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A disconnected or broken wire along the path somewhere. If you have 5 outlets (in a row) on a breaker and the wire breaks at the 3rd outlet, the first two outlets will still work but the others will not. Rodents are known to gnaw on wires and that can cause the break. Or maybe a wire just came loose from a recepticle.

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Q: What would cause a 20A circuit breaker to remain on but have power with only two outlets and nothing anywhere else?
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Plugging an electric heater into a GFI outlet caused the lights and other outlets to go out but didn't trip the circuit breaker why?

A GFCI receptacle can pass it's "protection" to other outlets wired from it. If the GFCI trips, all outlets wired from it will "trip" also. A GFCI tripping will not necessarily trip the circuit breaker in the service panel.


How do you find a triped circuit?

Check the circuit panel / breaker box. The tripped breaker should be partway between 'OFF' and 'ON'. If nothing else, turn the breakers off then on, one at a time and when the tripped breaker is reset, the circuit should be live again. Also check GFI outlets. If one is in fault condition, it will need to be reset. If the tripped GFI outlet is protecting other outlets, they will come back when the tripped GFI is reset. These sockets seem to hide in many cases... Behind microwave ovens for example or refrigerators.


Can you replace a 20 amp circuit breaker with a 25 amp circuit breaker?

No. The breaker must protect the circuit components such as wiring, outlets and switches that are connected to the breaker. Therefore if you have a 30 amp circuit as dictated by its components you need to protect it with a 30 amp or less breaker.


How many outlets and lights on a 60 amp breaker?

120 amps The above answer is wrong. A 60 amp breaker is designed to trip at 60 amps be it a single pole, double pole or a triple pole that is used on three phase equipment. The number on the handle of a breaker is the trip capacity.


Should you use 14-2 or 12-2 for garage outlets and lights in Richfield mn?

The only determining factor is the size of the circuit breaker that you will be using. If the garage circuit will be protected with a 15 Amp breaker, you may use a 14 AWG wire. If the circuit will be protected with a 20 amp breaker, you must use a 12 AWG wire. Note too that garage outlets should be protected with a GFCI breaker or outlet. If you have any concerns regarding your ability to adequately design and install the garage outlets, please, for your own safety, contact a local electrician.

Related questions

Is a ground fault indicator outlet installed at the breaker box?

There are tow places to put a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. There is a GFCI breaker which would be installed in a breaker box and a GFCI outlet that can be installed anywhere. Most GFCI outlets allow you to connect regular outlets to the GFCI and those outlets will also be protected.


What size circuit breaker do you need for kichen counter outlets?

Two 20 Amp circuits with the outlets staggered so a different circuit is on two adjacent outlets. Should be GFCI protected.


Plugging an electric heater into a GFI outlet caused the lights and other outlets to go out but didn't trip the circuit breaker why?

A GFCI receptacle can pass it's "protection" to other outlets wired from it. If the GFCI trips, all outlets wired from it will "trip" also. A GFCI tripping will not necessarily trip the circuit breaker in the service panel.


How do you find a triped circuit?

Check the circuit panel / breaker box. The tripped breaker should be partway between 'OFF' and 'ON'. If nothing else, turn the breakers off then on, one at a time and when the tripped breaker is reset, the circuit should be live again. Also check GFI outlets. If one is in fault condition, it will need to be reset. If the tripped GFI outlet is protecting other outlets, they will come back when the tripped GFI is reset. These sockets seem to hide in many cases... Behind microwave ovens for example or refrigerators.


Can you replace a 20 amp circuit breaker with a 25 amp circuit breaker?

No. The breaker must protect the circuit components such as wiring, outlets and switches that are connected to the breaker. Therefore if you have a 30 amp circuit as dictated by its components you need to protect it with a 30 amp or less breaker.


How many outlets and lights on a 60 amp breaker?

120 amps The above answer is wrong. A 60 amp breaker is designed to trip at 60 amps be it a single pole, double pole or a triple pole that is used on three phase equipment. The number on the handle of a breaker is the trip capacity.


Should you use 14-2 or 12-2 for garage outlets and lights in Richfield mn?

The only determining factor is the size of the circuit breaker that you will be using. If the garage circuit will be protected with a 15 Amp breaker, you may use a 14 AWG wire. If the circuit will be protected with a 20 amp breaker, you must use a 12 AWG wire. Note too that garage outlets should be protected with a GFCI breaker or outlet. If you have any concerns regarding your ability to adequately design and install the garage outlets, please, for your own safety, contact a local electrician.


Do you have a 15 0r 20 amp circuit?

Go to your distribution panel and shut off the breaker that you think is the circuit in question. If the circuit becomes de-energized then the breaker you just turned off feeds that circuit. Look on the handle of the breaker and the number you see is the amperage of that circuit. <<>> Determination of a 15 or 20 Ampere circuit is normally indicated by a combination of a 20A breaker and a 20A dedicated outlet. A 15A circuit normally has multiple outlets; not typical in a 20A circuit.


What is a dedicated circuit?

A "dedicated" circuit is one to which only one device is or can be connected; therefore the circuit is "dedicated" to the device. A NON dedicated circuit will therefore be one to which multiple devices can connect, such as the wall outlets in your home. Multiple wall outlets are connected to a common circuit breaker, making that an example of a non-dedicated circuit.


What Voltage type are in outlets at home?

Your home electrical wall outlets current capacity is governed by the breaker that feeds that circuit. In most home situations the wall receptacles are fed with a 15 amp breaker. Dedicated outlets could have a higher ampacity as they are installed for specific appliances or devices. To check your circuit, plug a lamp into the outlet. Start flipping the breakers off. When the lamp goes out that is the breaker for that circuit. Look on the handle of the breaker and it will tell you the capacity of that particular circuit.


How much outlet to 20 amp breaker?

No. Receptacle is rated at 15 amps and the wire that feeds it will also rated at 15 amps. Since it will take 20 amps to trip the breaker the wire will be become overloaded. The above is true only if it is a single dedicated outlet. You can use 15A duplex outlets on a 20A circuit, ie: kitchen and dining room outlets per the National Electrical Code.


If your circuit breaker popped and will not go back what should you do?

first be sure to reset the breaker handle to the off position. When a breaker trips the handle goes to a neutral position. After resetting the handle turn it tothe on position. If it trips again there is a short in the circuit. Find out which outlets are not workingand unplug anything that is currently plugged in to the outlets. Reset the breaker and turn it to the on position,if it trips again call a qualified electrician.