by "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
Published 11/22/2017 at 21:24
by "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
Published 11/22/2017 at 21:24
No Tags
STARS: 1
Badly
Lights and outlets are the blue switches in the bottom left, I always trip the top switch (which is just bedroom and bathroom) when I’m running too much. So a space heater and a few lights basically. Hooray for old homes. Normally I just turn the heat off and flip the switch, boom, lights come back on. I’m good until I accidentally run too much again in a month or so. However this time... When I went out to the fuse box I heard a sizzling sound. That’s new. Flipped the switch anyways (there was some resistance but it flipped) and now my lights are flickering like crazy. Totally unusable. So, Uhm. What to do? Calling an electrician is always pricey, and I while I have some cash... I’d rather not resort to that. I’m also not particularly mobile due to an uncooperative knee. Thoughts?
And now none of the lights/outlets are working. Erghhhh this week...
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/22/2017 at 21:33, STARS: 6
Replace the breaker. Not a difficult task. Do NOT be tempted to substitute by a 20-amp breaker because the wiring isn’t up to snuff.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
11/22/2017 at 21:35, STARS: 5
My house had totally dangerous and fucked up electrical work. So I hired an electrician. I know that doesn’t sound helpful, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, please do not fuck with electric shit.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/22/2017 at 21:36, STARS: 0
Replace the breaker... Is that something I can realistically look up online and tackle with zero prior electrical experience?
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/22/2017 at 21:40, STARS: 2
Yes. I’m not an electrician, but I’ve done quite a bit of household wiring. If you could pull the front cover off the service and take a couple of pictures, that would be helpful. If you lived closer, I’d come over and look at it with you. There are oppos way more expert than I, but I think you could manage this.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/22/2017 at 21:45, STARS: 0
I am pretty sure that this is the breaker you have:
"MrDakka" (mrdakka)
11/22/2017 at 21:48, STARS: 0
A sizzling sound is never good coming from a circuit breaker. That sound might have been from some arcing caused by a loose connection somewhere inside. But if none of the outlets are working now, your bus or something else might be fried.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/22/2017 at 21:50, STARS: 1
This is the panel that accommodates those Eaton breakers. The breaker itself isn’t even screwed in place. You’d loosen one screw and pull out the wire, pull the breaker from it’s inside edge to remove it, pop in the new breaker and tighten the wire back in place. Looks like the breaker is less than $10. An electrician would charge you $200-300, which would be fair, because he/she would be experience, licensed and insured.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
11/22/2017 at 21:52, STARS: 4
Yes it’s a bad breaker like O.C. says. What you will have to do is find the main breaker that feeds that box. Usually it’s in the same box, but not in your case. Then take off the four flat head screws you see and the front cover will come off. The breakers are snap in so it should just pull out, but there will be a wire connected to a screw terminal on the outside of the breaker. Take the breaker to the hardware store and get a comparable replacement.
That being said that particular breaker has been replaced more than the others. While you have the main breaker off, if you have a meter, I would measure continuity between your line(black, the wire on the breaker), neutral(white), and ground(green). The meter should read 1XXX (infinity) or at least in the high M ohms between the line and either the neutral or ground. I think you will find you have a reading in the few thousand ohms or less. This is causing the breaker to run hot and weakening the spring inside of the breaker. That will probably take a professional to diagnose and repair sadly. You can just replace the breaker for now and be fine.
Leave the breaker off until you get it repaired in the mean time. It is a faulty breaker and it is dangerous. It’s perfectly safe in the off the position though.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/22/2017 at 21:54, STARS: 0
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/22/2017 at 21:55, STARS: 0
First step is finding the main breaker. It’s not in the box and I can’t recall ever seeing another switch. Thanks for the info!
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/22/2017 at 21:57, STARS: 0
I’m thinking I may try to swap a breaker as a temporary fix, then get an electrician. I’m in the same boat you were in. So many electrical issues.... This whole home ownership thing is overrated
"FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com" (alphaass)
11/22/2017 at 22:10, STARS: 0
Sounds like the breaker went bad. Like others have said, they really aren’t that hard to replace. You do need to turn off the main power to the breaker box, though so you don’t zap yourself.
"Wacko" (wacko--)
11/22/2017 at 22:12, STARS: 0
Did you check out side?
"Wacko" (wacko--)
11/22/2017 at 22:17, STARS: 0
Are the blue ones basically every light and wall plug (except kitchen)?
How many rooms do you have?
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/22/2017 at 22:23, STARS: 0
I’m in a condo, the breaker box is in the storage closet on my deck. I’ve checked the deck and found nothing, I’m thinking the main might be in the storage closet. Which... Isn’t great. I turned it into a workshop/tool storage and it’s pretty packed
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/22/2017 at 22:25, STARS: 0
Yep. One bedroom condo. Bedroom, bath, and then a circular area consisting of a walk through kitchen, two halls, living room and dining. Plus the storage closet on the deck that the breaker box is in
"MINIGTI" (76tr6)
11/22/2017 at 22:37, STARS: 1
Could also be corrosion or bad contact between breaker and the buss behind.
I don’t know if others would ageee but I’ve pulled out and changed breakers many times and never once turned off the main. Just be sure you don’t touch the buss rails behind.
"Wacko" (wacko--)
11/22/2017 at 22:38, STARS: 0
Seems like a lot for 2 15A breakers to handle. Your space heater is what 1000w - 1500w? Add in lights, TV, computers....
