How to Diagnose Circuit Breaker Problems

A circuit breaker will prevent surges in electricity from damaging your appliances.

A circuit breaker is a electricity safety device which is designed to protect appliances within a home from electricity surges. If the flow of current through a circuit breaker becomes too great, the circuit breaker will break the connection and effectively remove the circuit from the electricity grid. This will last until the circuit breaker is manually reset. If a problem emerges with your circuit breaker, then diagnosing it properly will save you money and time.

Instructions

1. Check to see if there has been a surge of electricity. In your breaker box, identify the circuit breaker that has been tripped. Return it to the "on" position. If it remains in this position, then it may have been tripped by something random, and there is not a problem. If it trips again immediately, find which room it corresponds to, and unplug the appliances in the room. Switch the circuit breaker to "on" and plug in the appliances one by one. If it trips when you have plugged in one appliance, it is this that is the problem and not the circuit breaker. Alternatively, you may have too many appliances plugged in to one circuit.

2. Turn off the circuit breaker box and check the state of the wires that run into the defective circuit breaker. If they are frayed or disconnected, reattach them, or ensure that they are are connected to the circuit breaker. Turn the circuit breaker box back on, and turn the circuit breaker to "on." If the wires have been successfully reattached, then it should remain functioning.

3. Call an electrician before conducting further investigation. If the problem is not caused by something simple, such as an appliance or faulty wiring, then it may be something complex, which cannot be diagnosed easily or safely. An electrician will be able to find the fault. Taking apart a circuit breaker box yourself is not only dangerous, but may violate the terms of your warranty. If in doubt, call an electrician.

Tips & Warnings

• Check wires in appliances in affected room or rooms to ensure they are not frayed and no bare metal is visible. This can cause a short circuit, tripping the circuit breaker.

References

• Manage My Life: Troubleshooting Circuit Breakers
• The Circuit Detective: Background for Troubleshooting Electrical Problems at home