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What to Do if Your Circuit Breaker Trips?

Posted by Breaker Outlet on Apr 22nd 2019

When the power goes out, why does it seem like it’s the most inopportune times, such as the middle of the night or after a long day at work? However, dealing with a tripped breaker isn’t always as easy as it seems. Breaker Outlet, a proprietor of residential circuit breakers, offers up tips on what to do if your circuit breaker trips. Contact us today!

WHAT IS A CIRCUIT BREAKER?

A circuit breaker is a way to control and monitor electric currents flowing into your home from the power company. Circuit breakers function as the first line of defense against dangerous surges of electricity that could damage appliances, computers, TVs, and any other electrical device you have plugged into your home. They are protection devices, if you will.

WHY DO CIRCUIT BREAKERS “TRIP”?

As a protection device, a circuit breaker trips to prevent any electrical damage to your home. They trip when they sense something amiss with the electrical current that is flowing into your home. This protects the electrical wiring, as well as prevents any accidental electrical fires from breaking out in your home because of a hot wiring.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPS

You will know when a residential circuit breaker trips because the power to a certain section of your home will shut off. Different rooms are usually wired for different circuits, based off the probable electronic devices you will be using. For example, in the kitchen where you will be running a refrigerator and a dishwasher, you’ll have perhaps a 20-amp circuit; whereas, say your living room where a TV will probably be the biggest demand on your electrical current, you’ll probably have a 15-amp circuit. Below are the steps to resetting a tripped breaker:

  1. Locate your breaker box. The breaker box is where the electric current flows into your home. This is usually in an out-of-the-way place, such as your garage or basement. It is usually covered by a metal panel.
  2. Inside the breaker box will be a lot of switches that are individual circuit breakers to different areas of your home. Find the circuit that’s not facing the same direction as the others and flip it until it matches the others. Usually, the tripped circuit is indicated by a red color as well.
  3. This should restore power to the section of your home where it was lost.
  4. If your residential circuit breaker trips again right after you reset the breaker, then there’s a problem. There’s usually three problems this could be: an overloaded circuit, a short circuit, or a ground fault.

HOW BREAKER OUTLET CAN HELP

Breaker Outlet has the largest selection of electrical breakers and auxiliary components, as well as many older model breakers that are no longer made, but are still essential for replacement parts for these residential breakers that are still in use. We carry different types of circuit breakers such as panel mount circuit breakers and low voltage circuit breakers, as well as all the major brands of circuit breaker manufacturers, including GE and Cutler-Hammer. We serve residential, commercial, and industrial clients with the circuit breakers, replacement circuit breakers, or motor controls that you need. Visit us online today for all of your main circuit breaker needs!