What is the easiest way to trace and identify the tripped circuit? The outlet worked fine until I plugged in a second appliance, then it tripped. Or so I hope. Hopefully I won't need to hire a certified electrician to come and flip a switch.
2007-07-22 07:05:38 · 8 answers · asked by Wil E Style 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Usually it's fairly easy to find tripped circuit breaker. Take a close look at the panel you will see that the tripped breaker will have the switch slightly away from the ON position. If you push it towards the ON position, you will feel some movement compared to the other ones.
Another possibility is if this is a GFI outlet or an outlet that is tied to a GFI outlet. I had an outlet in my garage that blew and spent 15 minutes resetting circuit breakers to no avail. I finally found out the outlet was tied to a GFI on the outside wall of the outlet. I also found one in my master bathroom that was hooked up the same way.
Hope this helps!
2007-07-22 07:18:19 · answer #1 · answered by GordonH 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Look in the circuit breaker panel to see if there are any tripped breakers (the breaker switch will be in the middle position between off and on and there may be a red spot in the indicator window - that means it tripped).
Reset the tripped breaker by positioning it hard to the off position then back to on.
If none are in the tripped position, try individually turn them off and back on with something plugged into each circuit in each room (ie light, radio, tv, etc.).
Once you know which circuits go to which rooms you can use process of elimination.
If a circuit is dead but the breaker never tripped fully to the tripped position, have the breaker replaced.
If you're not very good with trouble shooting electrical circuits, call an electrician.
2007-07-22 07:16:27 · answer #2 · answered by Tony V 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you can't look at the breakers and see a difference, then start turning them off one at a time. One of them will feel different when you turn it to the off position.
You can avoid any breakers that are double wide. That would be for 220V and not the 110V outlets. Once you have found the correct breaker, then be sure to mark it for future reference.
If all the breakers have been reset, and the outlet is still not working, then it may a GFI receptecle. There will be two buttons on the receptecle. One will say test, and the other reset. Press the reset. good luck.
2007-07-22 09:24:52 · answer #3 · answered by Fordman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your breaker is tripped then it should have flipped out of the "on" position. If not then flip all the breakers til the outlet is back on and replace the breaker that failed to flip and if breaker flips when a second plug is inserted to the outlet then the outlet itself might be bad replace it as well .cannot be to careful with your electric a new breaker five bucks vs. a house fire ? not even close,,be safe
2007-07-22 07:15:03 · answer #4 · answered by scott k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The breaker in the box should be moved either 1/2 way, or all of the way over, in a different position than the others. Usually on is to the center of the box, and off is towards the outside. If it is 1/2 way, it is also tripped, so move it off, then back on.
2007-07-22 07:13:54 · answer #5 · answered by RB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may have a tripped ground fault receptacle, that feeds the circuit in question. If its in the kitchen I'd bet that's it.
Look at all the receptacles in the room. See it they have a test and reset button. If so press the reset button- I'd bet your circuit will work again
2007-07-22 09:08:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Besides what has been mentioned above, there may also be a sub-panel, which is a small circuit breaker box, somewhere you haven't looked .
2007-07-22 09:39:56 · answer #7 · answered by Ron B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah;
What Gordon H said.
2007-07-22 07:35:34 · answer #8 · answered by Kurtis G 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