One of my breakers tripped today while I was using a demo hammer.
I think no big deal, but it won’t reset. I pull the receptacle to see if looks ok and it does. While the receptacle is disconnected, I try to reset it again, but no luck.
I go around the house turning off things that I know are on this circuit and it still won’t reset.
I remove the breaker panel cover and take a look inside. No obvious problems. I try again. no go.
I sit and scratch my head for a while and think about calling an electrician. Instead, I try one more time… bingo! It reset normally and I continued using the demo hammer with no subsequent trips.
So what do I have here, a breaker having a bad day?
Replies
most likely it was still too warm from the overload ....
might as well check the connection on the breaker too
it may need a little tighening just a little
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Were you remembering to turn the breaker OFF and then ON to reset it?
Were you remembering to turn the breaker OFF and then ON to reset it?
Yup, I know that much... and maybe a little more.
I thought that maybe it just had to cool off, but it was probably close to 15 minutes before I was able to reset it. Until now, I've always been able to reset a breaker in the time that it took me to get to it.
nothing lasts forever, and IMO branch breakers are the least reliable protection in fact some plants I have worked in will replace a breaker after a second trip.
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>>nothing lasts forever, and IMO branch breakers are the least reliable protection>>in fact some plants I have worked in will replace a breaker after a second tripAhhh, are they maybe getting it backwards - replace the one's which "prove" they are working?
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree :
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.
Coleridge
huh ?.OK I 'm back home now .... I was heading out this morning and couldn't figure out what you meantthey don't replace all breakers that trip, just the ones that shut down critical equipment, and they usually change them out after a survey using thermal imaging or other types of Power Quality tests and checks that allow a scheduled outage rather than a reaction to a tripbut I would do the same in my home if the stupid thing keeps tripping and I can not find the problemCBs are not fail safe after all unlike fuses which are still my preference, and the typical HO probably does not think twice about exercising them at least annually under no load, again it's just my opinion regarding residential stuff and I'm applying some of the industrial protocols I have been a part of.. . . . . . . .
Edited 8/14/2008 6:12 pm by maddog3
Thanks. If it trips again, I'll replace it, but it's the first time that I recall this breaker tripping.
But, I have had it on and off a number of times over the years because when I moved into this house, there were a total of 5 circuit breakers (excluding the furnace and AC which each had a dedicated breaker) and this particular breaker served most of the lighting and outlets. It no longer serves so many.