120 volt circuit. If your bulb is 60 watts, you are drawing 0.5 amps. That is way too little for the bulb to be the problem by itself. A breaker will trip when you exceed the amps it is rated for. Since the incandescent bulb doesn't trip the breaker, your CFL bulb would have to be pulling more amps than the incandescent one. That would be unusual. What is the wattage of the CFL?
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HWCART's Avatar
HWCART Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
New Member
  
#3

May 14, 2012, 03:01 PM
The kitchen, hall, and utility room lights are on the same breaker. The CFL was a 13 watt. The incandescent is 60 watts.
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ma0641's Avatar
ma0641 Posts: 6,245, Reputation: 2494
Plumbing Expert
  
#4

May 14, 2012, 06:31 PM
The CFL could have a ground fault in it. Is the light on a GFCI breaker? If so, try another CFL.
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ballengerb1's Avatar
ballengerb1 Posts: 25,644, Reputation: 11296
Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
  
#5

May 14, 2012, 07:33 PM
I'm with ma on this. Sounds like the bulb has a fault, not the first time for a cfl to be bad from the box. Both great answers. You got a bad bulb.
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Stratmando's Avatar
Stratmando Posts: 10,434, Reputation: 2520
Uber Member
  
#6

Jun 14, 2012, 03:16 PM
Also look in the socket to see if center tab is bent over, touching?
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