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Help please--Bad hairdryer tripped grounded outlet & tripped breaker...

Help please--Bad hairdryer tripped grounded outlet & tripped breaker...


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Old 02-04-14, 08:14 PM
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Help please--Bad hairdryer tripped grounded outlet & tripped breaker...

I know, I shouldn't have used an old hair dryer with a copper wire visible through the cracked plastic cover...but I did.

When I turned the hair dryer off, it made a visible spark and popping noise. The red button on the grounded outlet (GFCI?) I'd used is now locked in place--I can't push it in to reset the outlet. The other outlet in bathroom, which is not grounded, does not work either.
And, I noticed that the circuit breaker switch in the garage is turned off. So I guess that is good that it did what it was supposed to do for safety.

Question: Is it safe to flip the circuit breaker switch back on to get both bathroom outlets to work again?

I am a little worried that when I do it will cause a safety problem.

If I do switch on the circuit breaker, will the GFCI outlet still work safely? Should I expect the other "regular" outlet to work safely, too? And, is there any risk of a fire from switching on the circuit breaker for the bathroom?

Thank you so much for any guidance!
 
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Old 02-04-14, 08:18 PM
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Is it safe to flip the circuit breaker switch back on to get both bathroom outlets to work again?
It should be. If the GFCI won't reset it may have to be replaced but for now just reset the circuit breaker and see if every thing works.
 
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Old 02-04-14, 09:00 PM
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Unplug the dryer. Attempt to reset the breaker. Now try to reset the GFI.
 
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Old 02-05-14, 07:11 AM
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If I do switch on the circuit breaker, will the GFCI outlet still work safely?
If the circuit breaker tripped, it must be reset before you can turn it back on. Firmly push it all the way off and you should feel it reset, then turn it back on. The GFCI receptacle will not reset till power to the circuit is restored.
 
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Old 02-05-14, 08:04 AM
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The other outlet in bathroom, which is not grounded, does not work either.
That receptacle may be, and should be, GFCI protected off the LOAD terminals on your GFCI receptacle.
 
 

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