AboutHoward Livingston Expertise Can answer questions on electrical control circuits, power supply,airflow & distribution, electrical components,refrigerant problems,gas, electric & propane furnaces.No boiler or refrigerator or oil fired furnaces experience.Just HVAC questions please.
Experience 35 years experience in residential & light commercial repair & installation.
Question In general, can a "defective" circuit breaker fail to pass electricity while in the "on" position (not tripped)? When we cycle the breaker off then on, the circuit works fine again (for a while). I always thought that in order for a breaker to interrupt power on a circuit, it trips to center, indicating a short or overheating of the circuit.
Answer Hi Bruce, good question. These things can be deceiving.hey will not reset to the ON position. Maybe a little shake of the handle in the ON position indicates not really reset. Lots of times I have to ohm them for proof they are not resetting. Or use the voltmeter across the output wires to test for power. With electrical circuits, anything can happen.
