Breaker failure

[Red 17]

I have a 20A circuit for exterior lighting. I was checking it the other day, and found it dead. Looked at the breaker, felt it, and it was in place, not tripped.

Fiddled around with no results. Went back, turned off the breaker, turned in back on, and now I have lights.

I am thinking this is a bad breaker and should be replaced.

Murray breakers, looks like they are being phased out for Siemens.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[rlitman]

...Looked at the breaker, felt it, and it was in place, not tripped.

Fiddled around with no results. Went back, turned off the breaker, turned in back on, and now I have lights...

The trip position on breakers is not always that obvious. It was most likely tripped.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Sounds like you figured it out. A breaker will not reset without being turned completely off first.

 

[Robbie B]

It was tripped. Now to figure out why it was tripped.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

this circuit only feeds lighting? no outlets?

 

[CoconutPete]

A lot of lightning storms lately? I have had to replace 2 breakers lately. They both went bad "slowly". The dishwasher was one of them. Went from tripping at the end of the heating cycle to the beginning of the heating cycle, to instantly. I had no idea a breaker could fail gradually.

 

[Red 17]

Outlets are in infrequent use. I replaced a GFI that I think was bad also.

Last year the lights worked but not that GFI. I went to another outlet, and what with my busy schedule, just fiddled with it again.

Anyway, I have the new GFI in, it works. I have the breaker number and I'll replace it as it's right outside the bedroom and I have enough trouble getting to sleep.

I will try to do an autopsy on the breaker and will post anything of interest.

 

[rlitman]

A lot of lightning storms lately? I have had to replace 2 breakers lately. They both went bad "slowly". The dishwasher was one of them. Went from tripping at the end of the heating cycle to the beginning of the heating cycle, to instantly. I had no idea a breaker could fail gradually.

Yeah. The thermal portion is controlled by a bi-metallic strip. Over time, the strip oxidizes. Particularly when run hot a lot. And the oxidation causes it to run hotter. At least it's a fail-safe condition.

 

[Jim greengo]

I can still get them locally if you cant find them.