Resetting Circuit Breakers (Tripped)

Resetting Circuit Breakers (Tripped)

A breaker will trip for the following reasons:

  • A direct short between wires can happen if a loose wire comes in contact with another, or if a wire is cut, or if an appliance plugged into the circuit is defective.
  • A single circuit can only handle the indicated number of amps on the breaker. If the total amps of all appliances running at the same time on a single circuit exceed the breaker amps, the circuit will overload and the breaker will trip.
  • A circuit breaker can become defective through age, excessive overloading of the breaker or mechanical failure. Circuit breakers need parts replaced and regular maintenance like any other equipment.
  • There is no need to take the cover off the panel.....If you are not an electrician, you should never take the cover off. All breakers are able to be turned on or off by simply opening the door on the panel. Do not replace a defective breaker yourself! Although it is a relatively simple job, it is very dangerous and requires a professional electrician. Trying to fix a broken circuit breaker yourself could kill you. When you are working in the panel, the main buss bar is fused much higher than the single breakers. If you touch two jaws in the middle at the same time, you will cause an explossion and arc flash that can be blinding and life threatening! See our electrical safety page for more information--coming soon!