On Sun, 1 Aug 2010 08:09:59 -0400, "Ed Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Higgs Boson" wrote in message
...
Lately, one circuit on my box blows. It covers the microwave and
regular oven. I could
understand it blowing when another heat-using appliance, like toaster
oven or toaster runs at same time as microwave. But now it's blowing
all on its own.

Last time, today, only the micro was being used, to "reduce" a glass
dish of chicken drippings.

Can one circuit go bad all on its own? If so, why? And what should I
do about it.

Any info appreciated.

What is the "regular oven" you speak of? Like a toaster oven but larger?
It may have been marginal all along. What is the rating of the two
appliances? If the microwave motor is starting to go, it may be pulling
more amps that it normally does.

Also. what is the actual voltage coming in? In the summer with heavy loads,
the power company sometimes reduces the voltage a bit and that increases the
amps. If you live in an area of high tempertures that may be going on
some days as the AC load goes way up.

120 volts with a 1500 watt appliance = 12.5A reduce to 110 volts and you
get 13.6A Maximum safe load on a 20A breaker is 16A

Except the load usually behaves the other way. !500 watts at 120
volts, and 1250 watts at 110.

Others are saying a bad breaker, but while it may be that, I'm guessing
overload. Personally, I'd not run a MW and oven together for just that
reason.


The OP wasn't running them together - they were on the same circuit,
but he was ONLY running the Microwave - and the circuit breaker is by
far the most likely problem.