I have a 220 breaker that wont reset it seems I cant reset it like the others .
2006-09-13 04:26:18 · 17 answers · asked by Amber 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Certainly you can! It's rather easy as a matter of fact. First of all, be sure that it is the breaker by using an ohm meter to check it out. Use the ohm meter (about $7.00) and test the wall socket. If no power is indicated, move to the next step. Carefully remove the cover of the breaker panel and set aside. The system is live so be very careful not to tough anything. Use the meter and place the black electrode on the negative screw of the breaker, and the red probe of the meter on the positive screw on the breaker. If you still have no power indicated by the meter, it is indeed dead.
Once you determine it is no longer a good breaker (which is what it sounds like to me) Shut off your main breaker so ther is no power to the entire panel. Even after shutting it down, use caution as if it were still hot.
Disconnect the wires (positive, negative and ground )and write down which terminals they went to so you do not confuse them later. The breaker is now able to be popped out by gently rotating it out towards you horizontally at a 90 degree angle. (it pivots towards you and the pivotal point is the center of the breaker panel) Once it is out, take it down to your local hardware store and grab another one. Replace it as you had removed it. and be sure it is in place and the wires securely fastened. Turn on the main power switch again and test it with your ohm meter to see if it is now live. If it is (and it will be) carefully replace the panel cover securely and go have a beer as you brag to your friends hwo you saved about $300.00 by doing it yourself. :)
2006-09-13 04:27:26 · answer #1 · answered by BlueFire 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The breaker may have a safety on it. That would require you to push it all the way to the off position before it will let you reset the breaker (try this if you haven't already done so because even though it looks fully tripped it may not be)
The other thing to be aware of is finding out why the breaker won't let you reset it. If it instantly trips after resetting it then the electrical problem still exists in the system (a short or overload) and the breaker is just doing its job.
If the breaker truely is bad, yes you can change it yourself. Make sure the main breaker is off (usually the top breaker but not always). You'll know which one is the main, if it isn't labeled when you pull the cover off the panel. Look for where the wires come into the panel from outside and follow them to their breaker...this is the main for that panel. Shut it down. Take a tester and make sure the panel is off before touching anything inside of it. Remove the old breaker and replace with an identical breaker. Put the cover back on and turn the power back on. If that braker trips...then you have a short in the system somewhere call an electrical to check the lines in the house that the breaker feeds.
2006-09-13 04:42:46 · answer #2 · answered by Lauren 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
STOPPPP! OMG I cant believe these answers! Dont touch a thing unless you know what your doing! (also i am a master electrician for over 30 years!) How can people give advice not even knowing all the facts? there are dozens or more types of panels and breakers . some clip in some screw in and so on....
first off have you tried to reset the breaker the right way? is it a GFCI breaker? to reset a breaker most of the time you push the handle towards the OFF side first to reset it it. Then you can turn it on....second...omg breakers ALWAYS fail! Ive seen thousands of breakers fail. The maufacturer for most even say if the breaker trips its better to replace it...even though 99.9% never do. How many electricians themselves ever READ a breaker or its instructions! Third what amperage is it? what is on that circuit?
whatever it is make sure its off. Turn off main breaker! All phases in panel will be live unless you can turn off the main breaker, and even after doing this, the main feed wires and lugs will be live!!!! CAUTION. If after main is off, if you have a panel with push in breakers simply pull back tilting the breaker from the enter of panel towards you pulling it out and it shold pivot out and let you slide the breaker out. if you have a screw type breaker simply remove the screws once you have killed the main phase bars by shutting the main breaker off.either way if you do not know what you are doing, dont touch anything!Call a qualified person before you get injured
2006-09-15 09:36:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make certain there is NO short that won't let it reset. One way to check that would be to turn off the main and then try to reset the supposedly bad breaker. If it resets and then trips when you've turned the main back on......you've got a short somewhere. What does the 220 breaker serve? Turning off the main, you may now lift the breaker from the outer side (side where the wires are screwed into it). With breaker in hand, remove wires, screw wires into new breaker and then install new breaker. Turn on the main and you're done.
2006-09-13 07:08:06 · answer #4 · answered by fibreglasscar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How To Replace A Breaker
2016-09-30 08:30:37 · answer #5 · answered by mccowen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Breakers rarely fail like that unless they have been subjected to continous overloads. You should have an electrician come out and check the circut, if the breaker doesn't reset with the load removed you do have a bad breaker, if it does reset you have a wiring/ load problem , either way you find the problem and have peace of mind. Average price of a service call in my area $40 , average price to replace a house plus hospital bills from amature attempt to repair, much higher.
2006-09-13 04:47:38 · answer #6 · answered by Ed W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
an electrician like me would do it live but if your doing it your self i highly suggest calling HVAC to kill the power to your house and even then, do the job as if the power is still on.
Its a matter of just removing 2 screws, poping out the old breaker, installing a new one thats the same or compatable with your panel, puttnig those 2 wires back into the new breaker, installing the cover and having the power put back on.
Its highly recommended hat you have an electrician come in for panel work though, no matter how small as its the most dangerous electrical part in the house. I have come close to getting zapped while working on a house installing a new 200A panel...if i did I would not be here today...lockouts are a verry good thing for an electrician...
2006-09-13 13:28:12 · answer #7 · answered by D S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes you can.
But FIRST, turn off the MAIN disconnect breaker, it will be the first one in the box. Then replace with identical breaker. Make sure it is the same brand and rating. Secure it to the board, and connect the wire.
BE CAREFUL. Then when all is secure, turn on main again.
Then reset all of your clocks.
2006-09-13 04:29:52 · answer #8 · answered by David S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes definitely, as long as you can remove and refix the screws:
But first you must disconnect the power supply to the breaker. If it is with other switches together, disconnect power to all.
Make sure that all wires are connected properly and screwed tightly avoiding any LOOSE connection. Loose connections can be dangerous!
2006-09-13 17:39:46 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. Tension 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you can but why is the breaker not working? first make sure that it is a faulty breaker and not a short of some kind. if you have doubts please call an electrician. life is much more important than saving a few dollars.
2006-09-13 04:35:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