There are two things that regulate the power circuits in your home: fuses and breakers. Breakers are designed to turn off when they are using too much power, as that will prevent the wiring in your home from burning out. Fuses serve much the same role, though they don’t trip — they simply burn out when they are overloaded. Knowing how to replace fuses and breakers is important, as it will help you to keep the power in your home on at all times.
Turning a Tripped Breaker Back On
If you hear a “click” from your breaker box, it means that one of the breakers turned off due to over consumption of power. Go to your breaker box (you may need a flash light if the power is out in the area near the box), and look at the various breakers. You will see a little orange sign on one of them, and it will be partially turned off. Turn the breaker all the way off, and flip it back to its original position. This will reset the electricity, and you will now have power!
Replacing a Damaged Breaker
If the breaker has been burned out or damaged beyond repair, or it just isn’t working, it’s time to replace it with a new one. You will need to turn off the power inside your home, and you can do so by shutting off the switch on the fuse box. Gently tug on the breaker to pull it out, which will disconnect it from the metal clips holding it in place. Take that circuit breaker to the hardware or electrical store, and buy one that is exactly the same brand, make, and model. Bring that home, insert it in the place where it belongs, and turn it on. Flip the switch on the fuse box, and the light should come back on.
Replacing a Burnt-Out Fuse
If you’ve checked the breakers and they’re all working fine, it may be that you’ve burned a fuse. Go to the fuse box, and check to see if there are any fuses that show signs of damage. You’ll usually notice that one of them is visibly burned out. Throw the switch on the fuse box, and gently remove the fuse. Take the fuse to your hardware store, and ask for a new fuse and metal element. Insert the metal element into the new fuse, replace the fuse in its original position (make sure both metal caps are touching the contact points), and flip the switch. If the fuse was the problem, the lights should go back on immediately.
See, quick and easy to replace both fuse and breakers! If you need an electrician in Austin to come out and help you repair electricity problems in your home, call Bryant Electric Service today at 512-402-8587. One of our friendly service members will answer any questions you may have!
