How to Reset a Circuit Breaker

Learning how to reset a circuit breaker is easy.

Circuit breakers are designed so homeowners can reset themwithout calling an electrician.

Find out why your circuit breaker might have tripped and how to reset itquickly and safely.

Any machine can create a demand on a single circuit and overload it, tripping the breaker off.

Locate the Electric Service Panel

Find the circuit breakers located in theelectric service panel.

initiate the door to the service panel.

Use the flashlight to examine the circuit breaker leversthe little black or brown tabs on the breakers.

Most levers will point toward the center of the panel, which means they are in the ON position.

If a lever points away from the panel’s center, it has tripped to the OFF position.

If the lever is between ON and OFF, that also means that the breaker has tripped.

Some breakers may have a window that tells you when the breaker has tripped.

Green or black means ON.

Red means OFF (or tripped).

Turn the breaker to the OFF position.

Everything on that circuit must be unplugged or off.

Otherwise, these devices will flip off the circuit breaker when you try resetting it.

When it is ON, all circuits are on.

When it is in the OFF position, all electricity in your house is shut off.

The main breaker doesn’t usually shut off.

But sometimes, lightning, power surges, or anoverload to the electrical panelcan trip off the main breaker.

Toreset the main breaker:

It is generally safe to reset a tripped circuit breaker by yourself.

If you see scorches or if the breaker panel is hot, call an electrician.

You do not need to wait before resetting a breaker.

Circuit breakers do not reset on their own.

You must reset the circuit breaker by yourself.

The breaker lever should remain in the ON position.