Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
So, the power has been going out in our bathroom and utility room (which are on the same circuit.) That circuit breaker is not tripped, and neither is the main breaker. When I jiggle the main breaker (it feels loose) the power to those rooms goes back on. All the other power in the house has remained on the whole time. If I reset the main breaker all the power goes off and comes back on. If I jiggle that particular circuit nothing happens. Our electrician friend took a look at it (for free) and said we need to replace the main breaker. I can't understand how just one area of power is going out because of a faulty main breaker. Wouldn't all the power go out if it was faulty? Very curious here! Thanks for any helpful advice.
So, the power has been going out in our bathroom and utility room (which are on the same circuit.) That circuit breaker is not tripped, and neither is the main breaker. When I jiggle the main breaker (it feels loose) the power to those rooms goes back on. All the other power in the house has remained on the whole time. If I reset the main breaker all the power goes off and comes back on. If I jiggle that particular circuit nothing happens. Our electrician friend took a look at it (for free) and said we need to replace the main breaker. I can't understand how just one area of power is going out because of a faulty main breaker. Wouldn't all the power go out if it was faulty? Very curious here! Thanks for any helpful advice.
Because that main breaker splits the circuits to get two 110 v buss bars. Hot phase A and Hot phase B. So when you jiggle the main breaker one of the two circuits loses the hot feed either A or B or the main breaker contacts could be worn inside.
You have a contact issue with that particular breaker- whether it be the wire or breaker. Moving the main breaker is probably just moving the bus bar enough to make contact.
I'd check the contacts on the breaker, and the contact/tightness of the wire. If resetting both doesn't alleviate the problem- replace the breaker.
I'm going to combine posts 2 and 3. If it is only one circuit going out, and not the entire leg (every second breaker), then it is unlikely the main is at fault. However, if the buss is somehow loose, but being gripped firmly by the stabs for the main breaker, the entire buss could be moving a little, making and breaking contact between the one branch breaker (probably the one closest to the main) and its stab. I would open the panel inspect for rigidity and safety, then remove that one breaker, inspect the stab and replace the breaker with a new one. If the stab looked "cooked" (unlikely, but ya never know) as a cheap SOB I'd blank that stab by placing the old breaker back, removing the lead and using a new breaker on a different stab for that circuit.
Our electrician friend took a look at it (for free) and said we need to replace the main breaker. I can't understand how just one area of power is going out because of a faulty main breaker.
As long as you are careful to throw the main breaker and avoid it, it isn't very complicated or expensive to replace an individual circuit breaker. You might get lucky and find a loose screw.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
