Reactivating Breakers

      

REACTIVATING BREAKERS:
A tripped circuit breaker may have four different configurations, depending on the brand of circuit breaker installed in your home.

1. The toggle of the breaker will be in the center of the breaker. To reset the breaker, turn the toggle to its full OFF position. Wait several seconds. Then snap the toggle to the full ON position.
2. The toggle of the breaker will be in the center of the breaker and a red-colored fag will appear alongside of the toggle indicating a tripped position. To reset the breaker, flip the toggle to the full OFF position, wait a couple of seconds, and then flip the toggle to the full ON position. You may hear a couple of snaps.
   Make sure that the toggle is over to the ON position even though the toggle may sound as if it has been reactivated.
3. The toggle will be on the full OFF position not halfway as detailed in items 1 and 2. Simply flip the toggle to the full ON position.
4. The toggle is in the OFF position. Push the toggle in and release the toggle to reset the circuit.

Sometimes in resetting tripped breakers, the individual breaker will become loose in the circuit breaker box. It wobbles and may need to be reset.

What most likely has happened is that the breaker has become loose in its mounting inside the circuit breaker box. To reseat the breaker:

1. Turn OFF the power at the main power shutoff.
2. Remove the cover panel of the circuit breaker box. It is held with screws that turn counterclockwise.
3. With your fingers (there is no power so you are safe), push the loose breaker back into the slot in the breaker box. You may hear it snap, which indicates that it is properly seated.

Replace the cover panel and turn ON the main power shutoff.

If the loose breaker does not seat properly, it may be damaged. If so, it must be replaced.

Breakers trip and reset differently. Some model breakers trip to the Off Position: center of the breaker; others trip to Push In To Reset the center and show a red flag. Flip the toggle to the full OFF position, then flip it to ON. The #15 refers to the amperage. The toggle action of some breakers also trips to an OFF position. Push to full OFF and then ON. This toggle snaps to the center. Push in on the toggle to reset it properly as the toggle goes through the sequence.

Replacing/Adding Circuit Breakers:
Replacing a damaged circuit breaker or adding a new circuit breaker to a breaker box is not difficult. There are two basic breaker unit types: snap-in and wired.

Whenever you purchase breakers, whether for a new installation or as a replacement, first identify the manufacturer of the service panel and the amperage of the circuit. This information is required to get the right type of breaker for your panel. It's very important to remember that circuit breakers manufactured by various companies are not generally interchangeable, so make sure you purchase the right replacement. Do not replace with a higher ampere rated breaker.

<< Prev

Next