Home electrical troubleshooting question?

Question

We plugged in the vacuum last night and it appeared to blow a circuit breaker. We reset all the breakers and that circuit has not and will not come back on? We tested the breaker box and it still has power on that circuit. We also checked that wall socket for any corroded wires etc. Any suggestions on things that we should check ourself before calling an electrician? I would really hate to pay $50 an hour for a simple problem!!!
Thanks!

Answer 1

there may be a GFCI recpticle check all the recpticles in your home and push the rest button on all of them, also check to see if there is a GFCI recpticle out side, some moron electricians put an outside gfci plug in the middle of the circuit outside

Answer 2

If the outlet in question is in the kitchen, or bathroom, (like those found over countertops) then it is most likely on a circuit with a GFCI outlet. The GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt) may be several feet away from the outlet you used.

Most GFCI outlets have a "Test" button, and a "Reset" button. When tripped the "Test" button usually pops out just a bit, but can be blocked if something is plugged into its outlet. Press the "Reset" button all the way in, to turn it back on. My fingers are a bit large, so I use an inkpen, or pencil to push it in, hehehe.

If the problem is not a GFCI tripping, then you may have a loose wire along the circuit.

Hopefully, youve checked the outlet for power with something other than your vacuum cleaner (a lamp, digital clock, radio, etc)....because some vacuums have their own reset switches built in... try plugging the vac cleaner into another outlet, to verify that it still works.

Oh... and if it was the GFCI -- the reason it tripped is because the vacuum draws too many amps at startup...the GFCI is designed to measure the amps across the circuit, and if there is too much change, it cuts the power off (in milliseconds). This helps prevent electrical shock, which is important when you have electric near a source of water.

Good Luck

Answer 3

Look all around the walls of the house, especially behind furniture for outlets that might be on that circuit, for burn marks.

I spent almost 5 hours trying to figure out what the problem was. When I sat down on a sofa across the room, I smelled bakelite burning. I glanced behind the sofa and there it was! A big smoke stain.

What had happened is that when the house was wired, the electrician tightened the clamp in the box too tight and it pinched the wire. After a period of time, the insulation melted and the wire shorted out and opened. All of the recepticals upline from that went dead.

Go around with a tester or plug in lamp and try all of the outlets. If you find one that is also dead, check it out, but turn the power off before you do!

Answer 4

first off does your vacuum work on another plug ? if yes check the plug where you had the vacuum plugged in the duplex could be bad if vacuum does not work then there is a short in the vacuum and if that still dont work your connection on circuit breaker could bad if thats the case spend the money before you get fried from electrical shock never play with power unless you know exactly what your doing just a little tip from a certified electrician.

Answer 5

In this case you have over loading power from that circuit breaker .For example if breaker is 15amp your loading amp it must be over 20-25amp till breaker shot off .If blow mean exp lotion there's a short in that branch 1- Breaker refuse to operate functional (Breaker problem) and you must replace the breaker 2- Electrical shock (short) cause of melting wire (high wattage) and contact hot and neutral to gather ,you must
control all the branches from that circuit breaker to find out where is short ?

Answer 6

I would turn off the breaker and purchase a inductive wire tracer. They are sold at Home Depot in the phone section. Attach the leads to the black and white from the outlet and follow the tone until it stops. Hopefully its not behind a wall.ceiling or floor.

Unlike some previous answers I doubt a GFCI outlet is tripped. They don't trip from detecting a spike in amperage but from impedance. Okay electrical 101 down the hall.

FYI we charge $80/hour :-)

Answer 7

i would problem check the plug sockets for any lose wires and the consumer unit, also check no one has screwed or nailed anything in to any of the wires. if possible replace the wire. other wise call a sparkie and he will carry out a continuity test on the wire and a breaker test on the MCB. and should locate the problem.

Answer 8

It appears that one of the circuit breakers need to be replaced. You can use a screw driver tester to find which one is not conducting the electricity. The circuit breaker may appear to be normal, but it would be broken.

Answer 9

I have a wall in my trail with no electric it is just 4 plugs I check the breaker not triped when to the plug to see if my common was broke an hook my ground to my common an got nothing

Answer 10

try replacing the outlet first (if it is not a GFCI as was mentioned previously). Internal arcing when the vacuum blew the breaker could be causing a poor contact.