you can't cut off all the power?
2007-02-23 15:05:38 · 11 answers · asked by van 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I suspect you have what is called a "split buss" main. Are there six, two-pole breakers in the top half, and then all single pole breakers in the bottom half? If so, the third set of two-pole breakers on the left side usually supplies power to the single pole units below. If you trip this one, the bottom half is dead. It may not be the third on the left - look for two thick wires coming up from the bottm of the panel. The pair of breakers these two wires are hooked to is the feeder for the lower half.
If you need to change a breaker in the top half (top six positions on either side) it is what's called "hot work". If you know what you are doing, it's easy, but if you have any doubts, call a sparky.
2007-02-23 17:02:10 · answer #1 · answered by Hank 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No go out to your service drop the little breaker box over by the meter and shut it off from there.there is another main directly below the meter base I would suggest you consult a licensed electrician about up sizing your distribution panel from a 100 amp service up to a 200 or putting in a alternate service to accommodate for all the extra electricity you are using Or you will just keep blowing your main when you run all those things at once. The breaker doesn't sound like it is broken at all really but I would have to look at it to discount what your electric company says. Yeah a new service is rather expensive but if you own your house and keep blowing breakers it is kinda worth it.
2016-03-29 09:33:38 · answer #2 · answered by Veronica 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF you own the house, I would call an electrician and get one installed. Seriously, you need to pay up and get it done by a professional.
A liscenced electrician can make arangements with the power company to shut the power off so he or she can install a main cut off switch. DO NOT PLAY WITH THIS YOURSELF!
It may not be the cheap and easy answer you were looking for, but it's the only sensible thing to do.
Also, there may be a switch you just haven't found. The electrician will be able to find it if it exists.
Short of using an electrician, the single most important thing to remember is never use both hands at the same time when working with an alternating current.
Why you ask? Because your arms form a circuit (think circle) that runs through your chest right through your heart. Zap your heart with a strong electric current and it either beats irregularly or stops completely. That is just a bad way to go either way.
2007-02-23 15:18:27 · answer #3 · answered by Deke 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was in the same situation--old house (built in 1885), old breaker box, no way to cut the power to the entire house all at once. You won't like this answer, but I had to have a new breaker box installed...and a new line coming in to the house from the outside. Turns out my house wasn't even grounded. Yikes! It was very expensive, but it was the first thing I did after moving in. Too risky not to.
Having said that, you might try looking to see if there's another breaker box somewhere. The one you're looking at might be a secondary breaker box. Old houses oftentimes come with a lot of messed-up wiring.
2007-02-23 20:52:12 · answer #4 · answered by pvpd73127 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there is another box that contains the main breaker to feed this panel.follow the line that comes into the breaker panel.I would think there would be one somewhere.If not,the only way you can take the power safely away from your panel would be having your electric meter pulled.I would hope no one would actually do this.
2007-02-23 15:21:59 · answer #5 · answered by mr. mr. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't need to cut the supply. If you have cicuit breakers, it's just a matter of flicking the switch. If you have fuses with fuse wire, you carefully pull out the wire holder, replace the wire, and re-insert the holder.
2007-02-23 15:13:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm stumped if you can't find a main throw switch.
Call a electrican to wire one in, because the only way you can kill the power is pull the meter, power companies frown on clipping their seal.
2007-02-23 15:36:41 · answer #7 · answered by jacksparrow 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You pull the breaker box out or pull the fuse out and replace it.
There may be a lever on the side of the old box pull it down.
2007-02-23 15:14:37 · answer #8 · answered by sunflare63 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have never seen a box using breakers that does not have a main . . .
I have never seen a box using fuses that does not have a switch . . .
2007-02-23 15:14:35 · answer #9 · answered by Say What? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Call your nearest electrical company or a person who is certified to deal with electricity.
2007-02-23 15:54:39 · answer #10 · answered by BigBlackDog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