Hephaestus is correct! 100%.

Do you know what happened before breakers (and the fuses that preceeded them)? A crap load of house fires.

When your house was wired, a certain gauge (size) wire was used for each circuit that was run to a breaker that would PROTECT that wire from being overloaded and causing a FIRE within your walls where the wire is run next to (most likely) WOODEN studs.

So when I needed more power for a setup I had an electrician put in a couple more independent circuits in the computer room. Buy a power meter (example a "Kill-a-Watt" available for less than $20) and measure your actual usage. Don't exceed 80% of that usage continuously for that circuit or you'll have popped breakers due to heat problems. The electrician was cheaper than my home owners insurance deductible... If there is a fire, will your insurance cover you when it is determined that dangerous electrical modifications were made to your house/apartment/shack?


BTW I'm not an electrician, but minimal research will show you I'm right. Those breakers tripping are saving you and your house from a potential fire. While I'm on my soapbox....do your smoke detectors work? Do you have a fire extinguisher readily available in different parts of your house?