Circuit Breaker Won't Reset. Nothing plugged in.

The circuit breaker labeled "BED2+BATH2 RECPT LIGHTS CEIL FAN" won't reset.

I had shut off all the circuit breakers in the apartment after my renters moved out a month ago. I have some people coming in over this weekend, so went to turn the breakers all back on. All of them came back on except one, and it won't reset. I flipped it to off, and back to on. It barely holds onto the on position, the slightest touch flips it off. When it's barely holding onto the on position, still nothing works.

There is nothing plugged into any of the receptacles so nothing is overloading it. The only things which are wired in to the circuit are the fart-fan and vanity lights in the bathroom, and the ceiling fan in the bedroom. All the receptacles in the bathroom and bedroom have nothing plugged into them.

This circuit worked fine a month ago when I had switched it off.

Is the circuit breaker itself bad? If it's a wiring problem, how do I find it?

 

First sight, I'd say it is a bad breaker. If it were anywhere but HI, I'd say mice had chewed into some wiring. Do you feel comfortable taking the breaker panel off? If so, obtain a good voltage meter and test voltage from the breaker screw (where the black wire is attached) to the neutral buss to see if there is actually voltage present. If none, then replace the breaker.

 

Thanks Larry. I've snapped in a new circuit breaker before, but I've never tested the wires. Sticking voltage meter probes into the breaker panel is a little beyond my comfort zone.

 

I understand. I would change the breaker and see if that solves the problem. They go bad, so it is not beyond the realm of possibility. Let us know if it solves the problem.

 

First disconnect the wire from the circuit breaker and see if the breaker will reset. You can also swap the wires between two breakers of the same amp rating to test if it is the wiring.

Warning always turn off the main breaker before working in the panel and work as if it is hot even when you have the main breaker off. Also remember there will be "hot" areas around the main breaker even when it is off.