Main > Everything Else

Electrical hazard!

(1/3) > >>

hypernova:
A few days ago I tried cleaning the exhaust fan button on our range.  This is an OLD range.  It may be the one that was installed when the house was built in the 70s.  But it still works.  Well it did.  The button was all greasy, and didn't flip on/off very well.  Obviously grease was in there.

So I was hoping to get into that panel with the buttons (and temp controls) to clean the buttons.  I went downstairs and flipped the breaker to the range.  I then proceeded to dislodge the CP for the range.  It's about a 3x4 inch footprint.  I was able to flip it up 90 degrees before the wires became to tight to move any more.  And then I discovered there was simply no way to clean the inside of the buttons.  It's one solid piece...well it might as well be.  There's absolutely no way to crack those things open without a hammer.  So I gave up.  When the damn range finally quits working, then I won't have to worry about it anymore.

That's enough backstory.  Onto the point of the post.  When I went back down to flip the breaker back on, it wouldn't stay on!  It kept flipping off, acting like there's something wrong with the line.  So rather than call an electrician and have him end up finding out that the breaker happened to screw up, I want to go out and get a new breaker switch to make sure it's not that simple.  I've already looked at the wiring on the panel for the range.  Nothing looks wrong visibly.  So my only option is to change the breaker switch.

So what do I need to do?  I assume flipping the main switch on the breaker box will suffice when I change the breaker switch?  There's not any chance of a stored charge anywhere that I have to be wary of, is there?

USSEnterprise:
IIRC, there are two big ass wires usually coming into the box that will not shut off when you throw the main breaker, both of which carry 120v at an ungodly amperage. Other than that, everything should be safe. Basically, anything before the big breaker will still be hot.

I am not responsible for any damage to yourself or the universe because of you following my advice

markt:
I repair commercial cooking equipment for a living.
Most likely the breaker is fine.
You have a short that is tripping the breaker.
Pull the panel back apart and check your wiring.
You may see a burn spot where the short happened.

hypernova:
I actually did that three times before giving up on it and acknowledging that maybe it was the breaker.
I did a simple test today.  I moved the wires going into that breaker into the breaker designated for the oven (of course I disconnected the oven.)  Works like a charm.
And even more proof?  The breaker for the range STILL trips off even when nothing is connected to it.

So how do I pull a breaker switch out?  Simply yank?

ChadTower:

You don't.  If you don't know how, you don't do it.  At all.  This isn't something to ---fudgesicle--- around with.  Assuming it is the breaker is a bad, bad, bad idea.  You may be right but if you're not you could kill yourself or worse (yes, this would be worse) set up a dangerous condition that could burn your house down later on with people in it.

Seriously.  Working in the panel is not the place to learn.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

Go to full version