How to Test for a Bad Electrical Breaker
- 1). Look at the breaker to see if it's tripped or turned off. If it has, reset the breaker by moving it to the same side as the rest of the breakers. If no breaker has tripped, you might have a bad breaker.
- 2). Unplug everything on the circuit of the breaker. Anything on that circuit will not be working. Try to reset the breaker. Start plugging back everything on the breaker one device at a time. The breaker might have been overloaded or could be weakening.
- 3). Turn off the main breaker. The main breaker is located in the electrical panel. Remove the cover. Unscrew the wire of the breaker that is malfunctioning. Test the wire by replacing it with a neighboring wire. If the circuit works, replace the wire.
- 4). Look for signs of damage to the breaker. If the breaker feels hotter than others, or you see signs of fire or heat --- such as blackening, turn off the main panel. Also look for signs of rust. If the breaker looks damaged, turn off the main panel and have the breaker replaced by a master electrician.
- 5). Use a voltage tester to test the breaker by putting one probe on the rear screw of the breaker and the other probe on any section of metal. If the breaker has less voltage than normal, it could be weakening. For 120-volt breakers, the reading should be between 108 and 132 and for 240 volts, it should be between 216 and 240 volts. Replace the breaker if the results are less than normal.
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