How to Troubleshoot a Circuit Breaker

Every home with electricity is equipped with a breaker panel which functions partly as a safety device that shuts off power to areas that are overloaded or have a short. A breaker that trips should be investigated to determine whether there was an overload, a short or the breaker is faulty.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Reset the breaker that tripped to be sure it was not just overloaded and tripped by chance. Do this by pressing the breaker into the off position, then flipping it back to "on." If it trips again, proceed to the next step.

2. Identify everything that the breaker controls. Look at the labeling inside the electric panel door to know what your breaker is powering.

3. Remove systematically one item at a time from the circuit and then try resetting the breaker. Remove the item by unplugging it or turning it off then flipping the breaker. If the breaker still trips remove another item and repeat until you find the item that when removed the breaker works.

4. Fix or replace the item causing the breaker to trip. If you did not find a device that was causing the breaker to trip, the breaker may be faulty.

5. Investigate the breaker wiring for a short, meaning the hot wire is touching the neutral or ground somewhere and needs to be fixed.

6. Replace the breaker if you have performed the previous steps without uncovering the problem. Working in the electrical panel is very dangerous and this step is best left to a professional.

Tips & Warnings

• If the breaker is not labeled to tell what it controls, turn everything in your home on while the problem breaker is off and find the items that do not work.