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GFCI Outlet breaker won't reset and circuits are thrown?
I've have a GFCI outlet breaker that had the reset button popped. I pressed the reset, and heard a popping noise. I went to the breaker box, and saw two switches thrown (not next to each other, there are two switches in between). I put the two switches in the off position, and then moved one to the on position. When I switched the 2nd switch to on, it threw both switches again. Right now I have one switch thrown, and one not. The only things that don't seem to work are both of my bathroom outlets (both gfci switches are popped out), and the outlet outside.
What should I try to get the outlets and switches to work?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!!
I have tried the switches by flipping switch a and then b. Then I tried b and then a. I have also tried at the same time. No dice. :(
Is a line to line break an electrician thing?? I'm not very handy, so this will probably not be a DIY thing...
7 Answers
- Lic. ElectricianLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
Sounds like a line to line short. Hard to say where though. If you have a multi-wire branch circuit, the circuits should be on the same side of the panel and should be next to each other.
Try resetting the breakers in the opposite order. If this still occurs, then this is definitely the problem.
Check out the wires that lead from the affected breakers. Is one a red and one a black? Do both lead to the same cable that leaves the panel?
Please update the question and I'll try to help further.
UPDATE:
This means that both of the power lines are shorted (connected) together somewhere (instead of a power line shorted to the ground or neutral wire).
If you are not very handy, I cannot recommend it as a DIY fix. Please get a licensed electrician.
Source(s): NEC IBEW 191 - Anonymous5 years ago
GFI stands for ground fault interrup. The outlet or breaker equipped with the GFI sensor detects very small variations in voltage between the incoming line wire and the incoming neutral wire. A variation means that voltage is leaking out of the circuit somewhere, potentially through an alternative path that poses danger to humans such as a current running through your body. When a variation in voltage is detected, the GFI trips and breaks all flow of current through that circuit. Watts = Amps x Volts. Voltage drops over long lengths of wire due to resistance in the wire. This alone is not enough to trip a GFI, since the sensor checks for differences in volts between the incoming and outgoing wires at the GFI unit, not the difference between volts at the beginning of the circuit and the farthest reach. If you have had wet weather or a storm recently, that tends to trip outdoor GFI circuits. If you can't reset a GFI outlet, look for additional outlets on the same circuit that may also be tripped. I believe you need to reset them in order with those closest to the electrical panel reset first, but I could be mistaken about that. Good luck!
- Anonymous6 years ago
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
GFCI Outlet breaker won't reset and circuits are thrown?
I've have a GFCI outlet breaker that had the reset button popped. I pressed the reset, and heard a popping noise. I went to the breaker box, and saw two switches thrown (not next to each other, there are two switches in between). I put the two switches in the off position, and then moved one to...
Source(s): gfci outlet breaker won 39 reset circuits thrown: https://tr.im/Ux6FI - Jim WLv 71 decade ago
Start with the noise location. Replace the receptacle. Power off when you do this. You may locate the problem when you do the replacement. This could be just a bad GFI or a shorted conductor in that location. If you find signs of a bare wire that should be insulated, apply several turns of electrical tape over the damage. From your description, I suspect either a short in the GFI receptacle box or an open neutral in the system. If the problem is not readily located, call a qualified professional electrician to locate and repair the problem.
Source(s): 50+ years in the electrical industry. - How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
- 1 decade ago
If those breakers are single an not double try this. You said there are two breakers between the two that trip. Turn off the main breake and move one of the breakers one space closer to the other one that trips. You will have one breaker between now. If that helps then check all of the neutral ( white wires typically ) to see if they are tight in the breaker panel. I would check all of the recepticals and light fixtures also. You might have two circuits that share one neutral. If it gets loose somewhere then the higher voltage will meet at some point and that would trip those as well.
Source(s): Electrician - StanSLv 61 decade ago
Unplug what ever you have plugged into the GFCI, as well as anything downstream of it and try again.
"Downstream"? Oftentimes other outlets are wired from the GFI outlet so if one has a fault it'll trip the GFI. Make sure everything is in plugged. If it doesn't trip when you turn the breaker back on, try plugging things back in, one at a time. Whatever caused it will become obvoius.