Every home has a circuit breaker. Circuit breakers such as XO Circuit Breakers found in older homes, provide the protection you need from an overload. When your circuit breaker experiences an overload it will shut off to protect your home’s electrical system. When your circuit breaker is “tripped” due to an overload you will have to reset it. Here is a step by step guide to reset a tripped circuit breaker:
- You will know a circuit has been tripped when lights go off or an appliance that you are using turns off. Switch the appliance and light switches off before you go to the circuit breaker.
- It is always important to know where your circuit breaker is located. You should share this information with your partner so they are able to reset it when tripped.
- Look at your circuit breaker panel which consists of a number of switches. Look for a switch that is either in the off position or that appears to be in a different position than the rest of the switches on the panel. Some circuit breakers may have a red panel that is exposed when the circuit has been tripped. This will make it easier to spot the proper switch.
- Do not immediately push the switch to the on position. Instead press the switch to ensure it is completely in the off position first. Then turn the switch to the on position which usually will make a clicking sound to indicate it is on.
- Return to the room in which the outage took place and turn the appliances back on. If they are now operating then you know you have completed the reset correctly.
Causes of Tripped Circuit Breakers
The most common causes of tripped circuit breakers are circuit overload or a circuit shortage. Overload is caused by trying to operate too many appliances from one outlet at one time. It is important to be aware of the plugs in your home that are unable to accommodate more than one appliance at a time and make sure the family knows to avoid over usage. When a short circuit occurs this is caused by more serious issues which should be addressed to avoid the risk of fire or shock.
When your circuit breaker experiences an overload it will shut off to protect your home’s electrical system. When your circuit breaker is tripped due to an overload you will have to reset it. For more details, visit the official website Breakeroutlet.com.
