Circuit Breaker on but no Power to Outlet

When it comes to owning a home, one of the most vile things is always handling the electric systems. The most common scenario to be addressed is when an outlet is non-functional and it mostly becomes a challenge to determine which could be problematic. For instance, you can have the circuit breaker on yet there is no power in outlet for so many reasons.

So to be prepared before you reach out to an electrician, we have compiled a guide that provides you with a clear understanding of what might be wrong and the proper course of action to take. From the research, we found general reasons for a circuit breaker on, but no power to outlet .

Steps:

1. Try Resetting the Breaker

First, ensure that the breaker in question has not been tripped. Next, all the electrical appliances, which are connected to the specific breaker, should be disconnected to do so. Then, throw the breaker and switch it on to reset the appliance that you are using for thyroxine administration. It will make certain that the breaker is on and that power is getting through to the outlets. The problem is solved if you realize that electricity is now available through such outlets.

2. Make sure the GFCI Reset Button is Turned on

Ensure the GFCI reset button is turned on when you find that the circuit breaker is on, but it does not power outlets related to it. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs, also known as GFIs) are miniature versions of circuit breakers and also switch off power. Still, this isn’t always true, but if you live in a modern house, then you are likely to have GFCI outlets.

How to Reset a GFCI

If you are not having a total blackout of electrical power, (let alone if the circuit breaker had not tripped), and one or two outlets do not function while every other outlet does, that should count. And in both cases, the power is not regained until the GFCI outlet is kicked back. Before you do that, you’ll want to make sure it is alright. When preparing for reset the GFCI, all the switches off including all the light switches off and all the electrical devices in the circuit.

This should be done before restoring the circuit breaker and rebooting the GFCI as explained below. Push the Test button and expect a clicking sound. If it does not turn, this will tell you that the ground fault interrupter has already tripped. Press and hold another button, which is called ‘Reset’ and will click when pressed for sometime. This should turn on the supply to the humans as well as all the supply to the Civil lights and all the Civil supply to the lights and other electrical outlets.


If the tripped GFCI does not reset by pressing the reset button, then it is so because the fault for the tripped GFCI remains. For example, if electricity has gone off in the whole house, and the GFCI will not reset and is still tripping — for instance. This means in that case, you are likely to encounter a worse condition, and it might further require the services of a qualified electrician.

3. Examine Your Power Sources

It is most probable that one of your electrical outlets is faulty – perhaps, it has a bad wire connection. Other outlets may be getting out of power due to this issue. It’s like old Christmas lights. When one fails, it triggers many others in a domino effect; without work, that is not possible.

Your home's outlets may be wired in this way. If that is so, you will most definitely need the services of an electrician to determine which outlet has triggered the chain of events and needs its wiring fixed.

4. Examine the Fuses

Burned glass or a broken filament means that something has exploded in the fuse. Regarding the symptoms seen with both of these signs – indeed, overheating and consequent fuse blowing is the result of short circuit with a high probability. If possible replace the blown fuse with another one of its kind and amperage.

5. Connection Error

Suppose you have not switched on the outlet after investigating the breakers and trying to reset the GFCI. For instance, it may be that the power light is out in one room, but the breaker has not been tripped, the electrical plug does not work. Other outlets might be having issues in receiving power due to this issue. The problem may be as simple as one of your outlets being damaged, or one wire being loose.

