Breakers dont make sense...
#1
12-11-18, 02:36 PM
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Breakers dont make sense...
To start with my home is about 55years old and had little updates. I'm having trouble understanding my breaker box which I'm usually pretty good at.
1st issue: all power outlets in second bedroom stopped working. (Note, the room is the farthest point from breaker box)
2nd issue: I go check the breakers in the garage, so naturally I turn the light on and open breaker box. There I find breakers that look like single pole but have switches on both ends (not really familiar with).
3rd issue: what I cant figure out is after I found the tripped breaker, I reset it. That's when the breaker above it tripped so I reset it. Only one or the other will stay on leaving only the plugs in second room not working. If both are off, light in garage goes out (opposite sides of the house)
how does this happen???
1st issue: all power outlets in second bedroom stopped working. (Note, the room is the farthest point from breaker box)
2nd issue: I go check the breakers in the garage, so naturally I turn the light on and open breaker box. There I find breakers that look like single pole but have switches on both ends (not really familiar with).
3rd issue: what I cant figure out is after I found the tripped breaker, I reset it. That's when the breaker above it tripped so I reset it. Only one or the other will stay on leaving only the plugs in second room not working. If both are off, light in garage goes out (opposite sides of the house)
how does this happen???
#3
12-11-18, 07:05 PM
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No I haven't changed anything and now the original breaker is still off and everything has power
#4
12-11-18, 07:10 PM
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Single pole breakers with switches at both ends sound like tandem or twin breakers.
Maybe post a picture for us....... How-to-insert-pictures
Maybe post a picture for us....... How-to-insert-pictures
#5
12-11-18, 07:44 PM
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The breaker second up from bottom right is off, the one directly above it is the other one mentioned in first post.
Last edited by PJmax; 12-11-18 at 08:07 PM. Reason: cropped/reoriented pic
#6
12-11-18, 08:13 PM
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Square D QO-1515 older style twin or tandem breakers. Two circuits in one breaker space.
Sometimes called piggyback breakers.
In some location..... you have two circuits..... 16L and 18L in the same box and they somehow got connected together. This usually happens when someone that doesn't know how the circuit was wired..... changes the wiring in the box. Finding that point now is going to take some detective work. Basically every box on those two circuits will need to be opened and checked.
A very typical place this problem happens is where there was a split receptacle. That means the bridge was broken on the brass side. This is done in areas like the laundry where you have one duplex receptacle supplied by two circuits. Then the receptacle was changed and the bridge was left in place. The kitchen is another place this happens although usually the kitchen is on 20A circuits.
Sometimes called piggyback breakers.
In some location..... you have two circuits..... 16L and 18L in the same box and they somehow got connected together. This usually happens when someone that doesn't know how the circuit was wired..... changes the wiring in the box. Finding that point now is going to take some detective work. Basically every box on those two circuits will need to be opened and checked.
A very typical place this problem happens is where there was a split receptacle. That means the bridge was broken on the brass side. This is done in areas like the laundry where you have one duplex receptacle supplied by two circuits. Then the receptacle was changed and the bridge was left in place. The kitchen is another place this happens although usually the kitchen is on 20A circuits.
#7
12-11-18, 08:54 PM
Somewhere the two hots from those breakers have made contact with each other.
If you know what stuff is supposed to be on each circuit you should be able to determine which box likely has both circuits in it and start looking there.
If you know what stuff is supposed to be on each circuit you should be able to determine which box likely has both circuits in it and start looking there.
#8
12-11-18, 11:10 PM
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Thanks fellas, I really appreciate your time explaining that, I feel much better about being able to track down the issue now.
