HELP !!! electrician advice needed plz

[harley420]

Ok I have a 240 vac breaker in my apt, I have had it trip before and just went to the breaker flicked the switches and bingo the lights went back on, but this morning we got a freak snow storm and when I unplugged my a/c unit it tripped like normal but when I went to the breaker to flick the switches I did it and now half my apt has no power other than a few plugs that work, and for about ten mins after it shorted I tried plugging back in the lamps and it would only power slightly then it just gave up anmd not won't power anmything half my plugs don't work, did I blow the breaker or do I just need to get into the power room I'm my building ? I am clueless when it comes to electricity.

 

[bottletoke]

Sounds like you lost a leg on your incoming power. Your going to have to reset your main breaker or replace a fuse. If you don't have a main breaker on your panel then everything will be in the electrical room on your floor or above or below it.
Ps:it sounds like u have issues though, u shouldnt be tripping breakers from unplugging equipment, sounds like a loose wire is shortingout on the receptacle.

Pss: I'm an electrician

 

[spek9]

It could be a few different things...

My first guess is that after the power outage, your area could be experiencing brownout-type conditions which is delivering some electricity to your building, but not enough to keep everything powered. I'm led to believe this by your statement that "only powered up slightly".

It may also be that something is blown in the building's main breaker panel, however, if a 240v circuit is only partially working, then the wiring in your building could be strange.

The 240v circuit should be on a dual-breaker (or two side-by-side) with a tie-bar so that if you shut one off, they both are disabled. Is this the case?

Without being there it's hard to tell, but the first thing to check: your apartment panel should have two main fuses (you will either have to pull a large box (will have a handle) and if that's not the case, remove the panel cover). If one of those main fuses are blown, you'd experience what you are seeing. Unfortunately, these main fuses don't have indicators whether they are blown or not, and if the fuses aren't inside of a pull out box as described above, you'll have to get the landlord to temporarily turn off the power to your apartment.

Start at the panel and check for the box-block-type main fuse holder. If there is one, pull it out, record the info on the fuse, and go to [insert your choice of renovation store] and pick up two new ones. Beyond that, it is likely your landlord will have to come in to check.

Let us know how you make out or if there is anything I can better clarify.

-spek

 

[harley420]

No this is an old school breaker yeah just the one side is out I still have power to a few outlets and are powering my tv and xbox, I am going to get into the main panel downstairs and see if I can reset it or change a fuse down there, but my building is super old built in the 60s some time the first thing I thought was wiring bcz the place is so old but I have no clue about electrical I'm real good on all other aspects and just to say again my breaker has no fuses its one where u just move the switch to on and off when it trips.

 

[harley420]

And I'm legal so I have no probs on visits from landlord myine is great with repairs but I was hoping this was a quick fix and not something big.... thx for all your help.

 

[harley420]

But if I still have power to some outlets in my house does that mean that my breaker is ok I. Don't know shit about this I thought I blew my breaker but if I still have some power does that mean I have to check the main power supply in the basemeent ?

 

[spek9]

There will be two main breakers, or likely fuses in your case unless your electrical is relatively recent. They will be the size of a cigar and are either in a pull-out fuse block with a foldable handle, or under the panel cover. Each of these two main fuses/breakers will protect a single 120v feed, so yes, if one is blown, you will see what you're seeing. The same thing downstairs, however usually your panel will be fed by a breaker that will shut off everything if one side blows, unless it is fuses as well which one side only may fail.

 

[spek9]

Better yet, post a pic of your panel in your apartment

 

[bottletoke]

Did u flip the breaker to the off position then to on?
Begfore u reset or replace the breaker or fuse you better take a look at that receptacle because it sounds like u have issues there!
Whatever u do dont energize that circuit till u find out why the fault occured!

 

[harley420]

There will be two main breakers, or likely fuses in your case unless your electrical is relatively recent. They will be the size of a cigar and are either in a pull-out fuse block with a foldable handle, or under the panel cover. Each of these two main fuses/breakers will protect a single 120v feed, so yes, if one is blown, you will see what you're seeing. The same thing downstairs, however usually your panel will be fed by a breaker that will shut off everything if one side blows, unless it is fuses as well which one side only may fail.

Hey man thank you so much for your help sometimes its so hard to get straight answers, it was just the fuse the surge came from faulty mexican made 400 watt hps ballast going to bbbe scrapped in 2 weeks and man thanks again not only did u save my lamdlord calling an electrician, you also made me sound prity smart to my landlord lol cheers man I'm gonna friend yah

 

[Bakatare666]

My first thought is that since you mentioned snow, you most likely have high RH, and therefore may have corrosion built up in the clips where your CB's go into the box.
I would suggest pulling them out, and checking to see what they look like.
If necessary, take emery cloth to both the CB's and box too and try again.

 

[harley420]

Hey guys ok so the fuses have been replaced and its still doing th same shit....sigh so if it is the receptical what lind of work load are we talking about ? And if its the breaker in my apt that's shot what does that consist of I'm just tryinng to figure this out as quicly as possible my girls have been sleeping for almost 24 hrs....

 

[puffdatchronic]

Faulty electrics could possibly result in your death and your asking for advice here?! .. get a proper electrican out to see you.

 

[^Slanty]

Faulty electrics could possibly result in your death and your asking for advice here?! .. get a proper electrican out to see you.

I am going to agree with puffdatchronic. If you don't have any electrical background and a multi-meter at the very least, then leave it in the hands of someone who knows what they are doing.