"MINIGTI" (76tr6)
11/22/2017 at 22:38, STARS: 1
I once lived in a house where someone had put in a 30 amp breaker for the (14 AWG) kitchen circuit. That (old) wire was a bit brown and crunchy.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/22/2017 at 22:47, STARS: 0
What would the condition be that you are describing? Like a dribbling, partial grounding? A slight steady drain? In his original post, he spoke of running a high-draw heating element that really should be on a 20-amp convenience circuit, shouldn’t it be?
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/22/2017 at 23:06, STARS: 0
Would upgrading the breakers mean I need to upgrade other things as well? Power tools, hairdryers and other high draw items are occasionally used too
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/22/2017 at 23:10, STARS: 0
Eh. I just fell off a roof, I’d like to heal up before I do anything else that could potentially send me back to the hospital.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
11/22/2017 at 23:12, STARS: 3
You can’t upgrade the breaker without upgrading the wiring itself. It sounds like you’ve fried the breaker. First thing I’d do is replace it. They’re under $10 usually, if you can find one. Flip off the main breaker and you’re safe to replace it (Google the procedure for your particular panel. My breakers just snap in). If you want to be super safe, buy one of those pen shaped voltage testers. They beep and light up if voltage is detected wherever you touch the end of the “pen”. Super helpful tool, and cheap.
"Straightsix9904" (Straightsix9904)
11/22/2017 at 23:18, STARS: 0
I would start with a quick calculation on how much load you have on each breaker. Watts x volts = amps Don’t go over 80% load. Start there.
"Quadradeuce" (quadradeuce)
11/22/2017 at 23:18, STARS: 1
Also, if you are handy and feel you want to know more about home wiring, check out Rex Caldwell’s book. By far the best imho. I’ve completely rewired my entire 3600sq ft home using his book. Passed inspection on the first try. I’ve also rewired my warehouse and cottage, and have yet to have an issue with any of my wiring. Check your local library or pick up the current version online. His plumbing book is great too. He’s both a master electrician and master plumber.
"Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
11/22/2017 at 23:32, STARS: 0
It can be caused by bad wiring or bad devices. The wiring insulation can get worn, especially around metal, and contact something that had a bad reference to ground. Could be wet, if it’s under the house. Could be through inductance inside a device: switches, light fixtures, outlets.
A small space heater that’s 1500w draws 12.5A so it’s easy to overload a 15A breaker. Something has been weakening those particular breakers as they have been replaced before. All the other breakers in the box have matching sets. Someone added three circuits when the kitchen was renovated, all the others except one are original. Something funky is happening on that circuit, and it ain’t the space heater. The most likely thing is a resistive short to ground/neutral.
I don’t think it’s imperative to get it looked at immediately. I think a breaker, and maybe an electric blanket instead of a space heater, will be just fine for a good long while. With a functioning breaker I don’t think the problem is dangerous. Inevitably it will break when he is broke. At the very least it would be worth the money to see if he can change them out for 20A safely. I would only trust a licensed electrician to do that. There are just too many factors, for a safe installation, for the average homeowner to do their own electrical work.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/22/2017 at 23:38, STARS: 0
“Resistive short” like a partial, a hint of, a short?
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
11/23/2017 at 00:30, STARS: 1
After 4 tries, I’ve successfully crimped a butt connector. Ask away!
"Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
11/23/2017 at 01:01, STARS: 0
Like it’s up against a piece of metal that has a coating on it, and not all metals are good conductors. The insulation on the wire may break down depending on the environment it lives in. I just realized he said it was the plugs in the bathroom as well as the bedroom. Wonder if there is a GFCI plug on the circuit?
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
11/23/2017 at 01:04, STARS: 0
We would make a fantastic team
"Recovering Gaijin" (toxrensem)
11/23/2017 at 01:22, STARS: 0
And only use one hand: keep the other behind your back. Two hands makes the current path go through your chest and your heart can experience arrhythmia for a few days after. Thick rubber-soles help too. Have a helper nearby to >kick< you away if it grabs you. They can’t pull on you: it’ll get them too. Kick or shove only. Also, get in the habit of being to one side of the breaker box when flipping breakers on or off. Turn your head away as well.
-just a few things I’ve learned from working with a master electrician
"oldmxer" (oldmxer)
11/23/2017 at 01:23, STARS: 0
if your home is worth insuring take out all and replace, check rails and if any arcing you should replace whole box but this will require pro to allow no worries, the sound could just be bad breaker, but arcing on rails could too
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
11/23/2017 at 02:20, STARS: 0
Thermal magnetic molded case breakers, ie what you have, are only good for so many trips before they get a bit squiffy. Breakers aren’t difficult to replace and any good electrician shouldn’t charge much. Not hard to do yourself but a good way to get dead too so...
"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
11/23/2017 at 02:23, STARS: 1
Nah. Breakers are there to protect the wiring as per the National Electric Code (NEC). There is a safety factor built in, but no reason to stress it. Space heaters are a sonofabitch load-wise, as are hair driers.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/23/2017 at 14:07, STARS: 0
Perhaps there is a GFI.
I think that I’m not asking my question clearly. The situation that you are describing, would it be like a leak where there is like a hint of a short to ground? If it was heating up the breaker, wouldn’t it also be spinning the meter?
You might reply to the guy directly and ask him about the GFI question. It sounds like you are more expert than I am.
"Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo" (rustyvandura)
11/25/2017 at 06:19, STARS: 0
Have you done anything with this?