# Electrician Dopers, how dangerous is it to reset a circuit breaker that was in Off position? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 3, 2025, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437 "2025-07-03T08:22:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/21 "2025-07-03T16:17:53Z")
> [@robby](#): > > To reiterate what others have said, and in my experience, tripped breakers don’t automatically switch to the Off position. Do all circuit breakers have three states? I could swear I’ve seen one with only two, but I may be misremembering. (Our current one, no pun intended, is definitely three.) ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/22 "2025-07-03T16:35:47Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > just blew a fuse Bzzzt. It’s frustrating since the guy is trying _something_ and in good faith. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/23 "2025-07-03T18:17:14Z")
I’ve never seen a circuit breaker that didn’t have a “tripped” state distinct from “off” and “on”, but really I’ve only dealt with circuit breakers in the last 45 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/24 "2025-07-03T20:15:01Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > glass fuses in my grandmothers panel Heh, my own home has TWO glass fuse panels. One’s in the attic near the service entry from the overhead line out to the wooden pole in the alley. It’s small, I think it only has four fuses but it’s hotter’n balls up there so I’m not gonna look till November. It also has a label from the installing electrician, the phone number had a two letter exchange. The other is in the basement and more closely resembles a contemporary breaker panel. In 15 years, I’ve never blown a fuse at home and I basically only think about it when these threads come up. And the glass fuses _are_ the safety kind. It’s crazy to think that people used to literally wind wire between electrified pegs, like picking a 120+ vac guitar. > **[Pifco brand fusewire cards](https://flameport.com/electric_museum/old_fuses/pifco_fuse_wires.cs4)** > > Two examples of Pifco branded fusewire on cards, each with three sizes of wire ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/25 "2025-07-03T20:19:46Z")
Ummmm… You know that when the breaker is in the “tripped” state you need to push it to “off” and _then_ to “on,” right? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/26 "2025-07-03T20:44:59Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > He just didn’t know what they were or did and changing the fuse was the only tool in his toolbox. Be thankful he didn’t try to fix it by closing the circuit with a penny or paper clip. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/27 "2025-07-03T21:01:08Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Thanks for the advice everyone. Yes, the breaker switch is in the Off position. It’s been there by default since that’s what it automatically switches back to anytime one tries to turn it on (and I haven’t tried to turn it to On since making this thread.) > [@robby](#): > > To reiterate what others have said, and in my experience, tripped breakers don’t automatically switch to the Off position. They trip to the Tripped position (which is a midway position). To reset them you have to manually put them all the way into the Off position, and _then_ put them in the On position. > [@beowulff](#): > > Ummmm… > You know that when the breaker is in the “tripped” state you need to push it to “off” and _then_ to “on,” right? …and if you don’t do this then the breaker stays in the tripped condition. If you try to turn it on, it just goes back to the tripped state. To reset the breaker you have to first manually push it to the fully Off position. _Then_ try to push it to the On position. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/28 "2025-07-03T21:10:08Z")
> [@robby](#): > > …and if you don’t do this then the breaker stays in the tripped condition. If you try to turn it on, it just goes back to the tripped state. I wonder if that’s what tripped up the OP when they tried to reset it. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/29 "2025-07-03T21:16:35Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I wonder if that’s what tripped up the OP when they tried to reset it. I see what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/30 "2025-07-03T21:34:44Z")
If the OP never returns, what can we conclude about his electrical skills? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/31 "2025-07-03T21:50:28Z")
Well, I’m waiting for the electrician. If they don’t come soon it’ll be a long weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/32 "2025-07-03T21:54:33Z")
can you confirm that you first flipped the breaker off before trying to turn it back on? That it was not in the tripped position? They can look similar but are not the same state. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/33 "2025-07-03T21:58:52Z")
At this point, I’d prefer not to touch anything until the professionals arrive. It’s still in the tripped (not Off) position. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/34 "2025-07-04T00:56:00Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Heh, my own home has TWO glass fuse panels. One’s in the attic near the service entry from the overhead line out to the wooden pole in the alley. It’s small, I think it only has four fuses but it’s hotter’n balls up there so I’m not gonna look till November. It also has a label from the installing electrician, the phone number had a two letter exchange. The glass fuses worked fine. The cost and hassle of replacing them discouraged multiple attempts to reset. Unfortunately it was much too easy for homeowners to buy a 20A fuse when the 15A blew. Or they bought a slo-blo that wouldn’t blow as quickly. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/35 "2025-07-04T03:07:14Z")
Or use a penny. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/36 "2025-07-04T03:52:45Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > At this point, I’d prefer not to touch anything until the professionals arrive. It’s still in the tripped (not Off) position.. Good idea. Best to be safe. My cousin tried to reset a tripped beaker a few months ago while I was staying at her house and the box caught on fire. Black smoke started billowing up the basement steps in seconds. We ran out of the house and the fire company was there in minutes. There was apparently some bad wiring behind or above the box causing the problem that the firemen later pointed out. It’s been four months and she is still dealing with the clean up from smoke damage and repairs. Thankfully it’s not her main living home as it was her father’s and only used occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Snipe70e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/51bf81/32.png) [@Snipe70e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snipe70e)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/37 "2025-07-04T05:18:39Z")
Are the washer and dryer on the same circuit as the hot water heater? Check that our I would expect the dryer to be on a seperate circuit and the same as the hot water heater. If the washer and dryer have power and only the water heater is the only thing then reset the breaker 1st. To reset the breaker push it completely to the off position then turn the breaker on and see if it trips. If the breaker trips again then as an experiment with breaker off unplug washer and dryer. Make a final attempt on resetting the breaker and with everything unplugged reset breaker. If it stays on then the problem is in the appliances. ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT ON YOUR POST. Why did the teck need to see the outlet box to plugg in a wahser and a dryer. They should be a plug and go operation. He may have done something that he should not have done. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/38 "2025-07-04T05:21:02Z")
That’s what I wondered too. I had thought maybe he was unplugging the breakers for safety’s sake while he plugged in the washer and dryer. But most other techs just plug and go, as you said. Who knows what he did. When he left the home and I had no hot water and I found the breaker switch in the Tripped position, I thought he had forgotten to turn it back to On. ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/39 "2025-07-04T07:06:21Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > The other thing I’ve seen is that if it’s tripped (the middle position), you need to push it to OFF before pushing it back to ON. Otherwise it will just go back to tripped, even if you’ve corrected the problem causing it to trip I almost learned this the expensive way a few years ago. Luckily the electrician I called out was a decent guy and lived locally, so he only charged me £10. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437/40 "2025-07-04T13:39:39Z")
> [@JacobSwan](#): > > I almost learned this the expensive way a few years ago. Luckily the electrician I called out was a decent guy and lived locally, so he only charged me £10. Many, many years ago I DID spend the cost of an electrician visit to learn this. Guy arrived, looked at the panel, said “You’re not going to like this”, and very gently and kindly explained. Still makes me laugh (at myself). He did not charge me only $10, or only £10. I’ve been TOLD (have not verified) that per code in some places, if a breaker ever trips, you’re supposed to replace it. Not that anyone does that, of course. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrician-dopers-how-dangerous-is-it-to-reset-a-circuit-breaker-that-was-in-off-position/1020437.md?page=3)