electrical questions #2

[davemchine]

So I go into my garage today and my wall outlets aren't working. Bummer. I immediately walk to the main panel and look for a popped breaker but I don't see any. Double Bummer. I think I have to bring the electrician back to see what is going on.

While I'm looking at the panel I see a bunch of small circuit breakers that I've never seen before. I do some googling and learn they are called Tandem Breakers and apparently it isn't a problem unless more are installed than the panel allows for. I don't know how to evaluate that so but I will ask the electrician when he comes back.

Another thing I notice is duct tape on some of the tandem breakers. The tape doesn't seem to be holding anything together though. Instead it just seems to be covering the switch. I have no idea why anyone would do that. Any ideas? Here are some rather large pictures.

[MikeF]

Somebody could have put tape on just to make it noticeable -- without having to read the layout... Sometimes "popped" breakers aren't that noticeable -- you might need to feel if they're popped (would have a slight wiggle to them)...

[Numo]

Perhaps the tape was simply used to mark those breakers.

[cbelt3]

Is there a GFCI somewhere in the chain ? Often GFCI outlets are in the chain.

[Carm]

From my experience. 15 amp are usually light circuits. The 20amp are outlets. 30 amps kitchen/bathrooms/washer/ dryer outlets.

As for your outlets being off. It's probably a GFCI. But as mentioned "popped breakers" are hard to notice.

[OWC Jamie]

turn the labelled 'garage' off and then back on ?
look for a gfci in the garage ?


the septic marker - lift pump in the basement or lift pump up the street ?

[davemchine]

Cbelt won the prize, I found a GFCI on the far end of my garage and a reset fixed the problem! Thanks.

[WHiiP]

What did cbelt3 win, exactly? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

[cbelt3]

WHiiP wrote:
What did cbelt3 win, exactly? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

The joy of knowing I helped another human being deal with the evils of Alternating Current without injuring himself... the way I have... Many times... X(miley-shocked003:

[space-time]

What were you doing in the garage? Trying to chane the tires?