A circuit breaker is an essential component to the entire electrical system. The circuit breaker provides the power to the circuit and also acts as the home’s electrical safety system. When a circuit breaker fails, your home is at risk of fires, electrical faults, and power loss. Sometimes it can be hard to determine if a breaker is going bad or if the problem is located somewhere else in the electrical system. Simon Electric will share how to troubleshoot a bad circuit breaker.
Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
If you believe a circuit breaker is going bad, it is always best to contact an electrician. However, before you begin making calls, it helps to know for sure if there is a problem with the circuit breaker. Often when a circuit breaker begins to go out, it will trip a lot. If you find that the circuit keeps on tripping and you haven’t overloaded the circuit, then the problem may be with the circuit breaker. First determine which breaker is on the fritz.
Label Electrical Panel
Look for the breaker that keeps on tripping and if it is labeled, make a note of the circuit the breaker is protecting. If the electrical panel isn’t properly labeled, you may want to consider taking the time to label the panel to know for sure which breaker is connected to which circuit.
Reset Tripped Circuit Breaker
After you have identified the circuit breaker and know which circuit it is protecting, you will want to begin unplugging everything on that circuit. Before unplugging the outlets, make sure the breaker is in the off position. Make sure everything is unplugged on that circuit line as it can run into more than one room or area. With everything unplugged, reset the breaker by switching it to the on position. After resetting the breaker, wait a few minutes to see if the breaker trips again. When a breaker is bad it will immediately trip even with everything unplugged. If the breaker switch remains to the on position, the breakers are frequently tripping due to an overload.
Overloaded Circuit Breaker
If you have overloaded a circuit, to prevent overheating and a fire, track down the breaker that has been overloaded and cut off the flow of power to that breaker. Consider upgrading your electrical system to supply more amps to the home or reduce the amount of electrical plug-ins you are using on that circuit.
Circuit Breaker Replacement
If the breaker trips, even with nothing using power from the circuit, you will need to replace the breaker. When you need to replace the breaker it is best to seek professional help. It is important the that right size and type of breaker is used or it can lead to additional problems. If you are not sure how to properly identify the right size breaker or type in your home, contact a professional electrician. A professional electrician will ensure the right breaker is replaced and will seek out any other potential electrical problems at the same time.
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If you need help troubleshooting electrical problems in your home, or you require electrical inspection, repairs or more, contact Simon Electric.
