Turned a breaker off, realized it was the wrong one, and tried to turn it back on but will not stay in the on position?

Perhaps you didn' actually move the breaker to the full off. In the case of a blown circuit breaker, many of them have to be moved to 'hard' off in order to re-set.

Thanks! Tried the full off/ full cycle but still will not come back on. Must me something mechanical with the breaker.

Mick34 13 months ago .

The best odds in your case is that the linkage has not "cleared" you can try pressing it firmly to the off position and trying again. Sometimes cycling it a time or two will get the linkage back in order, and it will reset. It is also possible that if it is turning on a substantial load, then the surge as the load starts will trigger a magnetic trip function.

If the breaker is hot, it may also refuse to reset until it cools off. It seems highly improbable to me that shutting off the circuit could have allowed an electrical fault to form, so I am assuming a mechanical problem with the breaker, itself.

I can usually feel whether a linkage is not connecting or if the breaker is tripping. Also, whether the handle returns to off or to the trip position is an indicator. The reason for asking the brand, is that certain older brands are rather expensive to buy new replacements for, but others are cheap to replace.

The panel box is a crouse hinds, the breaker springs right back to the off position. Mick34 13 months ago .

If it is closing and tripping you should feel it snap to off when you push it to the "on" position. If not, then the problem is in the breaker. I'm looking up the breaker type, as it is actually an uncommon brand in my area.

If it is a relatively new one, the pictures I found look like they're essentially the same as my preferred type; which return to center when they trip. That would continue the theory of a bad linkage. Assuming they are common where you are, the types I could find are relatively easy for a competent person to replace, or an electrician should do it for a pretty minimal charge, though you might want to come up with some other things to have him look at if he has a minimum fee.

There should be a model number, or at least a set of initials, to help you identify it, whether you want to buy and install, or have an electrician come out. (If you are going to do it yourself, you can also remove the wire from the terminal and give it one last try, to confirm it is bad) .

Thanks for the info! I am going to get an electrician out to change it out, I don't feel comfortable doing it myself. Thanks again!

I will let you know what he finds. Mick34 13 months ago .

Most likely, he will simply change it out, and if the new one works, he will assume a bad breaker, and not trace it much further. I've pulled a couple apart to see how they were built, but there's not much the average electrician can discern besides working or not.

You have to push it beyond the off and then unto the on.

Thanks for the info! I am going to get an electrician out to change it out, I don't feel comfortable doing it myself. Thanks again!

I will let you know what he finds. Mick34 63 months ago.

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