What typically causes nuisance tripping in electrical circuits?

Nuisance tripping in electrical circuits often occurs due to temporary motor overloads. When a motor starts, it can draw significantly more current than its normal running current for a brief period, especially if it is starting under load. This inrush current can exceed the trip threshold of protective devices, leading to a circuit breaker tripping even though there is no actual fault present.

This phenomenon is particularly common with motor applications where the rapid fluctuations in current can cause the protective devices to react, resulting in unwanted interruptions of service. Understanding this behavior is crucial for properly sizing circuit protection devices and for anticipating how equipment can impact electrical systems during normal operation.

Other causes such as operational overloads or ground faults tend to result in more consistent or severe issues rather than the temporary nature associated with nuisance tripping.