Question:
How can I test a wall socket to see if it is causing my circuit breaker to trip?
What is a Wall Socket Tester?
If you have repeated problems with tripping circuit breakers, it's easy to blame the breakers, but you may have defective appliances or wiring problems in a wall socket. You can troubleshoot the wall sockets on a particular circuit using a wall socket tester, a device which plugs into the socket to indicate whether there is a fault, no power to the socket at all or if the outlet is working perfectly. If the wall socket is fine, you may be able to move on to testing a circuit breaker next.
Searching on the Internet for these devices will turn up plenty of items for use in England, but finding these devices for use in America may be trickier. The good news is that you can use a multimeter to do the same thing but setting the meter to AC volts, in the 200 volt range. Do not put your multimeter on "current". If you do not know how to use a multimeter properly, it's best not to attempt to troubleshoot a wall socket until you have read the instructions carefully.
Circuit Breakers Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a whole house surge protector?
Can I install a whole house surge protector myself?
What should I do with my old circuit breakers?
Can I padlock my circuit breakers?
What should I know about circuit breaker locking systems?
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Why does a dual pole circuit breaker work?
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What can I do if I am running out of room in my breaker box?
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Why do my new circuit breakers keep tripping?
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Why is my motor starter noisy?
Why does my motor starter click but not turn on?
Why does my motor starter turn over slowly?
How can I tell if my motor starter is bad?
Can I use a manual motor starter as a disconnect switch for maintenance purposes?
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Why do I need AFCI Circuit Breakers?
What is a counterfeit Square D circuit breaker?
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What is an electrical code test?
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My mains are off. Am I safe from electrocution?
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Can a damaged appliance cause my Seimens breakers to trip?
Will installing a circuit breaker other than the type specified in the manual void my warranty?
Can I recycle my circuit breakers?
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Where can I find more information on counterfeit electrical products?
Should I buy re-certified power circuit breakers?
What happens to re-certified or re-conditioned circuit breakers?
How do I install a transformer?
What is an industrial transformer?
What should I do when taking delivery of a large transformer?
What issues should I be aware of for large transformers?
What is a voltage transformer?
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What are used circuit breakers good for?
Should I buy reconditioned circuit breakers?
Can I use a flashlight to see my circuit breaker panel during installation of new breakers?
What would happen if my circuit breaker did not trip?
What are "replacement only" circuit breakers?
What should I do to protect my electrical system in case of a flood?
What should I do if the area near my breaker panel is flooded?
I smell something burning and see sparks. Is this my electrical system?
| Guru Spotlight |
| Barbara Gibson |
