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96.10.26.34
Inmates,
I have always had trouble figuring out which circuit breaker in my house covered various areas of the house. Recently I turned on lights in all of the rooms in my house and had my son go through the house to determine where the lights went off when I turned off a circuit breaker. We wound up with several areas where the lights did not go off and several circuit breakers that did not appear to control anything. One of the areas where the lights did not go off was in the area where my stereo is plugged in. Since my son is a typical 15 year old I believed that operator error may have been involved in the results of our investigation.
Last night I used an extension cord to plug in a lamp where I usually plug in my stereo. The cord was long enough that I could see the lamp from the cicuit breaker. I turned off every circuit breaker. The lamp stayed lit.
I have checked my house. I have two circuit breakers in the garage. I don't see any other circuit breakers.
Am I missing something?
Second question. I have ordered two of Alan Maher's Infinities. I plan to attach them to the wire to my stereo, once I fgure out which wire it is. Should I turn off the power to the entire circuit breaker prior to working behind the cover?
Thanks,
Hujo
It is difficult and uncertain to try to troubleshoot something like this via the Asylum.
There may be another panel in a place you have not found, there may be problems with the way your house was wired, or you could have defective breakers. Are your breaker panels labeled "Sylvania" or "Zinsco?" In any case, this is dangerous and you should know where to go to turn off and reset the circuit breaker for any outlet or appliance in your house.
Don't put this off. Ask around for a recommendation for a good electrician in your area. Established real estate agents usually know of the good ones.
Al,
Both circuit breaker boxes are made by I-T-E. I thought I would use the circuit breaker finder suggested by Glen B. If it revealed that a circuit breaker was not working I will replace the breaker. If it reveals that there are circuits not attached to the breaker box I will call an electrician.
Is that a logical next step?
Thanks, as always,
Hujo
the linked site.
Are you panels the "Pushmatic" or "Bulldog" type? Do you lack main breakers that shut off power to the whole house?
If yes, then I would not delay in calling in an electrician.
Al,
Great idea. I don't have the type of panel listed in the article. My house was built in the late 80's. I did a Google search under I-T-E and found that one of my breakers is the subject of a recall notice. Seimens will pay an electrician to check the pannel.
I'll let you know what he finds.
Hujo
listing what area of the ghouse the circuit breaker controls. If one is missing, go ahead and go through the house and make this list.
EVERY outlet should have a controlling circuit breaker. The c-b's that didn;t appear to control anything probably go to your water heater, HVAC, range, refrig. These usually are double sized as thay need to draw 240 volts.
As far as the Infinities go, I placed one on the power supplies of my amp and CDP. WOW!!!
Cogito Ergo Credo
There is a labeling sheet in both boxes. However, the circuits don't seem to line up with the lists. That is why we started this research.
Hujo
Came across a similar situation in my ca 1890 Victorian Cottage when I bought it in 1987. I had some outlets and circuits that I missed breakers for because they were fed by 240V breakers when the house was rewired. To save on rewiring and pulling cable the electrician ran 12-3 240V lines and split them into two 12-2 120V lines closer to the point of use. Do you have any 240V breakers in your box with no obvious home?
Good luck!
I will try this. I didn't check the heavy duty breakers. I just assumed they controled things like HVAC, stove, etc.
Hujo
Google "circuit breaker finder". Its the easiest and most reliable way of identifying breakers. You plug the transmitter into an outlet, go to the panel and scan all of the breakers. When the receiver is pointed at the breaker controlling the circuit into which the transmitter is plugged, the receiver beeps.
ordered one.
"Man is the only animal that blushes - or needs to" Mark Twain
This is a great idea! I'll order one.
John
Hah...sounds like you have circuits that either bypass the breakers or you got faulty breakers. Sounds unusual, but it happens often enough. A visual check of the panel with the cover off will reveal any bypassed wires (ie. wires shoved into the main line in terminal(s).
The breakers that 'doesn't seem to control anything', could be the 'defective' ones. However, circuits can be wired to control outlets only, so you will need to verify that...like for instance refridgerators often are on their own dedicated line, as can be electric stovetops, microwave, etc.
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