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How do you find the circuit breaker switch that controls an outlet?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
There are fancy testers that can be purchased that do just that. They are not very cost effective for anyone other than electricians that would use one every day, though. The poor man's method is simply to plug a lamp into the outlet and have someone watch it while you slowly turn off the breakers, one by one. Have your helper call out when the lamp goes out. Easy! Just make sure there are no critical appliances that would be harmed by being turned off, since you may happen to turn off anything in the house. If you happen to turn off the breaker supplying your wife's computer after she has spent an hour typing a report, you will see what I mean! You can also mentally eliminate some breakers without having to turn them off. If you are looking only for a standard receptacle circuit, you can eliminate all 2-pole breakers, since they feed 240 volt appliances, such as the stove, rooftop air conditioner, and electric water heater. Also, in the US, receptacles are almost always on a 15 or 20 amp breaker - start with those. The only time you will see a 120V recep. circuit that is more than 20A is when it feeds a specialized load - such as a large room AC, or an air compressor, or something like that.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoA couple of clues are, if the handle seems loose or wobbly. If the breaker trips when you don't think it is fully loaded or trips when it hasn't before with the same load on it. If it is hot to the touch, not warm but hot. Any of these conditions means that it is time to get it replaced.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoNo. A circuit breaker is a switch, but a switch is not necessarily a circuit breaker. A "circuit breaker" is a device that will open the circuit when more current than it is designed for flows through the circuit. This is an automatic function, and does not require manual manipulation (such as a person physically moving an on/off switch). Resetting is often a manual function.
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If taken in the context of a switch opening a circuit or making a break in the circuit then the question, Is a switch a circuit breaker, then the answer would be, yes, as the switch does break the circuit.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoAll circuits including those with switches will have a breaker protecting the circuit. To find, turn on the light controlled by the switch and then turn off breakers one-by-one until light goes out.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoarc producing and blue air condition
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A circuit breaker can be tested by overloading it. If it is a 15 amp breaker that you are suspicious of, it can be loaded quite easily. You will need a total load of 2000 watts. This test is not applicable to kitchen counter receptacles as they are split receptacles and can handle 1800 watts on both the top and bottom of the duplex receptacle. Make sure you have two appliances for the test. A kettle and a toaster will do very nicely. Plug them both into the same receptacle. After about 30 to 45 seconds the breaker should trip if it is working properly. If the breaker has not tripped after one minute disconnect the appliances from the receptacle. This breaker should be changed out. Remember the higher the breaker amperage the higher the trip wattage on the circuit will be. To check any breakers higher that 15 amps, be safe and get an electrician to do it for you.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoA faulty circuit breaker will either have a tendency to trip when it shouldn't or not trip when it should. The first is irritating. The second can be fatal.
Detecting a faulty circuit breaker requires specialist equipment that is not available to the average householder. If there is any doubt about the performance of a circuit breaker, the simplest course of action is to replace the breaker with a new, equivalent.
Note that in some jurisdictions, you need to be properly qualified, licensed and have a permit to replace installed electrical equipment. If you have any doubts about doing the job, leave it to a properly qualified professional who can undertake the job legally and safely.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoIf a certain circuit or area of you home has no electric but the rest does, it's a good indication that a breaker has tripped
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Why does the breaker trip after changing a receptacle?
I do not even know that it is the light switch that is popping your circuit breaker! It may be the switch or something else. The light switch controls a circuit. As electricity passes through that circuit it is heating up a contact or a weak place in a wire. At a certain point that hot place in a connector or in a wire allows the electricity to jump out of the circuit and not go through the light. When that happens, the circuit breaker pops. You can turn off the circuit breaker. Then you can look at the connectors on your light switch. If one of them looks burned, You have solved the problem. You replace the light switch. Next comes the more difficult task of looking at the connectors for your lamp. If they are not easy to get to, you call an electrician.
What is a switch that opens a cuircut when too much current is flowing?
Where I'm from, it's called a "circuit breaker".A circuit breaker.
What device is used for turning a circuit on or off?
Circuit breaker or switch
What is the device to break a circuit?
Switch (mechanical or electrical), breaker or fuse.a switch
Ceiling fan quit working no power at switch circuit breaker not tripped?
I have seen cases where an open breaker is the cause of such problems. It appears to be on, but is open internally. Check the voltage with a meter or temporarily piggy-back the fan circuit on another breaker. If it isn't the breaker it is a connection somewhere in the circuit leading to the fan switch. If the power is coming from a GFCI outlet, check that. Otherwise, you start at the breaker measuring voltage and then try and find other spots in the circuit before the fan switch and check voltages there. You can also go a bit high tech and buy a signal tracer for about $30 and check out the circuit wiring. Then there is always an electrician who will likely find the problem quickly.
How come the breaker is not blown and there is no power to the switch?
You have checked the wire at the switch? Breaker may be bad but not tripped. Loose connection at light or outlet that the switch controls. Use a screwdriver to touch the two terminals on the switch if you do not have a tester. May not be hot side of the circuit, but the neutral.
Is the circuit where is the is the circuit where is the circuit breaker for the?
The circuit breaker for the headlights is intergrated with the headlight switch.
What is a non auto circuit breaker?
A non-auto circuit breaker is a circuit breaker with the trip element removed. Basically, it is a modified circuit breaker that is now a disconnect switch (glorified disconnect switch).
What circuit breaker will interchange with American Switch Company?
Replacement for American Switch single pole 15 amp circuit breaker
Where is the headlight circuit breaker on a 1998 Crown Victoria?
the circuit breaker is built into the headlight switch.
Where can you find circuit breaker for headlamps on 1997 jimmy?
The circuit breaker for the headlights is built into the headlight switch.
Why does the breaker trip after changing a receptacle?
I do not even know that it is the light switch that is popping your circuit breaker! It may be the switch or something else. The light switch controls a circuit. As electricity passes through that circuit it is heating up a contact or a weak place in a wire. At a certain point that hot place in a connector or in a wire allows the electricity to jump out of the circuit and not go through the light. When that happens, the circuit breaker pops. You can turn off the circuit breaker. Then you can look at the connectors on your light switch. If one of them looks burned, You have solved the problem. You replace the light switch. Next comes the more difficult task of looking at the connectors for your lamp. If they are not easy to get to, you call an electrician.
What is a switch that opens a cuircut when too much current is flowing?
Where I'm from, it's called a "circuit breaker".A circuit breaker.
What device is used for turning a circuit on or off?
Circuit breaker or switch
How do you remove a wall socket?
# Find the circuit breaker or switch that controls the wall outlet and turn it OFF. # Remove the faceplate. # Remove the upper and lower screws holding the wall socket in place. # Remove the two wires from the back or sides of the socket. Installation is the reverse.
What is a switch that automatically opens if a current is too high?
Where I'm from, it's called a "circuit breaker".A circuit breaker.
What is switch that automatically opens if the current is too high?
Where I'm from, it's called a "circuit breaker".A circuit breaker.
