Electric Coffee Pot
Posted in Coffee Makers on 01/14/2010 12:52 pm by admin |
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Is there something wrong with my breaker box?
We've had this happen twice this morning and only once before this started. Yesterday I bought an electric space heater and we have computers too now I didn't want to overload the box so I unplugged everything that wasn't necessary including the microwave, Coffee Pot, and other fans. The power went out twice this morning.
The breaker box is older but not so old that it isn't a flip switch. I checked it and it seems that the breaker switch is loose and not staying on. Could it still be overload or could the breaker box need replaced?
As an electrician, I hate those little portable electric heaters. People here at work try to use them in their cubicles which is really dangerous since the cubicle power system was not designed to sustain the load of a space heater.
There may be one of a few things going on in your circuit breaker box.
1. The wires going out of the breaker could be loose.
2. The breaker could be defective from tripping too many times.
3. The stabs that the breaker is plugged into on the breaker box could be charred and damaged from an intermittent connection.
My guess would be #2. So I would first turn off the main and pull out the suspected breaker and take a look at it. If it operates sloppy and not 'snappy' then it is most likely worn out and all you need to do is to replace the breaker itself, not your whole box. While the breaker is out, take a look at the stabs where the breaker plugs into. Make sure they are clean and not pitted. There is a kind of breaker that is a 'push button' type breaker. They are notorious for being a bad design and defective right from the factory. If you have the push button type, your problem is most likely the breaker itself.
Hope any of this will help you get your power back safely on.