My FQ is causing the breaker to trip...

[luxmanmatt]

Hello all,

This is a bit of a dumb/silly question, so I apologize in advance if there's an obvious answer but I really am not very smart when it comes to household electrical wiring...

Over the last few months I have noticed that if my Filter Queen (2014 Majestic Black) seems to trip the electrical breaker every time i turn it on and run it - even on a low setting. The only time it will NOT trip the breaker is when it's plugged into a receptacle that is equipped with a reset switch like the kitchen, bathroom, utility room. I just don't like this. Also, just to note - i have made sure I'm not running too many appliances at once, and we hardly ever have multiple lights / appliances running at once.

Is there an obvious fix to this?

Thanks so much in advance, everyone!

 

[luxmanmatt]

One thing I forgot to mention...

Anytime I use one of my Electrolux's, including my Aerus Guardian Ultra I never have any issues with the breaker tripping on me. It seems to be isolated to the Filter Queen.

 

[huskyvacs]

If the vacuum is running normally and not making any odors, sparks, or abnormal noises, I would assume it's drawing too many amps for your household current and you're getting an overload trip.

I have a house from 1953, and the breaker panel is overloaded with way too many items on one circuit due to a half-assed renovation in the late 1970's by DIY backyard handymen. It's half 1950's 12 gauge asbestos-coated romex wire, and half 1970's 12 gauge rubber-sheathed nonmetallic wire.

In my basement if I use a modern vacuum that is too high-powered in terms of wattage, it will blow the breaker within 5 minutes. Used to have a Eureka The Boss World Vac back in the 90's that could not be used down there at all, because it would trip the breaker within 30 seconds of use because it was so powerful.

My Electrolux Olympia that I have does fine if, and only if, I keep the blower door closed. As soon as I open the blower door, boom, power goes out. If I use an older vacuum like a Hoover Convertible or a Eureka ESP, then I can run it all day long and never have any issue.

Also the outlets you speak about are called GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets. They are designed to trip immediately in the event of a power fault (overload, short circuit, et cetera), whereas your conventional breaker would need to wait until the voltage got to a certain overload rating before tripping the breaker.

What's the power output ratings between the two vacuums (wattage/amps)? How old is your house and do you know if it was ever rewired in the past? Those two things likely play a part in it.

 

[fcs3]

Hello LuxManMatt

I lived in an old apartment with very bad wiring.
In order to protect my computer I plugged it into
a voltage regulator/stabilizer. Got it at Walmart
for cheap. Never had another electrical surge or dip.

The device acts like a transformer by storing extra
power in its batteries. The regulator monitors the
power flow input and output, keeping it at a constant
setting.
If your vac is demanding more juice, the regulator
draws it from its own batteries, then recharges them
at a lesser (normal) voltage from the house supply.

Its an extra expense and bother, but cheaper than
getting your house rewired.