  We analyse the possibility of charge breaking minima developing in the Higgs
triplet model, and under what conditions they are deeper than charge-preserving
ones. Analytical expressions relating the depth of minima of different types
are deduced. A global symmetry of the model leads to increased stability for
charge-preserving vacua. However, if that symmetry is broken by a soft term,
deeper charge-breaking minima may occur more easily. We identify the vev
configurations most likely to produce charge breaking minima.
