How to Fix Stuff

[CMD-Ky]

Electrical question
I have one circuit that has no power. The breaker is not tripped. I know this is related to one single breaker. I switch it off and on and sometimes power is briefly restored. Sometimes things remain off. We have had some work done on the house, new siding. There was a lot of heavy banging as boards were removed and new stuff was applied. This hammering and banging was very heavy, we could feel the vibrations through the floor. Some of that work was directly behind the breaker box.

Edit: On occasion, when it is working correctly, there is a relatively oud vibration noise coming from the breaker box.

Any thoughts?

 

[hittman]

Electrical question
I have one circuit that has no power. The breaker is not tripped. I know this is related to one single breaker. I switch it off and on and sometimes power is briefly restored. Sometimes things remain off. We have had some work done on the house, new siding. There was a lot of heavy banging as boards were removed and new stuff was applied. This hammering and banging was very heavy, we could feel the vibrations through the floor. Some of that work was directly behind the breaker box.

Edit: On occasion, when it is working correctly, there is a relatively oud vibration noise coming from the breaker box.

Any thoughts?

Have you pulled the breaker to see what the connection point looks like? If something was shorted then it would trip the breaker for sure. Maybe it's not making good connection to the buss bars in the box or maybe the breaker is just bad.

 

[zoiDman]

Electrical question
I have one circuit that has no power. The breaker is not tripped. I know this is related to one single breaker. I switch it off and on and sometimes power is briefly restored. Sometimes things remain off. We have had some work done on the house, new siding. There was a lot of heavy banging as boards were removed and new stuff was applied. This hammering and banging was very heavy, we could feel the vibrations through the floor. Some of that work was directly behind the breaker box.

Edit: On occasion, when it is working correctly, there is a relatively oud vibration noise coming from the breaker box.

Any thoughts?

That, to Me, sounds like a Breaker with a Iffy Connection. Or a Breaker that Isn't Working right.

 

[CMD-Ky]

Have you pulled the breaker to see what the connection point looks like? If something was shorted then it would trip the breaker for sure. Maybe it's not making good connection to the buss bars in the box or maybe the breaker is just bad.

I have not. I thought about shutting down the Master to the whole house, removing the panel cover and then pulling the one breaker. If I can't see a problem with the wiring to the breaker, it may need replacement. I have read that getting a replacement is not just a go buy one kind of thing. As I understand it, the best way is to pull the breaker and take it with me to get the correct replacement. What do you think?

 

[CMD-Ky]

That, to Me, sounds like a Breaker with a Iffy Connection. Or a Breaker that Isn't Working right.

Thanks, take a peek at my post responding to the Hittman outlining my plan, see what you think.

 

[Bronze]

I have not. I thought about shutting down the Master to the whole house, removing the panel cover and then pulling the one breaker. If I can't see a problem with the wiring to the breaker, it may need replacement. I have read that getting a replacement is not just a go buy one kind of thing. As I understand it, the best way is to pull the breaker and take it with me to get the correct replacement. What do you think?

Agree with Hitt and Zoid. Your breaker could be petering out. Find the brand of breaker and panel with all the amp specs, etc and try to get a direct replacement if need be. I added a breaker to my box and had to go on Amazon to find one. Not always the easiest thing to find. And no, I don't need to tell you to kill the power before messing with it because you already said it yourself.

 

[CMD-Ky]

I had not thought of breaker box info, I'll do that. If I need to replace the breaker, I'll take it with me. I'll have to go to Lexington to find a breaker. There is an electrical store there called 'Revel' that sells nothing but electrical things. I figure that would be a better choice than a big box.

Agree with Hitt and Zoid. Your breaker could be petering out. Find the brand of breaker and panel with all the amp specs, etc and try to get a direct replacement if need be. I added a breaker to my box and had to go on Amazon to find one. Not always the easiest thing to find. And no, I don't need to tell you to kill the power before messing with it because you already said it yourself.

 

[Bronze]

You can pull the breaker and check it for continuity if you have a multimeter. But this sounds intermittent so you may get a false reading. But certainly if you get no continuity with the breaker in the on position then the breaker is clearly shot. Look up some quick You Tube vids on how to test it.

 

[zoiDman]

Thanks, take a peek at my post responding to the Hittman outlining my plan, see what you think.

I would Definitely pull the Breaker and take it with you when you go to buy a Replacement.

