"CL (dnoyeB) Gilbert" wrote in message
...
Phil wrote:
I'm having a problem with an electrical circuit in my home. The power
goes
out only in one section and hours to days later it may come on again for
no apparent reason and then off again. I was able to isolate the breaker
when
power resumed. It's a double 30 amp breaker and it doesn't trip off but
still no power. It only controls doorbell and an outlet in the garage.
I've checked for loose wires but haven't found anything. I've flipped the
breaker on and off and still nothing. I think at one time this was for an
electric water heater but have switched to gas over 20 years ago. Could
the breaker be bad? I would appreciate any suggestions.

thanks in advance.

Phild




I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned yet how dangerous this situation is?
Something is randomly interrupting the current. That causes heat.
fortunately its only a small load. Still, when its interrupted you should
take the opportunity to check the continuity of the circuit and see where
the break is. Shouldn't be that hard.

--
Thank you,


CL Gilbert
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes
9:16

An intermittant open will not cause heating. You need current flow, and
substantial current at that, in house wiring to produce noticable heat. An
intermittant short certainly would cause heating but should also trip the
breaker.

It is unusual for a double pole breaker to feed a 110V receptacle but not
unheard of. If only one side of the double pole breaker tripped and the
breaker were not working perfectly, the other pole switch handle could hold
the switch in a position making it look on when it is in fact half tripped.
One pole should be able to trip the other but an old breaker might be
sticky.

Have you tried toggling each breaker off and on. Did that one feel
different the first time you switched it as opposed to subsiquent tries?

There is also a good possibility that the wire connection to the back of the
receptacle or a wire nut in the doorbell is open. Inspect the connections
to eack of these things. If the receptacle has the wires shoved in the
back, replace it with one with side screws