A Couple Circuit Breakers Intermittently stop working

1626 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by MrElectricianTV, Jan 20, 2016

Muddball

Discussion Starter · Jan 20, 2016

Hello Everyone,
My current problem is that I have a couple circuit breakers that are shutting off intermittently. They are not tripping, the power just goes out. Before they go out, the lights will flicker, then go out. The breakers that are going out, also ive tested the breakers with a multimeter while they are not working and there is zero volts to them, are the ones connected to the right side bus bar if thats the right word. The metal thing that has fingers going across, one on the left and one on the right, that the breakers snap onto. The problem started when my dryer breaker went out. One of the poles got hot and slightly damaged the metal piece it snaps onto. Now the breakers that are connected to that side, left side of the breakers but connected to the right side bus bar, intermittently stop working. I generally can get the power back on when I shut off the main breaker, pop out the dryer breaker and the 2 breakers below it and then hook it all back up again. I have cleaned the corrosion off that finger of the bus bar that the bottom pole of the dryer breaker and damaged.

Sorry for the wall of text, I hope I explained my problem adequately. And am I looking at a bad bus bar? Am I even using the right term, "bus bar?"

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Jim Port

· #2 · Jan 20, 2016

Yes, bus bar is the correct term. It does sound like there is an issue with either the damaged bus or the breaker connection or both. This needs to be address before it leads to a more serious issue or a fire. What is the brand of panel?

Most panels alternate legs ABAB top to bottom , not left right.

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Muddball

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 20, 2016 (Edited)

Im PST so its still dark out so havent been able to go out and check on the brand yet. You are correct about the ABAB, I explained it wrong. As soon as I can I will go out and check the brand. Nothing gets hot in the breaker box. At least none of the breakers do, even when the power to those couple breakers go out. I have checked all connections in the panel, tightened up everything and checked for "burnt" wires. Everything checks out in that department.

It does take square D breakers.

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Muddball

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 20, 2016

Square D Company QO Load Center is what I just found.

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joed

· #5 · Jan 20, 2016

It sounds like the contact point where the breaker connects to bus is burnt. Usually that means you need to replace the panel. However if there are spare slots available you might be to get by if you install new breakers in the spare slots and move the circuits. I would not move the bad breaker because it is probably also bunt on the contact.

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Muddball

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 20, 2016

The breaker that got hot, the dryer breaker, I had already replaced a couple weeks back, thats about the time this started happening. Normally I can get the power to come back on to the 2 breakers that go out by removing the breakers and putting them back in. The breakers that go out are the dryer breaker, just the one pole that is on the slightly damaged bus bar, the other pole works just fine, and the single pole breaker 2 slots down. For example on the dryer breaker which is a double pole breaker, lets say the top pole is A and the bottom pole is B, the B pole I will get zero current, the next breaker is A which will work fine, then the following breaker on B I get zero current from. Its typically only the "B" pole of the dryer breaker then the next single pole breaker on B below the dryer breaker that will go out. I can get them to come back on though by messing around with them. Sometimes the "B" pole will go out of the breaker directly above the dryer breaker which is another double pole breaker. I hope I am making sense and thank you for your help.

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Muddball

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 20, 2016

Also, I am gonna try to layout my breaker box using ABABA.

Main Breaker
A Doube Pole Breaker A Double Pole Breaker X
B X B X
A Double Pole Breaker A Single
B X B Single X
A Single A Single
B Single X B Single X

X means I am getting No voltage from that pole using a voltage meter. And just found out that top right double pole breaker I am getting no voltage on either pole. My Main Breaker is I guess a Quad Pole? Takes up 2 slots on both sides.
Its not gonna keep my formatting so I hope it makes sense

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ZZZZZ

· #8 · Jan 20, 2016

"Circuit breakers" not working?

I thought this thread was about the stock market.:vs_OMG:

Sorry for the diversion. Carry on.:biggrin2:

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Muddball

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 20, 2016

Update: The power was out to those breakers all night, this time I didnt mess with anything and it all just now came back on. Glad my computer/living room is on a different breaker that doesnt go out. The affected breakers control my dryer, A/C Heater, dishwasher and one section of the house.

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joed

· #10 · Jan 20, 2016

Normally I can get the power to come back on to the 2 breakers that go out by removing the breakers and putting them back in.

Sort of confirms that the connection between the breaker and bus is bad. The breaker connection may have lost its spring tension from the heat.

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MrElectricianTV

· #11 · Jan 20, 2016

Muddball said:
Hello Everyone,
My current problem is that I have a couple circuit breakers that are shutting off intermittently. They are not tripping, the power just goes out. Before they go out, the lights will flicker, then go out. The breakers that are going out, also ive tested the breakers with a multimeter while they are not working and there is zero volts to them, are the ones connected to the right side bus bar if thats the right word. The metal thing that has fingers going across, one on the left and one on the right, that the breakers snap onto. The problem started when my dryer breaker went out. One of the poles got hot and slightly damaged the metal piece it snaps onto. Now the breakers that are connected to that side, left side of the breakers but connected to the right side bus bar, intermittently stop working. I generally can get the power back on when I shut off the main breaker, pop out the dryer breaker and the 2 breakers below it and then hook it all back up again. I have cleaned the corrosion off that finger of the bus bar that the bottom pole of the dryer breaker and damaged.

Sorry for the wall of text, I hope I explained my problem adequately. And am I looking at a bad bus bar? Am I even using the right term, "bus bar?"

I would replace those circuit breakers. They may have been damaged from the excessive heat of the dryer breaker. Also the bus bars must be clean and not have any melted metal.

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