GFCI Breaker Won't Reset | Troubleshooting GFCI and Other Dead Outlets

The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) only trips when an electric current leaks in any one of the circuits in a given room in our home.

If this GFCI does not reset after the trip, the following may be the reason for it.

The incoming power supply is low or no power is coming.
If the GFCI switch is damaged.
The connection to the GFCI switch is incorrect.
The power through the main circuit breaker is only in closed condition.

There is no problem of any kind from the reason given above and even if GFCI trips, there is a ground defect in the circuit of any one room. At such a time it would be better to make a proper electrician choice than to do the wrong experiment.

GFCI plays an important role in the power problem in every home. According to the rules and regulations of a government, it must be in every home. It protects us from electric shock. The reason behind this may be the increase in electricity and the fault of the soil. So this GFCI switch is installed in a place like a kitchen or a bathroom where ground defects are common.

Also Read: Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Without Load | How to Stop Tripping Without Load

Table of Contents

How the GFCI outlet works:

The GFCI circuit breaker and the fuse have the same function but unlike the breaker that protects the device and devices, the GFCI Protects human beings.

The output includes an internal breaker when the input and output currents change. In such a situation it shuts off the power. Once the outlet power is off the power will need to be reset to turn it on again. If GFCI does not reset, this means that there is no power source at the outlet, or the designation has gone bad.

Troubleshooting the GFCI Outlets and Other Dead outlets:

#1. Check If the Other Outlets Are Dead:

Before checking the circuit breaker, check that the other outlets in the house are working properly.
Turn the room light on and off. Use the appropriate voltage tester to check if the power is passing through a nearby outlet.
Disconnect the dead outlet from the device i.e. unplug it. Doing so will help eliminate the possibility that one of the outlets is causing an overload or short problem.
Mark the location of the dead outlet with masking tape or other means to make it easier to find after power off.

#2. Check for the Tripped Circuit or a Blown Fuse:

After all, this is done go to the circuit breaker you will find it in the main electrical panel. This panel is usually found above the main door or gate of the house or from where the main wire enters the house.

The most common locations for electrical panels are laundry rooms, garages, or basements. Once you find the panel in any of these places, open it and you will see a circuit breaker or a fuse. If the circuit breaker is in a tripped position, turn it on. If the fuse is in a burnt state, fix it properly. And if you feel the need to change it, replace it without wasting time.

Also Read: What Is an Oil Circuit Breaker | Construction of Oil Circuit Breaker | Working Principle of Oil Circuit Breaker | Types of Oil Circuit Breaker

#3. Check the GFCIs:

The GFCI outlet is installed in the area of the house where the current is most likely to be applied. If the GFCI If the sense leaks into an electric current, it immediately trips and turns off the power.

Find GFCI outlets in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, etc. in the house and also if there is any other place in the house where GFCI is located and test and reset all these. If the GFCI is not reset, this may be due to lack of power supply or the GFCI may go bad.

Special Note: If the GFCI trips every time you reset it, there may be a damaging and dangerous current leakage somewhere in the circuit. In such a serious case you should choose a suitable electrician.

Assess the problem through these symptoms:

The reset button does not pop out when we press the test button. So it means that the button in the current is not pressed enough to reach the unit. Or we may have a defective GFCI.
If the reset button pops up when turning on any device in the house, it could be due to a downstream ground fault or an incorrect GFCI connection.
If the reset does not reside in it, the GFCI downstream, or it may be improperly applied.
Even if the reset button is out if the plug-in device works there may be a reverse line and load. In rare cases, the circuit breaker may be defective.
If the reset button is turned on but the plug-in device does not work. Then the GFCI may have been misplaced. Is defective, or cannot receive current.

#4. Look for Loose or Bad Connections:

Grab the wire connector and then pull each wire to check for loose connections. If you find any loose connection, remove the wire connector. And cut all the wires in the connector and then strip them from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch to expose the fresh copper wire.

Note: Carefully read the instructions on the wire connector container to determine the exact length of the stripping.

If the connector box does not have a loose connection of any kind, look into other outlets nearby. Start with the masking tape you marked earlier.

Note: It is advisable to turn off the main circuit breaker when checking any loose connections.

#5. Reinstall the Connector:

Assemble the wires while making sure their ends are long and then twist them clockwise on the new wire connector. Read the no sticker on the wire connector package to match the connector with the number of wires. Then turn on the main circuit breaker and check if your problem is solved. Then even know if this problem is not solved then it is time to choose a suitable electrician.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):

1. What happens when a GFCI won’t reset?

If our GFCI outlet is not being reset, first check the circuit breaker box to make sure that the circuit breaker trip has not taken place somewhere and reset it if necessary. If it still does not reset, it may contain moisture, so try drying it with a hairdryer and try resetting it again after it dries.

2. How do you know if a GFCI breaker is bad?

If the red button is already inside but no power of any kind comes to the GFCI outlet or the outlet connected to it, push the black button. This will cause the red button to pop out. If the red button does not come out then understand that the GFCI outlet has gone bad.

3. Do GFCI breakers go bad?

GFCI breakers can and do go bad, but more than half the time they have moisture somewhere. It doesn’t take much more than heavy fog to get to the problems.

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GFCI Breaker Won’t Reset | Troubleshooting GFCI and Other Dead Outlets