Circuit Breakers

 

Circuit Breaker Services

Are you tripping your circuit breaker on a regular basis?

Is your circuit breaker struggling to meet your power needs?


Circuit breakers are designed to interrupt power to a circuit when the electrical current flow exceeds safe levels. They “trip” when they sense more current drawing on the circuit than the breaker is rated for. This happens when you have more devices or appliances drawing current simultaneously on a circuit that can’t handle the load. When they trip, breakers prevent the wire from heating to dangerous levels, stopping electricity from reaching outlets, switches and fixtures.

Resetting breakers usually restores power, as long as the load has been minimized. It’s infrequent, but sometimes a bad circuit breaker needs to be replaced. Faulty breakers cannot be repaired.

Circuit breakers are directly connected to the flow of electricity and the amount of power your home produces. Their main responsibility is to protect your home or business from an electrical disaster. So, when a circuit breaker trips, it means you’re trying to use more energy than your outlet can handle. However, with a power upgrade from Electrician Network , we promise you’ll be able to meet the power needs of your home or business.

So, it’s time to say goodbye to the endless tripping of your circuit breaker and say hello to a home or business with a safe and adequate supply of power.

Protecting the functionality, safety and value of your home isn’t an option; it’s a necessity. That’s why it’s important to maintain the wellbeing of your electrical system.

Thankfully, Electrician Network  is the company Florida  residents can trust to protect them from the dangers of an inefficient or faulty electrical systems—no matter what. So, throughout Miami Dade County , the combination of our reliable electrical services and our team’s dedication to Miami  homeowners’ safety is guaranteed to help you achieve the functionality and ambiance you desire. And now, with our emergency service, we promise it will last.

All of our skilled technicians at Electrician Network  who work in your home or business are professionally trained, background checked and drug tested.  Our technicians also drive fully stocked trucks to ensure they are able to get the job done the first time out to your home or business.

Your Electrical Wiring Needs a Refresh

Updating the electrical wiring in your home or business will flip the switch to a safer and more energy-efficient home. But, how do you know whether your system needs an overhaul?

Well, thankfully, there are telltale warning signs that indicate your electrical system isn’t operating at its peak performance:

Breakers that trip or fuses that blow repeatedly

A tingling sensation when you touch an appliance

Flickering or dimming lights

A persistent burning smell from a room or appliance

Warm, discolored or sparking outlets

Outdated two-prong, ungrounded outlets

Lack of ground fault circuit interrupter outlets in kitchens, baths and other areas exposed to moisture

If any of these signs occur, contact Electrician Network  right away!  

Illuminating Benefits

The benefits associated with updating your home’s or business’s electrical system are shocking:

Increases energy efficiency

Saves you money on electric bills

Enhances your home’s safety

Guarantees your home can be insured

So, if you’re a property owner in Miami Beach , FL, or a surrounding Miami  Area community, updating your home’s or building’s wiring is the most effective way to safeguard your peace of mind—and your budget.

Increase Your Home’s Electricity Flow With the Electrical Pros

Don’t get left in the dark. Instead, turn the light on for a safer space—and the Electrician Network  team can help. For a home or business in Miami Dade county , choosing to update your building’s wiring and circuit breakers means enhanced ambiance, greater functionality, and, most importantly, improved safety. Our certified electricians have the expertise and hands-on experience to rewire your home or business in the most efficient manner with maximum results.

How to Reset a Circuit Breaker When Tripped

Before resetting the breaker, turn switches off and unplug lights or appliances using the circuit that has lost power. If the circuit is overloaded, attempting to reset it with everything plugged in and turned on could make it trip again right away.

Safety Tip: Electricity can be dangerous. Always use caution when working on electrical panels. Be sure that your hands and the floor you’re standing on are dry before touching the panel.

• Go to the electrical panel in the basement, garage, utility room or hallway.
• Open the panel door and look for an index that tells which area of the home each breaker serves.
• Locate the corresponding breaker. The switch on the tripped circuit breaker will rest between the “On” and “Off” positions. If it is not immediately clear which breaker has tripped, move through the panel pushing all the breakers that are “on” towards the on position. Breakers that have not tripped will be firmly set in the “on” position. When you come upon one that is springy and won’t stay on, that is the breaker that tripped.  
• Reset the breaker by moving the switch to the “Off” position. Then, turn it to click in the “On” position.
• Check that power has been restored to the circuit and to the room that was interrupted.

How to Troubleshoot the Circuit

When a tripped breaker won’t reset or repeatedly trips after resetting, there could be too many appliances or lights on the circuit. This means the circuit breaker is likely serving its purpose. However, the problem could be from a damaged cord or plug or from a short circuit in a receptacle or fixture. Faulty wiring could also be the cause.

