Total newbie breaker question

[CRXPilot]

I switched off both poles on this breaker to install a dimmer switch in a bedroom. Switched both on and dimmer switch works but outlets around room are all dead. Pole I have finger on will not fully seat to on position.

There is one gfci in the room. It works. I reset it twice with no change on the others.

What could be some causes of what I’m seeing? 30 year old house.

 

[sberry]

Switch all the way off and back on.

 

[CRXPilot]

Switch all the way off and back on.

Thank you. Tried that and no change. The breaker does seem to be fully seated in the on position.

I'm wondering, with what some of you guys know about electrical, if wiring a dimmer switch incorrectly would cause the other outlets in a circuit to not get power.

 

[BigGarage]

Thank you. Tried that and no change. The breaker does seem to be fully seated in the on position.

I'm wondering, with what some of you guys know about electrical, if wiring a dimmer switch incorrectly would cause the other outlets in a circuit to not get power.

If the dimmer switch is controlling the outlets also this could cause it, I would think. The only change you made was to install it and now your outlets don't work. It seems to be the cause somehow. Try removing it and putting the other switch back in and see if the outlets work.

Dennis

 

[CRXPilot]

Unhooked the ground wire. Original switch didn't use it. Outlets are back on. And dimmer switch works. Can I leave ground disconnected? Do these even need a ground? Thanks.

 

[Zeke]

I think I know the answer but I'm gonna wait for others to chime in. My theory involves the neutral and grounds as wired downstream. In the meantime, you can take a receptacle tester to each and see what you find.

 

[Falcon67]

I'm with Zeke, test all those outlets. Something odd about that - if you're talking the bare copper ground wire, that should not make any difference.

Having said that, when I first replaced the vanity lights in this house, and hooked them up "correctly" it tripped a breaker. In my case, some hack had used the copper coming from the light as a switch leg.

 

[rlitman]

...Pole I have finger on will not fully seat to on position...

There are only two possibilities for that.

1) The breaker is defective (not likely), or
2) You have a short, and the breaker is tripping because of that.

With your follow up about the ground, you have a short to ground somewhere. By removing the ground, you have instead created a very dangerous condition where the ground wire on the circuit is energized. FIX THIS NOW!

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I switched off both poles on this breaker to install a dimmer switch in a bedroom. Switched both on and dimmer switch works but outlets around room are all dead. Pole I have finger on will not fully seat to on position.

There is one gfci in the room. It works. I reset it twice with no change on the others.

What could be some causes of what I’m seeing? 30 year old house.

Why did you turn off both breakers? That is a twin breaker which is 2 separate breakers for 2 separate circuits and only one would feed the dimmer switch.

 

[CRXPilot]

Why did you turn off both breakers? That is a twin breaker which is 2 separate breakers for 2 separate circuits and only one would feed the dimmer switch.

I’m not used to that style. Turns out the upper switch controls the room. Bottom switch is master bath. Am I on the verge of destruction with the ground wire not hooked up? There was no ground connected on the switch I pulled out.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

You definitely need to hookup the ground wire if the switch has a ground terminal.

 

[mm08822]

2) You have a short, and the breaker is tripping because of that.

With your follow up about the ground, you have a short to ground somewhere. By removing the ground, you have instead created a very dangerous condition where the ground wire on the circuit is energized. FIX THIS NOW!

This is exactly what I was thinking when I read OP's reply.

This needs to be troubleshot with extreme caution - treat everything as hot and use a meter to confirm all potentials of every conductor.

Remove switch and verify operation. If circuit holds, it could be your switch.

Post a pic of the switch and its connections.

 

[sberry]

I had a call almost identical. Tandem breaker, the guy was anxious to run off to the store, turns out something was shorted.

 

[CRXPilot]

Thanks all. The outlets are out again. I’ll call an electrician and update with what he finds.

 

[CRXPilot]

I just had my switch wired incorrectly. Don't ask what wires went where. The guy spent 12 minutes here and charged me $78. I should have learned to be an electrician.

 

[mm08822]

I just had my switch wired incorrectly. Don't ask what wires went where. The guy spent 12 minutes here and charged me $78. I should have learned to be an electrician.

Some guys have a 3 hr minimum. You did well. Remember he had to drive to your home in his insured van loaded with tools and material.

 

[jrsulo]

Some guys have a 3 hr minimum. You did well. Remember he had to drive to your home in his insured van loaded with tools and material.

 

[Mr. T]

The guy spent 12 minutes here and charged me $78. I should have learned to be an electrician.

If you did then you’d have a lot more in it than $78.

That’s actually a very reasonable price.

But, wiring switches and receptacles isn’t rocket science so hang around here or read up a little bit and next time you might save a few bucks.

 

[jeepxj]

I just had my switch wired incorrectly. Don't ask what wires went where. The guy spent 12 minutes here and charged me $78. I should have learned to be an electrician.

now you got yourself an 80 dollar lesson in electricity.

 

[teamextreme]

If you posted a pic of the switch wiring, we probably could have diagnosed it and saved you $78, but that is a bargain. That was about the minimum charge the service electrical company I worked for charged....30 YEARS AGO!

 

[Zeke]

I think I know the answer but I'm gonna wait for others to chime in. My theory involves the neutral and grounds as wired downstream. In the meantime, you can take a receptacle tester to each and see what you find.

I'm with Zeke, test all those outlets. Something odd about that - if you're talking the bare copper ground wire, that should not make any difference.

Having said that, when I first replaced the vanity lights in this house, and hooked them up "correctly" it tripped a breaker. In my case, some hack had used the copper coming from the light as a switch leg.

There are only two possibilities for that.

1) The breaker is defective (not likely), or
2) You have a short, and the breaker is tripping because of that.

With your follow up about the ground, you have a short to ground somewhere. By removing the ground, you have instead created a very dangerous condition where the ground wire on the circuit is energized. FIX THIS NOW!

I guess we were doing OK on the diagnosis. Sounds to me like he had a neutral wired to one side of the switch. Easy to do if you are new to wiring and see switch legs made from a black and white with the white taped black. Sometimes I have seen a lazy electrician not tape the white.