ACTIVITY 3

How to Reset a Tripped Circuit Breaker - Introduction

Tripped Circuit Breaker

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When a circuit breaker turns off or "trips" what do you do? This tutorial will walk you through the steps of how to reset a circuit breaker.

NOTE: If it trips again, you need to find out the root cause of the problem because something is overloading your circuit or creating a short circuit. See Reasons Why Circuit Breakers Trip.

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Go to the Electrical Service Panel

 

Go to the Electrical Service Panel

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The first step is to go the electrical service panel which is usually located in the basement or garage or in the room with your furnace and hot water heater.

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Find the Tripped Breaker

Tripped Breaker is in the Off Position

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The next step is to identify the tripped circuit breaker.

·         The tripped breaker will not be fully in the "On" position but rather in the "Off" position or somewhere in between.

·         To make visual identification easier, some breakers show red by the handle when tripped.

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Resetting the Circuit Breaker

Push Lever Fully "Off" / Then Fully to the "On" Position

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Resetting the breaker is easy.

·         To reset the breaker, just push the lever all the way to the "Off" position and then back fully to the "On" position.

·         You will hear it click as it snaps into the "On" position.

·         If the breaker trips again, you need to determine the reason for the overcurrent condition and correct the root cause of the problem. The breaker may be tripping due to excessive amperage in the circuit or may be shorting out.