All circuit breakers off but still have power

[rlassiter]

I have only 1 circuit breaker panel. I was tiling and need to shut off
the power to my counter outlet. I turned off every breaker but still
had power. How is this possible? Can a breaker fail and continue to
supply power to an outlet when powered off?

 

[Tony Hwang]

I have only 1 circuit breaker panel. I was tiling and need to shut off
the power to my counter outlet. I turned off every breaker but still
had power. How is this possible? Can a breaker fail and continue to
supply power to an outlet when powered off?

Hi,
How did you test the power?

 

[Jack]

I have only 1 circuit breaker panel. I was tiling and need to shut off
the power to my counter outlet. I turned off every breaker but still
had power. How is this possible? Can a breaker fail and continue to
supply power to an outlet when powered off?

The answe is yes cicuit breakers can fail in the on position and though
the tripper appears off the contact are still being made. Rule No one.
NEVER assume a circuit dead without testing it.

 

[CJT]

I have only 1 circuit breaker panel. I was tiling and need to shut off
the power to my counter outlet. I turned off every breaker but still
had power. How is this possible? Can a breaker fail and continue to
supply power to an outlet when powered off?

Anything can fail ... or be wired incorrectly.

 

[hallerb]

first try turning off main breaker...........

you need to check if other circuits are powered when you believe they
are off

 

[Bob]

I have only 1 circuit breaker panel. I was tiling and need to shut off
the power to my counter outlet. I turned off every breaker but still
had power. How is this possible? Can a breaker fail and continue to
supply power to an outlet when powered off?

Are you in a multi-unit building where the outlet could be wired to a
neighbor's meter? Try running a high current appliance like a toaster
and see if the meter disc spins faster.

 

[buffalobill]

if you still have power at the outlet even after turning off the main
breaker, have your electrician unplug the power company meter. if you
still have power it's coming from the neighbor's house.

 

[maradcliff]

I have only 1 circuit breaker panel. I was tiling and need to shut off
the power to my counter outlet. I turned off every breaker but still
had power. How is this possible? Can a breaker fail and continue to
supply power to an outlet when powered off?

Is this an apartment or condo? If it is, it could be you are getting
power from the neighbors breaker panel. Not uncommon in older
apartments. I once worked in an old building with 4 apartments. Talk
about a nightmare. Everyone was paying for the neighbors power. I
was able to separate all the outlets to the proper meters, but not all
the lights. I could have done it, but the cost would have been
outrageous for the owner and he told me his price limit and said to do
the best I could.

Mark

 

[rlassiter]

I am in a detached home, not sharing electrical with anyone. I tested
by plugging in a radio and hitting every breaker. The radio never went
off. So, lets assume I have a broken breaker. How do I locate the
breaker for this circuit or test each breaker to find the broken one.

 

[CJT]

I am in a detached home, not sharing electrical with anyone. I tested
by plugging in a radio and hitting every breaker. The radio never went
off. So, lets assume I have a broken breaker. How do I locate the
breaker for this circuit or test each breaker to find the broken one.

Did you try the main breaker? That might be informative. Maybe it's a
battery powered radio.

You could disconnect each breaker in turn. Or check the voltage across
each breaker while they're all off (one will have 0 volts, the others
will be 120 v -- unless they're ALL bad).

 

[Mark Lloyd]

I am in a detached home, not sharing electrical with anyone. I tested
by plugging in a radio and hitting every breaker. The radio never went
off. So, lets assume I have a broken breaker. How do I locate the
breaker for this circuit or test each breaker to find the broken one.

First, determine which breakers DO work (cut something off). The bad
one isn't one of those.
--
93 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"God was invented by man for a reason, that
reason is no longer applicable."

 

[Mark Lloyd]

Did you try the main breaker? That might be informative. Maybe it's a
battery powered radio.

Most battery-powered radios I've had anything to do with don't switch
over unless the power cord is physically disconnected.

You could disconnect each breaker in turn. Or check the voltage across
each breaker while they're all off (one will have 0 volts, the others
will be 120 v -- unless they're ALL bad).

--
93 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"God was invented by man for a reason, that
reason is no longer applicable."

 

[peter]

I am in a detached home, not sharing electrical with anyone. I tested
by plugging in a radio and hitting every breaker. The radio never went
off. So, lets assume I have a broken breaker. How do I locate the
breaker for this circuit or test each breaker to find the broken one.

(1) leave all circuit breaker off and use a voltmeter (or a light bulb) to
probe the output of all breakers. If you find 120V, that's the culprit.

(2) first eliminate all the working breakers, then remove the uncertain ones
one-at-a-time until you find it.

(3) Froogle "circuit breaker locator".