Why Does My Table Saw Keep Tripping the Circuit Breaker?

Why does my table saw keep tripping the breaker?

Your table saw keeps tripping the circuit breaker because of worn out carbon brushes that occurs after a long period of time, the wrong current ratings (too high or low) or an overheated motor due to heavy usage. A loosened belt that does not fit properly, a defective circuit breaker or a cord that is too long are other reasons a table saw can trip the circuit breaker.

What causes worn carbon brushes?

Carbon brushes are crucial to making table saw work and function properly. Due to this, a long-time usage of your table saw eventually makes your carbon brushes worn.

If your table saw’s carbon brushes are either hanging in the motor or are already worn out, this affects the performance of your table saw.

This can cause your table saw to keep tripping the circuit breaker.

Wrong current ratings

Sometimes, your table saw’s load is higher or lower than the current ratings of your circuit breaker. This causes the tripping of your circuit breaker.

Before using a circuit breaker with your table saw, make sure that you know the “code letter” of the motor of your table saw. This will determine the motor in-rush characteristics and the size of the breaker that your table saw needs.

Overheated motor

An overheated motor is a common occurrence in using a table saw. This is most likely due to heavy usage of your table saw. Due to the overheating, the turnings in your table saw’s motor might have shorted out. This is why your table saw keeps tripping the circuit breaker.

Loosened belt

A properly fit belt in a table saw is as important as any other part of your table saw. If the belt is too tight, this causes wear on the motor bearing and on the blade itself.

However, a less-tightened belt could produce shred cuts. That is why it’s important to know and place the belt in a balanced manner to avoid the table saw from tripping the circuit breaker.

Defective circuit breaker

There are times that the problem of the table saw that keeps tripping the circuit breaker does not lie with the table saw itself. But rather the circuit breaker.

If you have checked the overall function of your motor and the circuit breaker still trips, consider replacing it with a new one.

Bad cord

A bad cord means a cord that is too long and could cause an issue for the motor to use up current. This delay could cause overloading and eventually, the table saw tripping the circuit breaker.

How to fix a table saw that keeps tripping the breaker?

To fix a table saw that keeps tripping the circuit breaker try tightening the belt, replace the defective circuit breaker, switching the overheated motor to a new one, and changing the worn-out carbon brushes.

How to Tighten the Belt on the Table Saw?

One way to fix your table saw that keeps on tripping your circuit breaker is to tighten the belt of your table saw by following these steps:

Take off the back panel by loosening the bolts attached to it.
Determine where the belt is located.
Take a 13-millimeter wrench and get it on the big nut above the pulley.
Loosen the nut.
Get a screwdriver and jam it in between the motor and the pulley.
Once you see that the jamming causes the belt to tighten, try to keep it in the same place.
Then, tighten the nut above the belt.

How to Replace a Defective Circuit Breaker?

Replacing a defective circuit breaker might be the fix to your table saw that keeps tripping your circuit breaker. Here are the steps:

Open the panel door of the circuit breaker.
Unscrew the bolts that hold the front panel cover.
Take the front panel cover off once the screw loosens.
Test the circuit using a non-contact voltage if there is power coming in or none.
Loosen the screws that hold the wires in place and pull the wires out.
Be careful not to pull out other load lines from other circuits.
Grab the front part of the circuit at the top and lift hard on it.
Slide the new clips in.
Push it down on the front part to lock it in place.
Use nose pliers to get the wires back into the clips.
Tighten the screws that hold the wires
Make sure not to tighten too tight so it won’t strip the wires.

How to Switch an Overheated Motor of a Table Saw?

Another possible way to fix your table saw that keeps tripping the circuit breaker is to switch the overheated motor to a new one. To fix it, follow the steps:

Wear gloves to protect your hands.
Unplug the power cord of the table saw.
Take off the blade-tilt locking knob and tilt the blade to a 90-degree angle.
Tighten the blade-tilt locking knob.
Lift the blade to its highest position.
Push the red button on the blade guard.
Take off the blade guard cover.
Remove the table insert using a screwdriver.
Loosen the blade-tilt locking knob.
Incline the blade to 45 degrees and tighten the blade-tilt locking knob.
Take out the riving knife and anti-kickback pawl.
Remove the blade and table saw stand.
Disconnect the drive motor wires.
Take out the drive motor and replace it with the new one.
Connect the new drive motor wires
Reinstall the table saw support stand.
Reinstall the riving knife and anti-kickback pawl.
Put back the table insert and blade guard.

How to Change Worn Out Carbon Brushes from a Table Saw?

To fix your table saw that keeps tripping the circuit breaker, try to replace your table saw’s worn carbon brushes. Here are the steps:

Lower the blade down into the table saw.
Incline the blade to 45 degrees and tip the saw over onto the cord inside.
Unscrew the brush caps.
Take out the old worn-out carbon brushes and replace them with the new ones.
Insert them along with the spring.
Hold the brush in place and reinstall the brush caps.
Tighten the brush caps by fastening their screws.

