Types of Overloads

Your ITE circuit breakers will trip when they experience an overload. Depending on their construction, ITE breakers may trip due to excessive heat or because a magnetic field was generated in response to the increased load. The end result is the same--the power suddenly turns off in part of your home--but overloads are not identical. They may come as a sudden large surge such as in the aftermath of a lightning strike, or they may build slowly over time. A small overload won't trip your ITE breakers right away, but the overload does exist and will create a problem over time. This is one reason why it's so important to track down the source of an overload if it is connected to a faulty appliance. Using too many appliances on the same circuit is a problem, but an equally serious issue is an appliance with faulty wiring. Over time, that wiring may weaken and create a fire hazard. Repeated trips of your ITE breakers should be investigated carefully and the causes addressed; don't continue to use a faulty device until you can get it repaired and working properly.