Troubleshooting Electrical Problems With Appliances

Normally, you discover you have an electrical problem when you turn on a lamp or appliance and it will not work. When this occurs the source of the problem may be the appliance itself, a faulty wire connection, an overloaded or a short circuit. To establish the cause and fix the problem, confer with the chart below.

To tell apart between an overloaded circuit and a short circuit can be difficult. Circuits well become overloaded when there are too many appliances on it than it can safely handle. When all the appliances on the circuit are turned on simultaneously, the wiring becomes overheated and causing the circuit breaker to trip or the fuse to blow. In worse cases this problem may cause the circuit to spark or start on fire.

A short circuit occurs when a bare hot wire comes in contact with a bare neutral wire or ground center. The flood of extra current trips a circuit breaker or blows a fuse.

 

Problem Possible Cause Solutions
Light Fixture Doesn’t Turn On                                                                                                               Burned out bulb Replace bulb.
  Defective fluorescent starter Replace fluorescent starter.
  Faulty switch Replace switch.
  Faulty socket Tighten connections at switch or fixture.
  Faulty socket Replace socket.
Appliance  Will Not Turn On Overloaded circuit Test for overloads; shift appliance or lamp to another circuit.
  Damaged plug or cord Replace plug or cord.
  Loose wiring Tighten connections at switch or receptacle.
  Defect in appliance Test in another circuit; repair if fault.*
Appliance Will Not Work in One Circuit, but Will Work in Another Overloaded circuit Test for overload; Shift appliance or lamp to another circuit.
  Loss connection Tighten connections at receptacle.
  Short Circuit Test for short circuit; Make repair.*
Appliance Will Not Turn On in  Switch-Controlled Receptacle Loose wiring Tighten connections at switch or fixture.
  Faulty switch Replace switch.
  Faulty receptacle Replace  receptacle.
Some Lights will Not Turn On Loose wiring Tighten connections at switch or fixture.
  Faulty switch Replace switch.
All Lights will Not Turn On Overloaded circuit Test for overload; adjust if needed
  Short Circuit Test for short circuit; Make repair.*
  Loose wiring Tighten connections at switch.
  Faulty switch Replace switch.

 

Fuses and Circuit Breakers

Fuses and Circuit Breakers

*Should be done by a professional.