Why does my table saw keep tripping the GFCI outlet?

The reason why your table saw keeps tripping the GFCI outlet is mainly because the circuit is overloaded with extra amperage, a defective GFCI outlet due to heavy usage, or there is a ground fault in the motor wiring.

Overloaded Circuit

This happens when an extra amperage runs through the electric wiring or circuit, and it cannot handle another extra current. This usually happens when you plug into the outlet a defective appliance.

Malfunctioned wires or connections could also be the culprit for the overloading of the GFCI outlet. Once it overloads, this causes tripping.

Defective GFCI Outlet

There are times that the GFCI outlet itself is to blame for the tripping. The heavy usage of the GFCI outlet causes its circuit to wear out. This causes the GFCI outlet to perform poorly and trips from time to time.

Ground Fault in the Table Saw Motor Wiring

A ground fault happens when there is a live wire that meets a grounded area of the table saw. Since the GFCI outlet detects the path of the current; it is easy for the outlet to detect the extra current leaks. This causes immediate tripping to the GFCI outlet.

Why does my table saw fuse keep blowing?

The reason why your table saw fuse keeps blowing is due to a dirty commutator, the extension cord has gauge that is too high, or the fuse is higher in current than the circuit.

Dirty Commutator

One reason why your table saw fuse keeps blowing might be due to a dirty commutator. A simple cleanup will make this problem disappear.

Extension Cord has Too High Gauge

It could be that your extension cord has a too high gauge and that is the reason why your table saw fuse keeps blowing. The current flows through the extension cord and if it has too high a current, that might lead your table saw fuse to blow.

Higher Fuse Current

Another reason why your table saw fuse might keep on blowing is due to a higher current than it holds than the circuit itself. This would cause the table saw fuse to keep blowing because the current does not match with the circuit.

Why does my Ridgid table saw keep tripping the breaker?

The reasons why your Ridgid table saw keeps tripping the breaker might be because your circuit breaker is too small, the wire nut came loose, or you have an overheated motor.

Circuit Breaker is Too Small

Sometimes the reason why your Ridgid table saw keeps tripping the circuit might be due to the size of your circuit breaker itself. To avoid this, you need to have a circuit breaker that can hold 20 amperages.

To fix your Ridgid table saw that keeps tripping the breaker, it is recommended to replace your circuit breaker and buy a 20-amp breaker.

Loose Wire Nut

Another possible reason why your Ridgid table saw keeps tripping the breaker might be because of a loose wire nut located on the motor. By simply securing the wire nut, this problem of yours will be solved.

Overheated Motor

If the circuit is not that heavy to make the conductors get warm, this could cause your motor to overheat and therefore, trips your circuit breaker.

Once your motor is overheated, it is best to replace it with a new one.

Why does my Delta table saw keep tripping the breaker?

A bad capacitor in the motor, worn carbon brushes, or worn arbor bearing might be the culprit as to why your Delta table saw keeps tripping the breaker.

Bad Delta Table Saw Run Capacitors

A run capacitor is stronger and better than the start capacitor because it increases the efficiency of the Delta table saw motor. If your Delta table saw capacitors are leaking or bulging, this could be bad.

So, if your Delta table saw has a bad run capacitor, it most likely would trip the breaker.

The following are the steps to fix your Delta table saw that keeps tripping the breaker:

Pull the pins off.
Replace the old capacitor with the new one.
Put the pins back.

Worn Delta Table Saw Carbon Brushes

If you have a Delta table saw that is a bit older with a universal motor, it is best to check if your carbon brushes are worn and need some replacement. Because this might be the reason why your Delta table saw keeps tripping the breaker.

To fix your Delta table saw that keeps tripping the breaker, here are the steps:

Unfasten the brush caps.
Take the old carbon brushes out.
Install the new carbon brushes and push the spring inside.
Secure the brush caps and tighten them using a screwdriver.

Worn Arbor Bearing

Another reason why your Delta table saw keeps tripping the breaker might be due to a worn or defective arbor bearing.

Heavy usage of the bearing could make the rotor too short against the stator. The dark areas on the stator or rotor might indicate an issue with the windings or a defective bearing.

Here are the steps to fix your Delta table saw that keeps tripping the breaker:

Remove the top of the table saw by unscrewing the 4 bolts attached to it.
Set the top aside.
Unfasten the bolts on the cabinet
Remove the pulley and then the nut.
Slide the pulley off the shaft.
Remove the key and the 3 bolts that hold the bearing in place.
Tap the arbor out of the trunnion.
Take out the old bearing and slide the new one then taps it out.
Use a parallel clamp to secure the new bearing.
Put the screws back.
Rotate the arbor back and forth.
Make the bearing loose off the arbor.
Once the old bearing slid down the arbor, press the new bearing inside the arbor.
Tap or hammer the new bearing to fully placed itself in the arbor.
Install the new bearing and reinstall everything back.