Circuit Breaker Won't Reset

It's important to know how circuit breakers work before you set out to find a solution to your problem such as how to fix circuit breakers that won't reset, won't change or doesn't work etc. A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical device, the purpose of which is to detect an overload or a short circuit and protect the electric circuit from being affected by any major damage. Heard of circuit breaker tripping? The switch on the panel trips and that is how it senses and signals that there is a problem with a certain electric circuit and stops the continuity of the electric supply as it may cause damage to other electrical devices and could even cause fire. There are different types and they come in various sizes. The size depends on the number of appliances or the number of electric circuits it needs to manage or support.

Why Doesn't the Circuit Breaker Reset?

Why circuit breaker does not reset is something that concerns many so what does one do in such a case. First of all, please note that before checking for a problem at the circuit breaker, one must check for short circuits and overloads. This is because more often than not, it's not the problem with the unit but it's because of the overloads at a particular circuit. A circuit that draws too much of power because of the appliances that it's attached with. Mostly circuits in the households operate at 120 volts and 15 amperes (amps) and they are substantial enough to draw around 1440 watts of power. If it exceeds this limit than the circuit breaker is sure to trip because of the overload. An easy way to check if it is exceeding the limit is to take a total wattage by adding the wattage of the different appliances (printed on them) to the circuit and check if it exceeds the rating of the circuit.

Also by unplugging the appliances individually, check for any short circuits that could be the reason behind the circuit breaker to trip. One of the most common reason could be the overheated wires connecting to the light fixtures. To check for any short circuits or faults in power outlets, use a neon receptacle analyzer. If you don't detect any shorts in the power outlets or the switches then most certainly it could be because of a faulty circuit breaker or a problem in the wiring behind the wall.

If the shorts are undetected then replacement should be tried. Check the wires before you call for any professional help from an electrician. It is imperative that you turn off the power that connects to the service panel completely while carrying out this process of replacement.

If your problem remains unresolved and circuit breaker won't change then you don't have many options other than calling an electrician to detect the problem and fixing it for you.

Many of us often tend to confuse circuit breakers with fuses thinking that the function of both are the same. Although the purpose of both the electrical devices are same, the technology used to perform the task vary.

Difference between Circuit Breakers and Fuses Explained

Fuses: A fuse is a small object that is plugged into a fusebox and consists of a small piece of metal through which the electricity passes. In normal conditions, the fuse allows the electricity to pass without an obstruction allowing the normal flow of electricity. But if it occurs to it that there is an unsafe overload on one of the circuits then the small piece of metal inside the fuse melts and the flow of electricity prevents any further damage but to itself. When a fuse trips or conks off, it cannot be reused, it needs to be discarded and replaced with a new fuse.

Circuit Breakers: Circuit breakers are fairly a new invention and a more refined version of the fuse technology. These are switches placed in an electrical panel containing switches that trip when the electrical flow passes the safety recommended load or limit. Unlike a fuse, the switches that tripped because of an overload simply remain off until they are reset. Although fuses are cheaper and can be purchased at a very nominal price at any of the hardware stores, circuit breakers could be a tad expensive. However, unlike fuses, circuit breakers can be reused and does not need a replacement as in the case of fuses.

I hope this article has helped you understand more about circuit breakers, the difference between the circuit breakers and fuses and also some simple things that can be done by yourself in case where a circuit breaker won't reset or you have a minor trouble with it.