Why does my garage door opener trip the breaker?

A garage door opener that trips the breaker is usually caused by an overloaded circuit, a failing motor, or a wiring issue — and it's worth diagnosing carefully before it becomes a bigger problem.

The most common culprit is a shared circuit that's drawing too much current. Garage door openers typically pull 4-6 amps during normal operation, but the startup surge when the motor kicks in can be 2-3 times that for a brief moment. If your opener shares a circuit with other garage outlets, a chest freezer, a workshop tool, or a second opener, that combined load can easily push a 15A breaker past its limit.

The second possibility is the opener itself. Motors wear out over time, and a failing motor draws significantly more current than it should — especially if the door is binding, the springs are worn, or the tracks need lubrication. Before calling an electrician, it's worth checking whether the door opens smoothly by hand (with the opener disconnected). If it feels stiff or heavy, the mechanical side of the system may be overworking the motor. A garage door technician can assess the springs and tracks, which is actually a separate trade from electrical work.

On the electrical side, there are a few things to consider. If the breaker trips immediately when the opener tries to start, that points more toward a motor or wiring fault. If it trips after several uses or when multiple things are running, it's more likely an overload issue. A dedicated 20A circuit for the garage is the proper solution for most modern garages — especially if you have or plan to add an EV charger, workshop tools, or a second opener. Under the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, adding a new dedicated circuit requires an ESA permit and a licensed electrician.

From a safety standpoint, don't ignore a repeatedly tripping breaker. Breakers trip for a reason — they're protecting the wiring from overheating. If you've been resetting it repeatedly, that's a warning sign. A breaker that trips frequently can also wear out and lose its ability to trip when it should, which is a fire risk.

As a next step, check whether the door moves freely by hand and whether anything else is running on that circuit when it trips. If the mechanical side looks fine, it's time to have a licensed electrician inspect the circuit and assess whether a dedicated 20A circuit for the garage makes sense. For a free estimate on adding a dedicated garage circuit, feel free to reach out to Electrical Ottawa — it's a straightforward job that typically runs $300–$600 depending on your panel's location and available capacity.