Home electrical help
 

We just remodeled our entire kitchen in July 07 with new appliances. Our dishwasher (Fisher Paykel double drawer) has blown the circuit breaker a couple times since Thursday. The breaker is a 20 amp unit. I thought it was no big deal and just reset the breaker. It was fine till today. The breaker popped again. I went out to reset it and when I did, it (the breaker) arced big time! To eliminate the possibility of the dishwasher being the culprit, I ran an extension cord for it to another circuit. No problems there. I am suspecting a bad circuit breaker. How hard are these to replace? The panel is a 200 amp panel with the main cut off switches at the top. I am assumming that I just flip those off and the rest of the panel is dead. Right? Then its just a matter of opening up the panel and replacing the bad breaker in question. ???
I don't know why, but working with AC voltage has always scared the crap out of me. :D
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1206233323.jpg

Is there anything else on that same circuit?

They are easy to replace but since I aqm not a licensed electrician I cannot advise you. Especially since you acknowledge being scared to work with it. However the main breakers do kill the entire panel. Want to be sure? Open them and see if anything in the house works.

Get a tester for ac voltage. There are several different kinds.Shut off the main breaker, the big one up at the top. Pull the face off the panel. Test the buss bar serving the one side of the breaker. Connect one leg of the tester to it and the other leg of the tester to the neutral buss which has white wires coming off of it. Should show no current. Double check in the house with several lights and or appliances etc. When your sure, take the wires off of the offending breaker and then pull it out. They have several different locking means depending on the brand of box and breaker. Replace breaker. Reattach wires to screw terminal.Depending on how much slack wire you have, you can attach wire with the breaker out or it might need to be in place if the wire(s) are too short. Put face of panel back on and turn on main power. Then turn on the new breaker. All your timers and controls for heaters and AC etc. may need resetting since the power was off.

There is nothing else on that particular circuit. I have a fluke 87 meter at work. I'll dive into it tomorrow. Marshmellows anyone? :D

The dishwasher and disposal a lot of times are on the same circuit, I see that you have a seperate breaker for that. There are also 2 seperate counter top circuits, probably GFI protected. The breaker is not hard to replace but I REALLY think someone who has done this before and is not afraid of electricity should do this.
I would unplug the disposal and dishwasher cords under your sink and try the circuit breaker again. You have a dead short somewhere. Breakers do go bad but I bet it's not the breaker.

Breakers go bad over time. I've replaced many, even in a hot box. For your safety, switch off the MAIN. Then, pull the cover. You remove the breaker by putting your finger on the outside closest to the edge of the box. Pull outward, that end will come out, then grab the whole thing and pull straight out. You will see one wire is attached. Unscrew the clamp holding the wire and go to your hardware store to find the same type of breaker. Reverse to install.

Just avoid the temptation to put a 30 amp breaker in its place. A 20 amp break get by with 14 gauge wire - A 30 amp need 12 gauge.

I just added 2 new circuits last week going out to my detached garage. I added 2 breakers w/o shutting off the Main, but if it's your first time, don't do that.

(I'm not an electrician, but have wired 2 houses I've build w/o a single correction notice)

Good luck....

Sorry! I didn't mean to keep you hanging on this one. I have been SO busy at work and have not gotten around to the repair yet. Yeah... I know, trailer trash central running the dishwasher on an extension cord.... :D I'm going in tomorrow for sure! Will update as it goes... as long as I don't become BBQ pulled pork or something. LOL

It is possible that the wiring is loose where it connects to the breaker. causing it to heat up. You can pull the cover of the panel, turn off the breaker, and check the terminal to see if it is tight.
I find this problem alot.

Be careful. Dishwashers are one of the most common causes of home fires. Our almost new Bosch almost burned down our house. Once they ignite, the insulating material that makes them so quiet, emits a noxious gas.

Well that had to be one of the easiest home repairs I have ever done! I think it took me less then three minutes to do it.
Thank you for the helpful tips.

Did the breaker look like it was arcing at its' connection to the main bus?

No. There were no arc marks at the conection at all. All the damage must have been internal to the breaker itself.