Blow Dryer: Trips the Power Source Circuit Breaker

The motor on your blow dryer can also get clogged with hair and dust, causing the motor to work harder to turn. The more the motor works to turn the more amps it pulls, and can lead to tripping the power source. To replace the fan and motor assembly, first unplug the hairdryer. Use a screwdriver to remove the plastic casing. You may also need to remove plastic clips and/or the front grille in order to access the motor housing. The motor will most likely be in the round part of the blow dryer, toward the back, and may be held in with a screw which needs to be removed. You may need to desolder wires from the motor and solder them to the new part.

It is common for a blow dryer to trip the power source circuit breaker due to the amount of heat it generates at once. Some blow dryers feature a ground fault circuit interrupter (gfci) plug, which is a safety feature. This type of plug will often have a reset button which you can press when the circuit is tripped. If that doesn’t work, you may also be able to hit the reset switch on the outlet, which is a common feature on bathroom outlets. If that doesn’t work, the cord itself may be damaged and needs to be replaced. If the cord has been partially cut, or weakened, it can cause a breaker to trip. To replace your cord, first make sure the hairdryer is unplugged. The cord will most likely be attached to the switch in the handle. Remove the screws holding the plastic handle cover in place to access the switch, which can look like a small black rectangle. To remove the existing cord and install the new one, you will need to desolder the cord where it attaches to the switch, and solder the new one in its place.

The heater on your blow dryer may be causing the circuit breaker to trip if it becomes overheated during use. This part is normally comprised of two different heating elements, a thermostat, and thermal fuses. Foreign objects can get into the heating element and cause it to short. In other cases, the heating element is not held in the correct position and makes contact with itself. To replace the heater, first make sure the hairdryer is unplugged. Remove the screws on the back handle to take off the outer plastic casing. The heater is located in the funnel, depending on your model it can be slid out the back of the dryer or the front. You will need to use a soldering iron to remove the wires from the heating element, and to solder them to the new heater.