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Do electrical breakers lose power?

3K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  RobertS 
#1 ·
I recently had my electrical dryer stop heating. The dryer will tumble but will not heat. I had the dryer exchanged for repair and the second dryer did the same. I was told that it is probably the breaker. I do not know that much about breakers. Can anybody give some advice before I call an electrician?
 
#2 ·
Sometimes they do, but not often. Usually it is some other factor.
Did you try to turn the breaker off and then back on? If not do so.
 
#3 · (Edited)
It could be any number of problems with the electrical feed to the dryer, you need an electrician to check it out. The only thing that needs 220 to work in the dryer is the heating element. It sounds like one side of your 220 has gone bad. I would turn off the breaker, and call an electrician tomorrow. If you turn the breaker off, and back on, and the dryer works that means you need a new breaker.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Common sense. If I had a 220/240 volt breaker and one side gave me problems it could be bad. Corroded or burnt contact, or the connection to the buss is weak or corroded. For peace of mind I would spend the $40.00 on a new breaker, and have it installed. It could save allot of money in the long run. Not to mention a life.
 
#8 ·
$40 for a 30AMP double pole breaker??? Where are you shopping?!! They should be in the neighborhood of $10 to $20 at most...
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=71938-1318-MP230&lpage=none




Anyways, back on subject.


Last year our dryer stopped heating, but still spun. We had the store we got it from come out to check it since it was under warrenty. They replaced the heating element and said that it was bad.

Still didn't heat up.


The receptacle was bad. The contacts were sporead way far apart, and werent making contact with the blade from the plug. The arcing was so bad, the area was totally black. (I don't know much about this subject, this is hearsay from the repair guy) He said that the arching was causing the element to overheat and burnout almost instantly. Good thing there wasn't a fire!!!!!

Just something else to think about.
 
#9 · (Edited)
This is a DIY site, and my advice is to call a licensed electrician to check out any one of a number of problems that could have occurred. Bad or corroded receptacle, loose connection to the receptacle, bad or corroded connections at the receptacle, bad wire, pinched burnt wire at the panel box, bad or corroded connections at the breaker, bad or corroded contacts in the breaker, loose or corroded connections at the buss bar, or the wire could be broken from a staple, or even just a piece of junk wire. These are the problems I have seen on dryers, and electric hot water heaters. WHEN THEY INSTALLED THE DRYER DID THEY USE THE OLD CORD, it could be bad.
 
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