Toaster Keeps Tripping Circuit Breaker 6 Reasons Why

1) Why is my Toaster Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

• The Toaster is Faulty
• The Electrical Circuit is Overloaded
• There is a Fault in the Electrical Panel
• There is a Short Circuit somewhere
• There is a Ground Fault somewhere
• The Breaker Is Faulty

2) The Toaster is Faulty

When a toaster or toaster oven goes faulty there can be other problems that occur within the electrical system. If there is not a fuse in the plug such is the case with UK appliances then the circuit breaker or GFCI breaker is likely to trip first. 

One of the most common reasons for toaster failure is the heating element becomes damaged and results in the tripping of a circuit breaker. This can occur when people shove a fork in the toaster to retrieve a slightly mangled muffin or similar. A hot pocket leaking can also cause the heating element to become damaged. It is a wonder that toasters survive as long as they do with the foods they have to cope with. 

Remember that the heating element is just essentially a hot wire that runs throughout the toaster glowing red when you toast things. This wire is relatively fragile and cannot stand much of a prodding with a fork or knife!

Small appliances are not manufactured like they used to be and many will fail just outside of warranty. The cost of repairs often far outweighs the costs of replacing the appliance and many people will simply opt to replace rather than repair. 

Do not rush out and buy a new toaster just yet though as it may NOT be a faulty appliance that is responsible for the tripping. If the TOASTER TRIPS THE POWER, it may have internal wiring problems or damage or it may be one of the reasons listed below. 

3) The Electrical Circuit is Overloaded

If a circuit breaker trips, it could be because there is a circuit overload. This is where there is excessive electrical current being used by too many appliances at the same time. The number of appliances on an electrical circuit can cause problems especially if they are high-power appliances. 

A dedicated circuit for the kitchen appliances can often solve this type of problem but do not go spending the money just yet. 
If you suspect that you have a circuit overload then turn off the breaker and go and unplug all the appliances. Once the appliances have been unplugged you have removed all the electrical load from the circuit. 

Plug the toaster back in and see if it once again trips the circuit breaker. If the circuit breaker does not trip this time, then it is possible you were simply overloading the electrical circuit. Electrical appliances that are all used at the same time can sometimes be too much for wiring systems in older homes especially. 

An overloaded circuit can be a problem and without intervention can result in electrical fires. If you are overloading your circuit with appliances then it is a good idea to consult with a professional electrician who may be able to wire different circuits in for splitting up the electrical load of all the appliances.

4) There is a Fault in the Electrical Panel

Every home’s electrical system has a breaker panel, a consumer unit, an electrical panel, or fuse box. These all generally mean the same sort of thing and the point of this box is to protect the wiring in your home from overload and other harm and to protect you and the occupants from electric shock, burns and fire.

The breaker box contains many electrical components that check the flow of electricity around your home's wiring. If the box senses that there is a surge of electricity, current leakage, too much power being used, faulty wiring or other electrical issues, it is designed to switch off the power and protect everyone. 

When things go wrong in the electrical panel, it can result in unwanted tripping of circuit breakers, GFCI, RCD or other trip switches. A common cause of the problem with tripping switches in an electrical panel is a loose connection inside the panel. 

A loose connection can be caused over time through continued heating and cooling of wiring and terminal connections combined with slight vibrations through the electricity supply frequency.

5) There is a Short Circuit Somewhere

If a circuit breaker keeps tripping, then it is important not to reset it more than once because there is likely to be a short circuit somewhere that is causing the issue. Electrical wiring that has shorted out can cause circuit trips and cable damage.

A short circuit is a state of an electrical system were there is a very low resistance connection between Line and Neutral. When this happens, electrical current does not flow through appliances as was intended but rather flows directly from one wire to another without much resistance in between creating too much current flowing in the circuit. 

Visible damage can appear on cabling, connections and in the electrical panel if this situation is not resolved quickly by an experienced electrician. 

6) The Breaker is Faulty

A faulty circuit breaker can be difficult to diagnose as a homeowner and the best way of solving this issue is to always get professional help. Circuit breakers have a life span to them and they can age internally through corrosion, dirt, debris, and a reducing conductivity leading to a high internal resistance to electrical current flow. 

Circuit breakers are made predominantly of metals. Metals that can corrode and oxidize with time. Periodically circuit breakers should be changed or electrical panels replaced to ensure that the wiring system and mains are in tip-top condition. 

If you find that the TOASTER TRIPS THE POWER then perhaps have an electrician check things out for you once you have tried everything else.

7) Frequently Asked Questions

7.1) Why is my toaster tripping the RCD?

An RCD is an electric shock prevention device. It is designed to trip when it detects a stray electrical current to Earth that would otherwise cause an electric shock hazard. Any number of issues can trip and RCD but when it comes to a Toaster tripping the RCD it is likely to be a faulty appliance.

Check the plug of the toaster for signs of damage:

If the plug looks like this on the outside then there will be substantial damage on the inside of the plug as well. If the plug looks ok on the outside then it may be worth checking the inside of the plug yourself by unplugging the appliance and using a screwdriver on the central screw to remove the lid and expose the internal wiring. 

Check the wiring to make sure that no strands are out of place touching other parts of the plug and causing electrical faults.

7.2) Does a toaster use power when plugged in?

NO. However, if the toaster also has lights that are illuminated or a fancy display then the toaster WILL use some power when it is plugged in. The amount of power that is used is likely to be negligible but you may be able to find the information relating to this in your manufacturer’s instructions.

7.3) How much does it cost to Toast two slices of bread UK?

On average in 2024, the unit rate of electricity is approximately 24.50 pence per Kilowatt Hour (KWH). If a toaster is 1000 watts and takes 2 minutes to perform its toasting cycle then it will use 0.82 pence per cycle.

So, toasting one or two slices of anything its not that expensive despite the powerful appliance. The toaster uses a lot of electricity but it is never on for very long.

The calculation is as follows: 
24.5p per kwh x (2 minutes ÷ 60 minutes in an hour) = 0.82 pence per cycle.

If the toaster ran continuously for an hour, then the cost would be 24.5 pence. This will vary with the power of the toaster and the cost per unit of electricity of course.

Please do not run your toaster for an hour, the poor toaster will likely overheat!

7.4) What is the best wattage for a toaster?

I personally find that the higher the wattage the better as it tends to toast quickly and without drying the bread out. A Lower wattage toaster may dry the bread out and take longer to toast without giving a nice brown finish to the bread.

There are some factors that will affect this such as the distance of the heating elements away from the bread. The closer the heating element is to the bread then the quicker it will toast for the same wattage.

The best thing to do is to check online reviews for the toaster that you are planning to purchase and see what real life customer experiences are with each appliance.