Circuit Breakers

circuit breakers

Inside your Massachusetts home, you’ll find a circuit breaker electrical panel that houses breakers for each of your home’s electrical circuits. Some homes may have multiple panels, including one or more sub-panels in addition to the main electrical panel. These sub-panels are typically located in other areas of the property to distribute power more efficiently.

Circuit breakers serve as a crucial safety feature by protecting your electrical circuits. They automatically stop the flow of electricity if an overload or fault occurs. When a breaker detects a fault or the electrical load exceeds its capacity, it “trips” — shutting off power to that specific circuit. While the term “blown fuse” is sometimes still used, it refers to the older fuse technology that circuit breakers have largely replaced.

How to Reset a Circuit Breaker?

Before restoring electricity, the circuit breaker must be reset. However, it’s essential to ensure it is safe to do so. First, turn off or unplug all devices connected to the tripped circuit. Carefully inspect the area to confirm no hazardous conditions exist before attempting to restore power.

A tripped circuit breaker will have its control toggle positioned either in the middle or in the "OFF" position. To reset it, locate the tripped breaker, push the toggle firmly to the "OFF" position, and then switch it back to the "ON" position. This should restore electricity to the circuit.

If the breaker trips again without anything being turned on or plugged in, it could indicate a faulty breaker or a more serious wiring issue. In this case, do not attempt to reset it again. Contact a qualified licensed electrician immediately.

If the power is restored but the breaker trips once more after using a device, that device may have a short or may be overloading the circuit. Additionally, if no breakers appear to be tripped but an outlet is still without power, there may be a wiring fault, a defective outlet, or it could be part of a GFCI-controlled branch circuit. For further guidance on checking a GFCI outlet, refer to my GFCI web page.

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Hi Dave,

I want to thank you for the home inspection you did for us at 144 Avis Ave. in Dracut MA. We did not get the house because the home owners did not want to split the cost of fixing that wall. I had gotten two estimates, one from a landscaper and one from a Mason. Both gave an estimate of $15,000.00, for which I am grateful for your inspection and pointing out the wall problem. It would of been an undue burden on us, not to mention I am also grateful about the radon testing also. I just got the results today and they came back at 7.5 and 8.4, so that would of been another expense. I do hope that when we find a new house that you will be able to do our home inspection. Your fee was a drop in the hat, to what it would of cost us to fix the wall and then the cost of venting the basement. My husband was also very impressed with your report and how well it was written. Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know what happened, and hopefully will be doing business with you again very soon.

Have a Good Day
Jackie Sliney