Circuit Breaker

[Metal Head]

Hi,

Is it possible for circuit breakers to ever be faulty?

Cheers
MH

[Cliff Rogers]

Yeap, it is an electro-mechanical device....
If electro-mechanical devices didn't fail, I wouldn't have a job.

[Ashore]

YES happens all the time they are only a mechanical device and will wear out, break down, get dirty, etc

[Metal Head]

Thanks Cliff & Ashmore for your replies.

The reason I asked is that the wife and I have had to do without lights in the back half of the house (over the past 3 nights) which I assume are on the same circuit. Thus, I checked all the circuit breakers in the main electical box and they are all in the same position - on.

However, I am hoping (again) that my electrician can make it around to our house tomorrow night, in order to find the prolbem(s).

Cheers
MH

[Cliff Rogers]

That sounds more like a loose connection somewhere early in that circuit like at the breaker or at the first socket.

[DJ’s Timber]

If you know which breaker it is, try flicking it on and off a few times.

If that doesn't work, I would leave it off as it might be a problem with a loose or chewed wire which could arc out, causing a fire.

[DavidG]

Lights are usually one a single circuit. If part of that circuit is missing then I would suspect a faulty connection.

If the breaker was faulty then all the lights would be out.

Ignore this if there are two light circuits.(2 breakers for the lights)