Another is to do it yourself: pull the outlet out of the box and check for loose connections. When you unscrew your plug and examine the outlet box you will likely find one, two or even all the three of these loose connections. When one outlet stops working, look for one of three types of loose connections:

a) Loose Terminal Screws

1. First of all, check the screw terminals if they either hang or if there is a broken wire.
2. At each screw terminal, it is recommended that one should bend the wire carefully.
3. It signals that the wire is loose if the wire turns under the screw or the screw, shifts.
4. Cables or screws that are burned, damaged or rusty should be looked at closely.
5. If there is a loose connection there, you should replace the outlet.
6. To install the new outlet you will have to bend a loop to the ends of the ground, neutral and hot wires.
7. Screw the hot and the neutral wires to the brass and silver screw while the ground wire should be connected to the green ground screw.
8. Turn the wires clockwise around the screws until the wires are well tightened round the screws.
9. Join the pairs with a third six-inch length of wire (a pigtail) under one wire connector, if the outlet you are replacing is wired with pairs of hot and neutral wires which are under all the four terminals.
10. Last but not the least; every pigtails free end should be connected to the outlet screws.

b) Loose Stab-in Connections

Some electricians connect outlets by forcing stripped wires into the holes at the back of the outlet in order to work faster. This wiring method, however, is not in violation of the electrical code but the wires can come loose over time, creating problems. To correct this, take the following steps:

1. When diagnosing the dead outlet, look for stab-in connections.
2. Light pull each of the wire to see whether it has a loose connection.
3. You have to do more than just plug the wire back in if you have discovered that there had been some loose connections.
4. Instead, follow the strip and cut the end of the wire in order to connect it to the screw connection.
5. Note that if your home wiring is aluminum, not copper, it is recommended to leave it to a professional.

c) Wire Connections with Loose Wires

Here's how to tug wires at connectors to check for loose wires at wire connectors:

1. First of all ensure that the main circuit breaker is turned off.
2. Then take a hold of the wire connector.
3. Pull all the wires in the bundle gently one time to find out if any are free or not.
4. But if you find a loose wire, the wire connector should be pulled off.
5. Trim and peel off all the wires in the bundle.
6. When doing so, expose fresh copper wire by 12 to 34 inches.

Follow these procedures to reinstall the connector:

1. If you have to find out which wires you have to connect, look at the label on the connection box.
2. Screw the wires and twist on a new write connection provided that ends of the wires are lined up.
3. Just check on the indicator whether it has been rotated clockwise.
4. Relay the main circuit breaker to build up its energy once again.
5. Turn the outlets one more time just to confirm if the problem has not been sorted out.
6. What if the problem is not in the wiring?. This breaker may be the only thing that is broken.

6. The Breaker isn’t Working Anymore

Unless there may be some other other cause you’re capable of diagnosing for the power failure, the actual fact is that the breaker is actually badly made or faulty in some way. Such is often the case when your home’s lighting isn’t working, or the issue has nothing to do with sockets. These complications shows why the breaker changes in order to solve the problem. If you do not know how to do it contact a licensed electrician.

Circuit Breaker Replacement

If your breaker trips often or does not trip when it should, is too hot to touch or cannot be reset it has to be replaced. Alternatively, if you are in any doubt you will be able to replace it on your own, then it will be wiser to consult a professional electrician. You do not wish to juggle between a situation that the outlets are dead while the breaker is not popped up for most of the times.

If you need to replace a faulty circuit breaker that is on but not providing power to the outlet, you'll need the following items:

• Make sure that the new circuit breaker is of the same make, the model, the brand, the size of the old one.
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  • Standing on an insulating surface
  • Connectors for cables
  • A voltage-testing device
  • Wire stripper, another flashlight, and screwdriver

Follow these steps to replace your circuit breaker if the outlet has stopped working, but the breaker has not tripped:

1. One by one separate a circuit breaker branch off by switching it off.
2. Switch off the main power supply after that next paramount circuit breaker switch off.
3. Use the voltage tester on all of the cables.
4. Ensure that there are no power going through those wires before going further a head.
5. Pop off the lid of the breaker panel.
6. Remove the wire from the breaker and free the load terminal.
7. Take out the old circuit breaker.
8. Take the new breaker and install it in the right spot and then softly insert the same.
9. Solder the load terminal with the wire.
10. After the terminals are tight, remove this panel cover and fit it again.
11. Switch on the main breaker then the branches starting from no 1 to the highest number.