 

• Turn off the lights and unplug all of the appliances from outlets that are on the circuit.
• As the appliances are unplugged, look for scorched terminals and check the plugs for overheating. If one is hot to the touch, it could be indicating the source of the problem.
• Try to reset the breaker again.
• If the breaker stays on, plug in the appliances one by one until the circuit breaker trips again. Discard or repair the appliance that interrupts the breaker.  
• Now turn light switches on. When or if the breaker is thrown, there could be a problem with that switch or the light fixture.
• If a particular light or appliance trips the breaker, reset the circuit once again and retry the isolated fixture before any others to help determine if it is the cause.

If you are unable to pinpoint the culprit, it could be a problem with the circuit breaker itself.

How to Test the Circuit Breaker

A breaker itself isn’t made to be repaired, but it can be replaced. If it feels hot, shows evidence of scorching or smells burnt, it needs a replacement.

A bad circuit breaker might not show evidence that it isn’t working properly. You can use a multimeter voltage tester to check continuity of a breaker which will tell you if it is opening or closing properly. Even if it does pass a continuity test, it still may be weak and ready to be replaced.

Safety Tip: Testing and replacing a circuit breaker is a simple process, but you should work carefully and use extreme caution, even if you have experience working with electricity. Always assume that wires are live. Never work in a circuit panel that is live. Always turn off the main circuit that feeds the panel box. If you are not already familiar with working in a circuit panel, call a licensed electrician.  

• Turn off the main circuit breaker that controls the entire panel.  
• Remove the metal frame around the circuit breakers by loosening the screws on the electrical panel.
• Locate the circuit breaker to be tested and/or replaced on the exposed panel.
• Unscrew the wire from the breaker and remove it.  
• Set the multimeter to “Ohms”.  
• Place one lead of the multimeter on the screw terminal and the other on the supply terminal of the breaker.
• Turn the breaker to the “off” position, making sure to keep the leads in contact at both points. The breaker should read “0L”.
• Repeat this process with the breaker “on”. The multimeter should read 0. If it reads “0L” then it is not functioning properly and needs to be replaced.  

Replacing  a Bad Circuit Breaker

• Turn off all branch circuit breakers.
• Then turn off the main breaker.
• Do not assume the power is off. Use the voltage tester to ensure that the panel is not receiving electricity.
• Use a screwdriver to disconnect the wire from the terminal on the bad breaker and move it aside.
• Pull out the old breaker, paying attention to how it fits and locks into the panel.
• Test the new breaker using the methods outlined above to ensure that it is in good working order.
• Insert the new breaker into the panel.
• Attach the circuit’s load wire onto the terminal.
• Check and tighten any loose terminal screws on other breakers.
• Check that all breakers are in the “Off” position.
• Replace the panel cover.
• Turn on the main breaker.
• Turn on each of the branch circuit breakers individually.
• Use the voltage meter to test each breaker.

If the breaker continues to trip, contact a certified  e+Electrician Network Expert.. A professional has the expertise and tools necessary to diagnose problems inside your walls and address underlying issues.

How Many and What Type of Circuit Breakers?

After asking “What is a circuit breaker?” you’ll need to determine how many and which types of circuit breakers you need in your home. A circuit breaker operates at 80-percent of its rated capacity, so calculate how many breakers you need based on how many amps you need covered.

 

Add up the loads of the devices and appliances that will run on the circuit. Usually, you can find these listed on a sticker or label attached to the items.  

If the load is calculated in watts, use this formula: watts divided by volts = amps. Example: 1,400W/120V = 12 amps.  

The different types of circuit breakers include:

 

Single pole or one-pole circuit breakers provide 120-volts in various amp ratings. Single pole circuit breakers rated 15- to 20-amps are typically used for receptacles and lighting. They are available in three types: full size (1-in. wide), half size (1/2-in. wide) and tandem (1-in. wide with two switches that control two circuits).

Double pole or two-pole circuit breakers provide 240-volts in various amp ratings. Double pole circuit breakers are typically used for appliances and hot water heaters.  

Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) are designed to shut down power to a circuit when they detect arcs of electricity caused by worn or damaged wires. AFCIs are used to protect circuits in bedrooms and common areas.  

Combination arc fault circuit interrupters (CAFCI) protect against the same arcs covered by AFCI as well as low-energy series arcing. They protect downstream branch circuit wiring and power cords.

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) break a circuit instantly when a short is detected. They are used to protect circuits in wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, garages and unfinished basements.  

Dual function (C/AFCI and GFCI) breakers combine the features and benefits of an AFCI breaker and a GFCI breaker into one. This dual breaker protects against both arc faults and ground faults. Not only is it convenient, but it's also easy to install and maintain.