When electrical issues pop up, narrowing down the cause can be a problem. A misconfigured circuit breaker introduces complexity to the problem-solving process. But with every problem there is a solution, so here are a few things that can help.
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Part Quality
A quality part is less likely to break down than a cheap one. Replacing your old 50 amp breaker with the best square d 50 amp breaker will save you a lot of future headaches. It’s a small part that plays a big role in resolving some of the most common electrical issues. A 50-amp breaker can be tied to air conditioners, lights, hairdryers, ovens, and other big appliances. It can hold up to 12,000 watts on a 240-volt circuit, so quality is a big motivator for this part. When it comes to misconfigured circuit breakers, in this case, a slight upgrade will be a simple fix.
Lack of Power
Losing power can happen for a variety of reasons, and they usually point to the circuit breaker. Try resetting the breaker as a temporary fix, but make note of which breaker has tripped. There will be a clear indicator by the switch so that you know which one to turn back on. Once the room that lost power comes back on, take a look around the room.
Did you turn on something? Were two high-powered appliances running at once? Are all the power outlets still working? The cause of a power loss is easy to figure out when you can confine the problem to a single room. In the case of two appliances overloading the breaker, that is a clear sign that you are using too much power on a circuit. You can resolve this by moving the offending appliance to a different outlet in the room, or moving out of the room entirely.
As a third option, you can upgrade the breaker so that it can handle the extra load. There is no wrong answer to these three solutions for a power loss misconfiguration, but it does point to a future problem in other parts of the home.
Old Wiring
An old home will likely have old wiring and an even older circuit breaker. This type of breaker misconfiguration happens when an old home is behind on the times. Even a home built in the 90s can be susceptible to this type of problem. Unfortunately, fixing the circuit breaker will only be half the battle. If you have plans to upgrade the wiring at a later date, then there is nothing wrong with splitting the costs and making the circuit breaker a priority.
In older homes, you may also run into more serious issues like short circuits. This is when a hot wire makes contact with a neutral wire. It can also mean a cable is pierced, exposed, or loosened. When this happens, you still want to make replacing the circuit breaker the main priority. Safety comes first, and this is one of those situations you don’t want to make a fuss about.
Stay Safe
The rule is to handle what you’re capable of while handing off the convoluted jobs to professionals. If it looks complicated, make a phone call. For everything else, take on the task with a delicate hand.
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