Replacing a breaker?

[Anonymous]

I have a 200 amp service box with all circuits clearly marked. I have a 15 amp circuit to a bathroom and laundry room that has gone out, no power. The circuit breakers are all showing ON. The breaker for the circuit that is out is not broken, yet no power. All other circuits are working and no problems.

Question. How do I remove the circuit breaker. Do they pull out, unscrew, what? I have the front of the panel removed and just need instructions to proceed and how to check this out. I am reasonably experienced in wiring and have replaced switches, installed new lighting, etc, just never done anything with breakers. Is there a reference page with illustrations! Any help would be appreciated, or any ideas on what is going on. The puzzling thing to me is no breakers are broken!!
Thanks!
Phil

T

[Wgoodrich]

Often times a breaker will trip yet show that it is fine. First thing to do is the easiest. Turn that breaker to the off position hard. Then turn that breaker back on. If you still have no power and suspect your breaker is bad [commonly not the problem but worth satifying your thoughts] Turn the main breaker off on your panel. Then turn the breaker off that you suspect to be bad. Then turn a nearby breaker that matches the amp rating of the suspected breaker off. Then switch the wire trading which wire is on which breaker. Then turn on your two breakers and the main breaker and see if you have power where you didn't and don't have power where you did. This would confirm what you are thinking if your breaker is bad. I suspect your breaker is just tripped but not showing to be trippped. Reset your breaker by turning it hard to the off position then back on and see if that solves your problem. At least these two test will satisfy your suspicions and my suspicions as to what is wrong. If that is not what solves your problem then look for a GFI receptacle next. This GFI receptacle if tripped will do the same to the branch circuit as a breaker. Look in the bathroom or by the panel or anywhere as outside receptacles for a receptacle that has a "reset" on the face of the receptacle. PUsh this GFI receptacle "reset" button. Bathroom receptacles are supposed to be GFI protected.

The above are the two most common causes of loss of electricity as your discribe.

Let us know what you find

Wg