However, at times it involves just a little bit more. For example, let it be a bedroom or a kitchen, you switch off the breaker and then after some time the issue may still prevail. If it occurs as a rule then most likely it denotes you have a problem with the wiring and it is safer allowing an electrician sort it, than attempting to make the repair on ones own and only worsen the position and even be harmed. That way, they may be able to address the problem before it reoccurs or at least before you experience it again.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

1. Is it Possible for a Breaker to Fail and not Trip?

In most cases, people assume that the breaker has tripped when in fact it hasn’t. Some breakers can be turned on with causing an interruption. Their construction aims to let them handle a large amount of power before timing out or shutting down if the power rise above their threshold.

The problem with it is that a breaker can handle a certain amount of wear from being switched on and off and as such, it won’t always fully switch off, so you are sure that it’s off. Well if you keep it like this for a long, it will not bring down your house.

If your breaker has a tendency to flip back on even when you switch it off, slide your index finger on the end of the breaker to hold it in place while you turn it off then on. It checks that both ends are well connected and are rigid in the manner you interconnect them when turning them on or off.

Other signs that suggest that there is an issue of electrical issues in your household include cases where the bulb is flickering or, the bulb ages and dies frequently than it should. However, these problems can also be resulted from the wiring problems or too many appliances in a single circuit. If you see all these symptoms repeatedly then it is advised to call an electrician.

2. What are the Characteristics of a Bad Breaker?

There can be many signs that your breaker is out of order, below are some of the common tell-tail symptoms of the breaker problems. The first sign is when one is using the breaker to turn on the circuit, but nothing flows through the circuit. A tripped breaker has the switch entirely on the different side, however, it would look like the two switch are disconnected.

It might be accompanied by buzzing sound or start a fire when switched on by the breakers. It also has a burnt smell if it has been running for a while. Follow the procedures below to determine if your breaker is bad:

1. With an electrical tester, its good to check all your breakers.
2. If they are good but still would not power on, use an outlet tester for the electrical outlet in question.
3. If they still don’t work after testing these things, it is best to call an electrician.

3. Why Does My Outlet Have Power but Nothing Works?

This can be as a result of a tripped breaker or incorrect wiring. As an example, assuming your breaker is on yet the light is off, or vice versa. Firstly, check the breaker physically and in case, it does not look as new, replace it. If there are no signs of physical abuse, wrap your index finger around the end of it and then turn the breaker off and on position.

If this does not work check your circuit box for any loose wires or any other kind of damage before taking it to an electrician. This should work normally If everything is ok then search for an electrician to see whether the wiring requires to be repaired.

4. What Causes a Breaker to Fail to Reset?

Circuit breakers are designed to be able to be quickly reset. Nonetheless, there are a couple of reasons why it is impossible to reset a breaker.

1. The breaker is already in the off position and the switch in the on position.
2. A tripped circuit breaker.
3. That is why the breaker is not working, because there is no electricity.
4. It is absent of the grounding wire in relation to the circuit breakers.
5. A fuse may have blown.
6. The wires are in contact.

5. How Does a Blown Breaker Appear?

Outlets get tripped by circuit breakers and they break away from the supply of power. A blown breaker is normally an issue arising from either the wiring within your home or one issue with your fuse box. It usually works again if you toggle the breaker on and then off for some period and then on again.

6. What is the Procedure for Inspecting a Circuit Breaker?

Most of circuit breakers have simple design. It will be a switch-on for one side and a button on the other side of the Touch Screen. This makes it easy to differentiate one position of the breaker from another position of the breaker. If that does not work, you need to look at the breaker itself, where there might be notations such as on and off to show which is the correct position.

If you can’t find them, you can use your electric panel and known which direction to turn the breaker to be right. Turn it over on its back and put it into place with your index finger once you have established which is the position labeled ‘off’. The circuit breaker should be turned off.