 

[Bronze]

I had not thought of breaker box info, I'll do that. If I need to replace the breaker, I'll take it with me. I'll have to go to Lexington to find a breaker. There is an electrical store there called 'Revel' that sells nothing but electrical things. I figure that would be a better choice than a big box.

Agree, I had a discontinued box so the box stores didn't carry mine. Ended up finding it on Amazon if that's easier for you than hauling out to Lexington. But yes, an electrical store would likely have it.

 

[Bronze]

I had not thought of breaker box info, I'll do that. If I need to replace the breaker, I'll take it with me. I'll have to go to Lexington to find a breaker. There is an electrical store there called 'Revel' that sells nothing but electrical things. I figure that would be a better choice than a big box.

Lots of times the breaker will have a part number on it.

 

[CMD-Ky]

Lots of times the breaker will have a part number on it.

Seems wise to have the thing with me for the guy to see for himself.

 

[Bronze]

Seems wise to have the thing with me for the guy to see for himself.

Unless you order it off Amazon. Then the part number would be useful for you to know.

 

[zoiDman]

I would Definitely pull the Breaker and take it with you when you go to buy a Replacement.

BTW - I like to Wear Latex or Nitrile Gloves when I work inside an Electrical Panel. I also like to stand on a Door Mat or Carpet Sample.

 

[hittman]

I have not. I thought about shutting down the Master to the whole house, removing the panel cover and then pulling the one breaker. If I can't see a problem with the wiring to the breaker, it may need replacement. I have read that getting a replacement is not just a go buy one kind of thing. As I understand it, the best way is to pull the breaker and take it with me to get the correct replacement. What do you think?

Depending on how comfortable you are working with electrical, you don't have to shut the main off. Most of the ones I've seen you can shut off the breaker you are working on, tilt one side away from the center and it should pull right out. I never shut a main off when pulling breakers. Like others said, it's always best to take the old one with you to the store to make sure. I know you wouldn't want to make two trips.

 

[Bronze]

 

[CMD-Ky]

Depending on how comfortable you are working with electrical, you don't have to shut the main off. Most of the ones I've seen you can shut off the breaker you are working on, tilt one side away from the center and it should pull right out. I never shut a main off when pulling breakers. Like others said, it's always best to take the old one with you to the store to make sure. I know you wouldn't want to make two trips.

I am not comfortable to pull the breaker without the master off. I did this once before. It was in the early '70's and I had one of the hospital maintenance guys advising me. I have forgotten everything I learned back then. Just call me "Karen".

 

[zoiDman]

I had not thought of breaker box info, I'll do that. If I need to replace the breaker, I'll take it with me. I'll have to go to Lexington to find a breaker. There is an electrical store there called 'Revel' that sells nothing but electrical things. I figure that would be a better choice than a big box.

BTW - If you are going to do some Work in your Electrical Panel, and since you are Not 100% Positive it is the Breaker, you could swap a Same Amp Size Breaker in the panel with the one you think is Bad and then Re-Energize things.

If Now the things work on the Old Circuit but are Flakey on the Swapped Circuit, it would pretty much Guarantee that the Breaker is Bad.

BTW2 - Breakers aren't exactly a High Priced item. So if you are going to make the trip to get a Replacement, buying an Extra wouldn't hurt.

 

[CMD-Ky]

BTW - If you are going to do some Work in your Electrical Panel, and since you are Not 100% Positive it is the Breaker, you could swap a Same Amp Size Breaker in the panel with the one you think is Bad and then Re-Energize things.

If Now the things work on the Old Circuit but are Flakey on the Swapped Circuit, it would pretty much Guarantee that the Break is Bad.

BTW2 - Breakers aren't exactly a High Priced item. So if you are going to make the trip to get a Replacement, buying an Extra wouldn't hurt.

Good idea, I'll get two. It is an 80+ mile round trip to the Revel Store. That way if another goes I can fix it same day. I don't know but if one has bit the dust another may be on the way out.
If the wiring is tight and if popping it out checking and sticking it back in does do it then I will get another (two) and see if it works.

 

[zoiDman]

Good idea, I'll get two. It is an 80+ mile round trip to the Revel Store. That way if another goes I can fix it same day. I don't know but if one has bit the dust another may be on the way out.
If the wiring is tight and if popping it out checking and sticking it back in does do it then I will get another (two) and see if it works.

Yeah... Having an Extra Breaker for each Amp Size in your panel Isn't going to hurt anything. Especially if it is 80 Mile roundtrip to get one.