My electricity in my house is messed up. how to fix it??

Question

Last night I overloaded one circuit in my house. I flicked the switch and it didn't reset. What does that mean? Do I need to replace a circuit breaker? How do you do that??

How do I turn off the power, with the main switch? Will that make the circuit inactive? Now I'm really nervous but I don't have money for an electrician.

Answer 1

You should not change a breaker yourself, and that is not likely the problem. If you know the breaker tripped because of an overload, you can turn the breaker back on. Many brands of circuit breakers cause the switch to go to the middle when it trips, and you can't turn it on (the switch won't stay on). You need to turn the switch all the way off and then on. Another answer said this and must not have been clear. You don't need to turn the main off, just the breaker that tripped. A good electrician that likes customer service would help you with this over the phone if you called with this question.

Answer 2

You didn't say what caused the overload in your circuit. The first thing you need to do is disconnect that item from the circuit. Then simply shut the circuit breaker off and back on. That should reset your breaker as long as you don't have the component plugged back in that caused the overload.
I would recommend you have the applicance or whatever the item is that caused the overload as it could have a short in the system. Any item could cause the breaker to trip should be checked out. You can possibly get that done by a local hardware store or homecenter. Try calling them first before you take the item there to make sure they can check it.

If the breaker will not reset after you disconnect the item that caused it to trip, then whether you can or can't afford an electrician, you need to contact one and see about making payments to them. I have had to and they usually will if you can provide anything down at all, or contact your family for a loan to pay the bill.
Be safe rather than sorry.

Answer 3

the proper way to reset a tripped circuit breaker is to flip it to the off position and give it an extra tug toward the off position. It should be reset after this. If it keeps tripping when turned on there is something in the circuit that is causing an overload or is shorted out. Pull the plug of the things on that circuit and see if it will stay on. If it stays on start plugging things back in until you find the culprit.

Answer 4

If you tripped a breaker and it won't reset you have a problem in that circut a short most likely, that needs to be checked by a qualified electrician. Breakers very seldom go bad in my expreience,the cost of an electrician is alot cheaper than the cost of replacing your house or your funeral if you don't know what you're doing with electricity.

Answer 5

There are many different brands of breakers, so It's hard to tell you exactly how to change it; however, most breakers just "snap in". Be sure to turn it off before you change it. You can buy a meter that will tell you how many amps each breaker is using. You don't want to go beyond the size of the breaker, and it's best to remove the wire(s) from the breaker before removing it from the panel. Also, if you have never done this before, I would suggest that you use a good screw driver with a well insulated handle, and remove any rings(s) you have on before changing the breaker.

Answer 6

u have to reset breaker when will trip go tothe left and then to the right and should reset iff won't reset u have a short ih the line or some other problem u need to see electrician

Answer 7

Trun off the main breaker . Replace the circuit braker that dose not work trun on the main. It is only one screw and a pull .

Answer 8

short circuit in the wires..call a qualified electrician

Answer 9

Reset the breaker the proper way, Cut it completely off, and then back on

Answer 10

Call an electrician.