[ladyl]

I was doing laundry yesterday, washing and drying also was using the oven too and my breaker clicked off. The breaker was warm, I don't know if that is somewhat normal because I've never noticed it before. I kept the washer and dry off for awhile and restarted just the dryer.. breaker wasn't as warm, am I being paranoid or is there an expensive reason for this?
Also the oven isn't on the same circuit breaker as the washer (diff) and dryer (diff).
I need to have:D my dryer vent cleaned would that make a difference??

[donf]

You have a problem, particularly if you turn the dryer's breaker off and it shuts down any other appliance. The clogged dryer vent will effect the dryers ability to vent moisture from the dryer, which means it will take longer to get your clothes dry.

First, the dryer should be on an independent 240 VAC 30 Amp circuit. If you can get to the back panel on the dryer and give me the Voltage, Max Amperage.

For 240 VAC / 30 Amp, you should have a single throw, double pole (STDP) 30 amp breaker.

Things I need you to check are, Amperage being delivered to the house. You can get this from the label on your main panel box or at the very top of the breaker stack, there should be a Main Panel breaker. Stamped or embossed on the handle should be the Amperage rating for the house. Minimum should be 100 Amps. If you have any luck at all, you will have a 200 Amp box.

Other things to check is the refrigerator. Although not required by NEC Code, the refrigerator should also be on an independent breaker, however the NEC code, does allow the refrigerator to be on one of the two 20 amp circuits that serve your kitchen.

Basically, with the load your were running, none of the breakers should have tripped open. If you are uncomfortable, pulling the dryer out from the wall or don't want to check the main panel box, call a licensed electrician. He will know how to calculate the load of the dryer and the inspect the wiring. If the dryer is using 30 amps, then he/she should find a 10/3 or 10/4 cable from the breaker to the receptacle for the dryer.

[Stratmando]

This is your main breaker you're talking about?
You may want to pull breaker and look at Buss for burnt, as well as the breaker.

[donf]

Ladyl,

Hold up just a minute please! If you are in any way unsure of how to pull a breaker from the stack then do not open the panel, period!

On the subject of the main breaker, do not go near that unless you know exactly what you are doing. You could quickly become a puddle where you used to be standing.

Merely turning the main breaker off does not kill the voltages being delivered to the panel. What it does do is kill the voltage that is being delivered to the breaker stack below. The power lugs are still very much alive.

So please if you don't know what you are doing, do not remove the top cover to gain access into the breakers behind the cover. Call a licensed electrician.

[stanfortyman]

Don, I TOTALLY agree with your last post.
Blindly telling a homeowner to pull a main breaker and check the buss is dangerous advice! :mad:

[hkstroud]

Ladyl

Please restate you problem and clarify. Which breaker tripped, the dryer breaker or the main breaker for the entire house. The fact that you were cooking cleaning and washing all at the same time may have created an overload for you, but it should not have had any effect on you dryer breaker. Also has you dryer function correctly since you reset it?

[Stratmando]

stanfortyman, thanks for not leaving a Negative anyway. I have Known women who could Embarrass a male electrician. I suppose I should be careful of their screen name, If it happened to be Kidgoingon9yearsold or Ladyl, I should assume they should stay out of the Panel. I would like to believe a Lady or man know to stay out of the panel if they do not know what they are doing.
For probably a thousand post I have said, "If comfortable/qualified to work on a panel", It gets old and probably dangerous, Now if the screen Name said "Mastersparkey90210",
I should assume he may be a master, but If he was why was he asking an easy question?
Probably I should have at bottom of all my? yours? everyone's post is "If not qualified, don't touch"
I sometimes say, "someone needs to....", Meaning someone capable of fixing.
If a retired electrician who now has no license want to change a switch or work for their kids, I am NOT going to say Call a licensed Electrician. Hard to define that line. Then there are kids (late teens/early 20's)who can work safe, have done so for their electrical contractor, but never had a license. Some of my best work was before I got My License.
I do appreciate your concern for the poster ladyl. Take Care