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Posted: 3/10/2014 1:15:09 PM EST
Long story short, a tree branch fell on my grandmother's lamp post outside and broke it. I was living in another state at the time, so she had someone she knew attempt to fix it for her.






She's not 100% on the details, but from what I can piece together there was some issue while fixing the lamp post, and since then she's been living without power in a few rooms. The biggest issue is the dining room ceiling light/fan. The living room has a couple of can lights that are out, the kitchen has some outlets that dont work, some that do, and obviously the lamp post doesnt work.








I checked the panel, and there are a few breakers flipped to the off position. Unfortunately, none of them are labeled.







Is there any reason I shouldn't just flip some breakers and see what happens? If there's a wiring issue somewhere down the line the breaker will just trip, right?







Thanks in advance!
















ETA - The more I think about it, I'm thinking perhaps he flipped 'em off in anticipation of working on the lamp post, and since they're not labeled, he flipped off more than he needed to, and never put 'em back on. - OR, he didnt turn them off, sparked himself while working, and then flipped them all off...

 
Link Posted: 3/10/2014 1:40:32 PM EST
[#1]
Quoted:
Long story short, a tree branch fell on my grandmother's lamp post outside and broke it. I was living in another state at the time, so she had someone she knew attempt to fix it for her.

She's not 100% on the details, but from what I can piece together there was some issue while fixing the lamp post, and since then she's been living without power in a few rooms. The biggest issue is the dining room ceiling light/fan. The living room has a couple of can lights that are out, the kitchen has some outlets that dont work, some that do, and obviously the lamp post doesnt work.

I checked the panel, and there are a few breakers flipped to the off position. Unfortunately, none of them are labeled.

Is there any reason I shouldn't just flip some breakers and see what happens? If there's a wiring issue somewhere down the line the breaker will just trip, right?



Thanks in advance!

ETA - The more I think about it, I'm thinking perhaps he flipped 'em off in anticipation of working on the lamp post, and since they're not labeled, he flipped off more than he needed to, and never put 'em back on. - OR, he didnt turn them off, sparked himself while working, and then flipped them all off...
 
View Quote



Just flip them back on if there is a short it will trip off again. Be aware that when a breaker trips most of the time it only moves to the middle and not to the off position.

Link Posted: 3/10/2014 2:06:36 PM EST
[#2]
Not knowing what the previous guy did, hard to say what will happen if you turn on all the breakers.  The affected circuit
to the lamp post has to be fed from a  nearby switch/outlet box.  If that cable feeding the post lite is disconnected, all the rest of the house will be fine.   There is no reason for random circuits to be turned off due to a problem with one circuit.
Look for a pvc conduit on the exterior of the house near the pole. that conduit will be going to a switch/outlet inside.
Do a continuity test to confirm you have the correct wires, disconnect those wires and fix the pole lite issue.
Link Posted: 3/10/2014 3:20:36 PM EST
[#3]
I would wonder if the breakers were tripped (half way between off and on) or simply switched off.  Like someone already said, reset the breakers and see what happens.
Link Posted: 3/10/2014 3:22:28 PM EST
[#4]


Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Just flip them back on if there is a short it will trip off again. Be aware that when a breaker trips most of the time it only moves to the middle and not to the off position.





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Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:





Quoted:


Long story short, a tree branch fell on my grandmother's lamp post outside and broke it. I was living in another state at the time, so she had someone she knew attempt to fix it for her.





She's not 100% on the details, but from what I can piece together there was some issue while fixing the lamp post, and since then she's been living without power in a few rooms. The biggest issue is the dining room ceiling light/fan. The living room has a couple of can lights that are out, the kitchen has some outlets that dont work, some that do, and obviously the lamp post doesnt work.





I checked the panel, and there are a few breakers flipped to the off position. Unfortunately, none of them are labeled.





Is there any reason I shouldn't just flip some breakers and see what happens? If there's a wiring issue somewhere down the line the breaker will just trip, right?
Thanks in advance!





ETA - The more I think about it, I'm thinking perhaps he flipped 'em off in anticipation of working on the lamp post, and since they're not labeled, he flipped off more than he needed to, and never put 'em back on. - OR, he didnt turn them off, sparked himself while working, and then flipped them all off...


 

Just flip them back on if there is a short it will trip off again. Be aware that when a breaker trips most of the time it only moves to the middle and not to the off position.










 

This is kind of what I was thinking, but I wasnt 100%. Just figured I'd ask while I was rolling it around in my mind earlier.







Got off work and went over there. Went ahead and flipped 'em all. None tripped back off. All the lights work except the lamp post.







Its a shame the previous guy left her hangin' this long over something so stupid. Had I known about it, I would've helped her sooner, but she just told me. Atleast all the lights work now.







Thanks guys!






 
Link Posted: 3/10/2014 6:16:56 PM EST
[#5]
Maybe you should try and label it for her.   Just go 1 at time,  turn 1 off run around the house and make a list of what does not work...
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