Wired Wrong? Fix a Circuit Breaker That Won't Supply Power
Having a circuit breaker that seems to be on yet provides no electricity can be deeply frustrating. You flip the switch expecting lighting or appliances to turn back on, only to find the outlets still lacking any power.
Before calling an electrician, there are several common issues that you can troubleshoot yourself. Often it is simply a faulty component or loose connection rather than a complex underlying electrical problem. With some basic safety checks and targeted troubleshooting, you can get to the bottom of why your circuit breaker may be providing false readings about being on.
Symptoms of a Falsely On Circuit Breaker
When a circuit breaker fails despite being in the On position, the most obvious symptom is loss of power to all lighting, outlets, and devices connected to that circuit. You may notice the sudden failure of lights or appliances which were previously working fine. Upon checking, you see the circuit breaker has not tripped to Off so should still be allowing electricity to flow.
This misleading circuit breaker status can be incredibly frustrating if you do not realize the potential reasons behind it. But before making an expensive electrician house call for what may be a simple fix, equip yourself with the knowledge to troubleshoot a few common issues on your own.
Before Calling an Electrician
Many homeowners' first instinct when outlets inexplicably lose power is picking up the phone to schedule electrician repairs. While professionals should handle any complex wiring issues or dangerous malfunctions, you can likely resolve a supposedly on but non-working breaker yourself if you methodically test for the most common problems first.
Below we cover the simple checks and fixes that 9 out of 10 times restore power from a circuit breaker that lies about being on. Read on to empower yourself to handle this frustrating issue and keep that electrician bill at bay.
Reason 1: Faulty Circuit Breaker
How to Identify a Faulty Circuit Breaker
Even when a circuit breaker is flipped to On, internal components can malfunction preventing electricity from resuming flow. You can test for a faulty breaker using the following steps:
- Unplug all appliances and devices from outlets
- Flip breaker to Off position then back to On
- Check outlets for restored power
- Repeat process testing multiple appliances
If power returns temporarily but cuts out again soon, the breaker is likely defective and failing to stay on. But begin by trying the simple reset tip below.
The Reset Trick
Before replacing a potentially faulty circuit breaker, attempt power restoration with this simple reset trick:
- Switch breaker to Off position
- Leave off for 60 seconds
- Flip breaker back to On
If outlets regain power and stay on this time, you successfully performed a reset enabling normal functionality. The breaker may operate correctly going forward.
When to Replace a Faulty Circuit Breaker
However if power remains lacking even after resets and testing appliances, it is likely just a matter of swapping out the faulty breaker. Look for these telling signs a replacement is needed:
- Breaker trips immediately after flipping on
- Reset trick no longer restores power
- singeing or burned smell from breaker
Warning: If a breaker shows any signs of physical damage, overheating or hazardous issues, call an electrician immediately to replace. Circuit breaker repair or replacement should only be done by qualified electrical professionals as opening panels risks exposure to dangerous voltage.
Reason 2: GFCI Outlet Reset
What is a GFCI Outlet?
Many modern bathrooms and kitchens feature GFCI outlets, or ground fault circuit interrupters, designed to prevent electric shocks. These outlets contain a Reset button that instantly cuts power if a ground fault occurs. However when tripped they can make it seem your circuit breaker has malfunctioned if you are unaware outlets further downstream have lost power.
Performing a Reset
Check for a small square Reset button located somewhere on the outlet, often near the center. Push this button firmly until you hear an audible click. If you restore power, excellent! The outlet should operate normally again once reset. Just be aware that a GFCI usually indicates an unsafe ground fault situation should be corrected before further use.
If Problem Persists
However if pushing the Reset button does not revive your GFCI outlet and downstream power, the device itself may be faulty and in need of replacement. Test outlets upstream toward your main electrical panel to narrow down where the fault occurs. If power loss originates directly at the stubborn GFCI outlet despite resets, an electrician can verify if replacement is needed.
Reason 3: Loose Electrical Connections
Electricity requires intact wire connections to travel to outlets under a circuit breaker's control. But vibrations, corrosion and aging wiring can all cause secure connections to loosen over time. If you find no issues with the circuit breaker or outlets themselves, trace wiring back toward your main panel while checking connections to find breaks in the electrical flow.
Spotting Loose Wire Warning Signs
Be alert for any of the following red flags that may indicate loose wiring connections behind walls:
- Discolored or warm electrical outlets
- Light switches previously needing jiggling
- Earlier partial power outages quickly resolved
- Any observed sparking around outlets
Issues were likely gradually worsening over time as wire joins incrementally weakened before fully disconnecting. Catching loose wires early vastly simplifies restoration of power.
Accessing Electrical Wires
Take proper safety precautions before attempting to access any wiring behind switches or outlets. Always turn off electricity at the main panel before proceeding! Then gently remove cover plates and outlet bodies to begin inspecting wires for secure connections. Refer any wiring inside thicker conduit piping to professionals as deeper access requires extensive disassembly.
Checking Wires at the Circuit Breaker
The copper wires should screw tightly onto the circuit breaker terminals feeding downstream power. Over time vibrations can loosen these screw terminals. Examine wires for any looseness that could cause intermittent contact. Retighten any loose screw terminals by hand or with a screwdriver. Restore power to outlets to determine if this resolved the issue.
Tightening a Loose Neutral Wire
Detached neutral wires are a very common source of seemingly baffling power issues. Check the neutral bus bar inside your main panel for any loose white (neutral) wires that attach back there rather than the breaker itself. Loose neutral connections interrupt the safe return path for electrical flow, preventing circuit completion.
Getting an Electrician for Tricky Issues
While the steps above resolve most falsely on circuit breaker issues, don't take chances if you uncovered any hazardous wiring conditions or are unsure how to proceed. Consulting a licensed electrician saves hours of additional struggling plus provides essential guidance inspecting for less obvious factors like damaged insulation or double-tapped wires overloading connections.
We hope equipping yourself with knowledge of the most frequent pulley issues behind stubborn circuit breakers restores power conveniently without waiting days for busy electricians. But never hesitate contacting the pros when electrical repairs escalate beyond basic tests and fixes into uncertain territory!
While a circuit breaker indicating power remains flowed through yet your outlets say otherwise can spark great irritation, arm yourself with a methodical troubleshooting approach before calling electricians. In the vast majority of cases, merely resetting components and checking for loose connections rather than actual electrical faults returns functionality promptly. But ultimately ensuring safe and steady electrical power requires keeping panels maintained and catching small issues before they grow more hazardous and complex.