How often is circuit "thrown" (blown) but breaker does NOT show red?

On Jun 29, 1:44 am, [email protected] (David Combs) wrote:
> Suppose it's pretty obvious that a circuit is dead (no power
> in a several adjacent wall-sockets in a room nor to the nearby ceiling
> light)
>
> But plenty of power at the *other* outlets in that room, and also
> other ceiling lights too.
>
> Looking at the house's main panel (full of circuit-breakers), *none*
> of them seem to be "thrown" -- they all seem to line-up vertically
> ok, none showing "red".
>
> QUESTION: Is that seeming non being-thrown of a breaker pretty much
> *guarantee* that whatever happened to deaden the circuit, was NOT
> an over-load?
>
> -----
>
> Equivalently, is it pretty much guaranteed that flipping the
> breaker back and forth a few times cannot *possibly* bring power
> to that circuit?
>
> (Admitted, these questions are a bit strange -- but I'm actually
> having a "discussion" about this very topic, re whether the suggestion
> to shut down the computers in the house, and then start flipping
> circuit-breakers back and forth, is TOTAL IDIOCY.)
>
> I decided to defer (?) to what the experts here said...
>
> Thanks,
>
> David

guessing: open circuit not a short. but breakers can fail
internally. first, number your outlet plates and switch plates to
match your panel numbers stamped into the metal on the panel. then buy
a multimeter and check the power of each breaker under the breaker
panel cover, under an electrician's supervision. if they are
electrified then your first dead outlet of the dead string may need an
outlet replacement.
many breakers reset by turning off, then on. hang your numbered outlet
sketch at the electrical panel for future use.

"David Combs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:g477gd$80l$1@panix2.panix.com...
> Suppose it's pretty obvious that a circuit is dead (no power
> in a several adjacent wall-sockets in a room nor to the nearby ceiling
> light)
>
> But plenty of power at the *other* outlets in that room, and also
> other ceiling lights too.
>
>
> Looking at the house's main panel (full of circuit-breakers), *none*
> of them seem to be "thrown" -- they all seem to line-up vertically
> ok, none showing "red".
>
>
> QUESTION: Is that seeming non being-thrown of a breaker pretty much
> *guarantee* that whatever happened to deaden the circuit, was NOT
> an over-load?
>
> -----
>
>
> Equivalently, is it pretty much guaranteed that flipping the
> breaker back and forth a few times cannot *possibly* bring power
> to that circuit?
>
>
> (Admitted, these questions are a bit strange -- but I'm actually
> having a "discussion" about this very topic, re whether the suggestion
> to shut down the computers in the house, and then start flipping
> circuit-breakers back and forth, is TOTAL IDIOCY.)
>
> I decided to defer (?) to what the experts here said...
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> David
>

Not all circuit breakers have a color indicator that the breaker is tripped.
Typically a tripped breaker handle is slightly askew of the on position, but
not totally in the off position. In some cases, the handle doesn't move at
all. A trained eye, or hand, can often tell if a breaker is tripped, but a
voltage tester, testing across the breaker terminal and ground will always
tell. For the homeowner, I would always recommend switching off each breaker
in the panel to the full off position, which resets it internally, then back
on. If this doesn't solve the problem, it's likely a connection came loose
elsewhere in the circuit and deeper investigating is required
>

On Jun 29, 9:25 am, "RBM" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "David Combs" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:g477gd$80l$1@panix2.panix.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Suppose it's pretty obvious that a circuit is dead (no power
> > in a several adjacent wall-sockets in a room nor to the nearby ceiling
> > light)
>
> > But plenty of power at the *other* outlets in that room, and also
> > other ceiling lights too.
>
> > Looking at the house's main panel (full of circuit-breakers), *none*
> > of them seem to be "thrown" -- they all seem to line-up vertically
> > ok, none showing "red".
>
> > QUESTION: Is that seeming non being-thrown of a breaker pretty much
> > *guarantee* that whatever happened to deaden the circuit, was NOT
> > an over-load?
>
> > -----
>
> > Equivalently, is it pretty much guaranteed that flipping the
> > breaker back and forth a few times cannot *possibly* bring power
> > to that circuit?
>
> > (Admitted, these questions are a bit strange -- but I'm actually
> > having a "discussion" about this very topic, re whether the suggestion
> > to shut down the computers in the house, and then start flipping
> > circuit-breakers back and forth, is TOTAL IDIOCY.)
>
> > I decided to defer (?) to what the experts here said...
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > David
>
> Not all circuit breakers have a color indicator that the breaker is tripped.
> Typically a tripped breaker handle is slightly askew of the on position, but
> not totally in the off position. In some cases, the handle doesn't move at
> all. A trained eye, or hand, can often tell if a breaker is tripped, but a
> voltage tester, testing across the breaker terminal and ground will always
> tell. For the homeowner, I would always recommend switching off each breaker
> in the panel to the full off position, which resets it internally, then back
> on. If this doesn't solve the problem, it's likely a connection came loose
> elsewhere in the circuit and deeper investigating is required
>
>
>
> - Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Some of my breakers do not show any red or any other colour if/when
tripped. And sometimes it is a matter of looking closely or feeling
the circuit breaker handle to see if it needs to be reset and then if
it does finding out why (or what) made it trip!

However; if it IS a breaker trip just try resetting them!

If it trips again right away or very soon there is either a fault or
too many things plugged into that circuit and that in itself can wear
out a breaker by constantly tripping/operating it. Another thing that
can wear out a breaker is using it frequently as a switch to turn off
that circuit.

Why does the Op think the breaker is say, tripped? There are several
possible causes for 'dead' outlets.
a) Breaker has tripped.
b) Breaker has gone faulty (they can get tired/old) over a period of
time.
c) There is a break in the wiring somewhere. Could be between the
circuit breaker and the first item (outlet) on that wiring run. Or
could be at the first outlet itself. Especially if the outlet is one
of those cheap stab-lock design!!!! Maybe somebody did a crappy outlet
repair years ago and it has just decided to fail? Or maybe it is
somewhere between other outlets on that circuit run?

No point assuming it is a circuit breaker problem if it's something
fairly routine.
It should however be investigated for safety and insurance reasons.
Neglecting to repair would be no excuse if something overheated or
caught fire!

With so little info to go on it may be worth mentioning that there
could be a fault on the neutral side of that circuit (the neutral
doesn't go through the breaker).

If the OP doesn't know how to trouble shoot live, neutral and ground
conditions properly get someone who does.