How to Fix a Broken Circuit Breaker | Early Bird Electric

When circuit breakers are “attacked” (by excess electricity) they 'trip' or 'break' themselves. By “breaking” themselves, circuits block the ... SkiptoprimarynavigationSkiptomaincontentSkiptoprimarysidebarSkiptofooter612-843-2473ScheduleServiceEmploymentHowtoFixaBrokenCircuitBreakerMarch4,2019Tostartthisblogaboutcircuitbreakers(andbrokencircuits),let’sstartinBorneo.Obviously.See,there’sthisantinBorneo,theColobopsissaundersi,thatblowsitselfupwheneverit’sseriouslythreatened.Seriously.Let’ssaythereareabunchoftheseants,justhangingaroundthetreetopsofBorneo,doing“antstuff.”Ifthey’reattacked,severalantsbitetheattackerandtheirbuttstowardit.Thenthey’llflexsohard,theirabdomenswillliterallyexplode.Duringtheexplosion,theattackergetscoveredbyayellow,stickygoo.Oh,andthegooistoxic.Threatstopped!!!Mission….accomplished?So,circuitbreakersarejustlikethoseantsinBorneo.Whencircuitbreakersare“attacked”(byexcesselectricity)they‘trip’or‘break’themselves.By“breaking”themselves,circuitsblocktheflowofcurrentthroughyoursystemtoplaceswhereitcouldhurtyou.That’showtheyprotectyouandyourhomefromfiresandelectricalshocks.Unlikefuses,whichliterallybreakwhentheytrip,youcanre-setandre-useabreaker.Unlessyoucan’t.Sometimes,circuitbreakersjuststopworking.That’saverybadthing,becauseaswejustexplained,breakersareimportant.Howdoyoufixbreakersifthey’renotworking?Well,firstsomebadnews.Youdon’t.Yougetanewbreaker.Ifyoutrytocutcosts,youmayendupwithacircuitbreakerthatwon’tworkwhenyouneedit.Don’ttakethatchance.Getanewcircuitbreaker(they’rereallynotthatexpensive)!Ofcourse,thatbringsupthequestion;howdoyouknowwhenyouneedanewone?Circuitbreakersusuallylastupto40yearsbuttheydodie.Here’showtochecktoseeifitneedstobereplaced:Howtotestacircuitbreaker.First,ifyou’renotcomfortableworkingwithelectricity,callinalicensed,qualifiedelectrician.Ifyouarewillingtotacklethisjob,becareful:you’llbeworkingwithliveelectricity.Beforeyoustart,makesuretheareaisdryandwearrubbershoes.Thefirststepistestingthebreakerwithamultimeterorvoltagetester.Ifyoudon’thaveamultimeter,buyoneandmakesureit’sratedforupto500volts.Unpluganythingconnectedtothecircuitthebreakercontrols. Next,removethepanel(the‘door’)fromthebreakerboxandsetitaside.Leavethescrewssomewhereyoucanfindthemwhenyouputthepanelbacklater.Makesurethebreakerisinthe“on”position.Turnthemultimeteronandsetitto“readvoltage.”Themultimeterwillhavetwowires,ablackoneandaredone.Bothwireshaveaprobeconnectedtotheend.Usetheprobeattheendoftheredwiretotouchthescrewfeedingpowerintothebreaker.Touchthegroundedboxwiththeblackorneutralprobe.Whileyou’retouchingbothwireswiththeseprobes,readthevoltageonthemultimeter.Itshouldreadeither120or220volts.Ifthere’snovoltagereading,thebreakerisbadandneedstobereplaced.Here’showtodothat:Howtoreplacethecircuitbreaker.First,buyanewbreakerwiththesamevoltageandsizeastheoneyou’rereplacing.Beforeyoustartworkingonit,turnoffthebreakeryou’rereplacingbypushingtheswitchto“off.”Ifyoureallywanttobecareful,turnoffthemaincircuitswitch,too.Bewarned:thiswillcompletelyshutdownalltheelectricityinyourhome.Makesureeveryoneathomeknowswhatyou’redoingbeforeyougetstarted.Whenyou’resureit’ssafetostartworking,loosentheterminalscrewuntilthewiresloosen.Useapairofneedle-noseplierswithrubberinsulatedhandlestopulltheexposedwiresoutfromtheterminal.Makesuretheydon’ttouchanyotherwiresorbreakers.Pulluponthesideofthebreakertopoptheclipsoutofplaceandremovethebreaker.NOTE:Ifyoudidn’tshutoffthemainpower,donottouchthemetalbarsinthebackofthebox.Theyarelive.Next,flipthenewbreakertotheoffposition.Then,slidetheclipsofthenewbreakerinplaceandpushitin. Maneuverthesidewiththeterminalsintoplacefirstsotheclipslatchontothebar.Pushtheoppositesidedowntolockthebreakerintoplace.Useneedle-noseplierstoholdthewireswhileyoutightentheterminalscrew.Makesurethescrewissnugbutnotoverly-tight,oryoucouldstripit.Turnyourbreakeronandreattachthepaneltothebreakerbox. …That’sit!Yournewbreakershouldworkjustfine.Goodjob! We’llendwithacold,hardtruth.CircuitbreakershaveonemorethingincommonwiththoseexplodingantsfromBorneo.Theantscanexplodewithoutreservationbecausetherearealwaysmoreantsrightbehindthem.Nomatterhowmanygivetheirlivesforthecolony,thecolonywillliveon.Circuitbreakersarethesameway.Nomatterhowmanycircuitbreakerstriptostopelectricalthreats,youcanalwaysreplacethem.Ifyoueverneedhelpreplacingyourcircuitbreakers,giveEarlyBirdacall.We’realwayshappytohelp,andunlikeBorneo’sants,weneverbite.Orexplode.PrimarySidebarContactUsName*PhoneNumber*EmailAddress*Foremergencyservice,pleasecall:(612)800-0424SearchthiswebsiteRecentPostsElectricalHomeInspection5QualitiestoLookforinaLocalElectricianTheUltimateGuidetoSavingEnergyatHomeElectricalCircuitOverload:EverythingYouNeedtoKnowHowManyOutletsCanIWireontheSameCircuit?