Why Does Nissan Leaf Charger Keep Tripping Breaker?

Circuit overload is the most common culprit when you face that Nissan Leaf EV charger keep tripping breaker connected with 120V electric wiring.

If Nissan leaf Charging station is charged together with other appliances on the same circuit, the combined amperage draw might be higher than what the circuit capacity can carry hence tripping the breaker.

Such issues that may lead to the breaker tripping include; damages within the EVSE (home charging unit) or J1772 connector cable used for charging in the Nissan vehicle.

How To Troubleshoot Tesla Model 3 Charger Tripping Breaker Issues?

Does Nissan Leaf Level 1 Charger Cause Tripping?

The Nissan Leaf uses AC charging through a J1772 connector (also known as SAE J1772 or Type 2), which is commonly used for both Level 1 and Level 2 EV charging.

A typical Level 1 charger draws 12-15 amps from a standard 120-volt household circuit.

Most residential circuits are rated for 15 or 20 amps, so a Level 1 charger is generally within the circuit’s capacity. However, if there are issues like poor wiring, a faulty breaker, or an overloaded circuit, the breaker may trip.

10 Common Causes of Nissan Leaf Charger Tripping the Breaker

1. Overcurrent Protection
   • If your charger is pulling more power than the circuit can handle, the breaker will trip. A Level 1 charger usually draws 12-15 amps from a 120V circuit, while Level 2 can go up to 30 amps on a 240V circuit. If the circuit is only rated for 15 or 20 amps, it can’t handle the load, causing the breaker to trip.
2. Undersized Circuit Breaker
   • If your circuit breaker is too small for your charger, it’ll trip. For Level 1 charging, a 15 or 20-amp breaker is fine, but for Level 2, you usually need a 40-amp breaker. Using a lower-rated breaker can lead to trips.
3. Faulty Grounding
   • If the charger isn’t properly grounded, a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) will trip the breaker. This is because the charger detects an issue with the grounding and will shut off to avoid any danger, like electrical shock.
4. Overloaded Circuit
   • Charging your Leaf on the same circuit as other high-power appliances can overload the circuit. Most residential circuits are rated for 15-20 amps, and if you’ve got other devices pulling power at the same time, it could trip the breaker.
5. Worn or Faulty Charging Cable
   • Over time, your charging cable might get damaged or wear out. If there’s any physical damage or fraying, it can cause a short circuit, which trips the breaker. It’s a good idea to check the cable regularly for any wear and tear.
6. Improper Installation
   • If your charger was installed incorrectly, it could cause problems like short circuits or excessive heat buildup, leading to breaker trips.
7. Loose or Corroded Wiring
   • If there are any loose wires or corrosion in the charging circuit, it can create resistance, which causes the wires to heat up. This can easily trip the breaker, so check all the connections and make sure they’re clean and tight.
8. Breaker Age and Wear
   • Circuit breakers can wear out over time. If your breaker is old, it may trip even if the system isn’t overloaded. If this happens, you might need to replace the breaker.
9. Power Surge (Inrush Current)
   • When you first plug in the charger, there’s a small surge of power that can trip the breaker. This is normal, but if the surge is too high for the breaker to handle, it’ll shut off. This is more common with Level 2 chargers but can happen with Level 1 too.
10. Faulty Charger

• If none of the other issues are the cause, it might be the charger itself. If it’s faulty or malfunctioning, it could cause the breaker to trip. In this case, you’ll need to get the charger checked or replaced.

Why does my Nissan LEAF stop charging?

While a tripped MCB or GFCI breaker is a common culprit that can prevent your Nissan Leaf from getting juiced up, there are other culprits too!

Battery Management System (BMS) Malfunction: 

BMS, together with battery testing and monitoring functions, is designed to control and shape the battery’s health and its performance. The BMS of Electric Car responsibility can be undercut if it didn’t go to charging for safety reasons. 

Nissan Charging Port Issues: 

Cases of defective components found in the Nissan Leaf charging port are believed to have led to serious errors like broken pins or blown fuses, which could result in unstable power connection with the charger. 

Communication Errors: 

On some occasions the problem is with EVSE and if there will be a communication issue then charging will not proceed. That is most probably the case of software bug or hardware failure with the vehicle or while charging. 

Extreme Hot or Cold Temperatures: 

Exchange battery life could be drastically reduced by very hot or cold temperatures. The Nissan Leaf may be protected from harsh weather conditions such as hot and cold.  Testing had been done to guarantee its safety. 

Can a weak/worn GFI cause Nisssan Leaf Tripping?

Yes, in 80% cases!

Maintaining the current which passes through the “hot” and “neutral” power lines, GFCIs work continuously. 

Suggestion to the ideal case is that the current entering the electric circuit on the hot wire will return on the neutral wire with only negligible current leakage (mA) through the ground. 

GFCIs are shielded from leakage currents up to the threshold allowed by the internal regulations. 

The GFCI therefore senses the detected leakage and if this level is somehow above the threshold, that at this level the breaker trips and cuts the power to the circuit. 

How to Prevent Nissan Leaf Charger Breaker Tripping Issues?

Here’s a practical solution to troubleshooting Nissan Charging issue and resolving the MCB breaker tripping issue: 

Install a Dedicated Circuit for Nissan Charger: 

Know the total average current of all the appliances (Total Load in Amps) which will connect to the circuit intended for electric vehicle charging stations. 

To illustrate, when you plug a 15A breaker into a 8A outlet (15A breaker – 8A appliance = 7A available for charging). Because it uses Nissan Leaf charger (around 12-15 amps), the wall outlet can be overloaded.  

Consider including the charger on a dedicated electrical circuit or consulting the electrician about upgrading the circuit capacity. 

Inspect Nissan J1772 Charging Connector: 

In the next phase, check for any cuts in the J1772 cable or EVSE insulation and connectors by visual inspection. 

An experienced electrician has special tools to give a complete electrical diagnosis on the charging station to detect internal electric faults. 

Try a Different 120V Charging Outlet (if safe): 

In case a different 120V electric outlet is available on a separate circuit, it will be good for charging. 

This kind of a step could assist to find out the exact cause either in a single outlet or circuit. 

FAQs

Q: Why does my Nissan Leaf trip the GFCI and circuit breaker on 110v?

A: Possible reasons: GFCI sensitivity (leakage current) is probably in the charging system, excessive current drain (breaker trips first), or circuit overloads easily.

Q: Replaced GFCI, but Nissan Leaf still trips it and the breaker?

A: At this point, we would need to pinpoint whether the issue is within the charging system (car or charger) or circuit overload from other appliances. Think of a skilled electrician to stay away from poor repairmen.

Q: Is it safe to leave Nissan Leaf plugged in overnight?

A: In case the charger functions fine and I of course has an outlet for level 2 charger either 110V outlet or 240V. The newer EVs and the charging stations are actually equipped with special safety systems which protect them when charging overnight.

Q: What causes both GFCI and breaker trips during charging?

A: Let the current fill in the loops, and once it fills in, set the extreme current as a tripper for the GFCIs and in turn over current as a breaker limit. Check for open circuits and damage in the charging system or in the wire.

Q: Can a dedicated 50A Circuit prevent Nissan Leaf Tripping Breaker?

A: A leaf Charger takes about 15 amp probably, meaning there would be barely any amp to connect to other applicants. The 50-amp dedicated line for Nissan charging would do this job wonderfully so that one could avoid quite noisy tripping of circuit breakers from time to time.