Electrical Problems…certain Appliances Don’t Work?
Today, I was taking a break from my busy day to sit and watch some TV and have a cup of tea. So, I plugged in my electric water heater for the tea and turned the TV on. A few minutes later, out of nowhere, I lost electricity in my TV, my stereo, my living room lights, my toaster oven and the outlet where I plug my water heater. Then, I noticed my wall phone in the kitchen is working, as are my coffee maker, my fridge and my stove top. Then I went into the bathroom and found the lights weren’t working in there, as well as the hall lights. I couldn’t get hold of anyone, so I went to the fuse box to see if there was a kicker. But all the switches were switched to “on” and I checked all of them and none were out of place. What could this be? How can I fix it?
Look to see if there is a reset button on the outlet where the water heater and t.v. are plugged into. If so, unplug the water heater and press the button. If the t.v. and others come on, then your water heater tripped the breaker in that outlet by pulling too much current. Anything that creates heat pulls a lot of current. You will have to turn off other things when using the water heater.
I have to say, if all of that is on one branch circuit I would be amazed. I believe you need to check your main breaker. Even though it may say “on” one half can trip and not flip the handle to the off position.
Go in this sequence: Turn off your main. Turn off all the individual circuit breakers. Turn the main back on. One by one, begin turning the individual breakers back on.
If the theories above are correct, then all of the stuff that is off should come back on at one time, with one breaker. If you see that they come on in different intervals, then it’s not a single circuit but in fact your main.
Hope this helps.
Sounds like you have an awful lot on one circuit. Try to turn all your breakers off then back on if they are not marked. Because it certainly sounds like one is tripped. Then afterward if everything has to stay where it is, try not to use many things at the same time.
go back to your circuit box and start one at a time turning them off and back on,some time a circuit will break but the switch will appear turned on.
Is any of the outlets a GFI by chance? Go turn off each breaker and reset them. Get a receptacle tester from radio shack, lowe’s, home depot, etc. This device plugs into your outlet and lets you know what the power is doing. Is it on, polarity reversed,, open ground or neutral, etc. The problem could be any where. If you feel confident, take the cover off your panel and tighten down the screws to the wires REMEMBER: the power is on, turn off the breakers you are working on and DO NOT TOUCH ANY METAL. Have someone else there just in case. When in doubt, turn off the breakers and go through the outlets 1 at a time tightening all connections. ALWAYS assume power is on! Be careful. If you do not feel confident, then call an electrician.