Breaker panels are often painted grey with a black latch on the lid. You can often find the breaker panel on the opposite side of the exterior wall that the power line runs into.
You can wear rubber gloves to ensure there’s no moisture on your hands, but it isn’t considered necessary. Err on the side of caution and dry your hands if you think they are even slightly damp.
While breakers are rather safe, small precautions like this could save your life if anything were to go wrong. You don’t need to be far off to the side, just aligned so your body isn’t directly in front of the panel.
Most panel latches can be released by pressing them up slightly and then pulling the lid out toward yourself. The lid is on hinges and will swing open.
A barely flipped switch and a completely flipped switch will both have the same effect on the flow of electricity through your house. Look closely at the switches and how they align with one another. There may be more than one that’s been thrown.
Read the diagram to find the portion of the house that has lost power and use that to find the switch associated with it. If there is no diagram, you will have to rely on finding the flipped switch visually.
If the breaker panel starts making any loud noises, you should also call an electrician. Never, under any circumstances, open a breaker panel up to try to diagnose issues yourself. You should always have the help of a certified electrician when trying to work on your house’s electrical system.
Grip the switch with the thumb and index finger of one hand and flip it all the way to the “off” side. Remember, do not touch the panel with both hands at once.
If the power doesn’t come back on after you flip the switch, your circuit likely needs repairs. Remember to look for multiple switches that may have been thrown. You may need to turn more than one on.
Go back to the breaker panel and examine it again for any other flipped breaker switches. If power still doesn’t flow to the part of the house, you will need the assistance of an electrician.
The panel can usually be found on the opposite side of the exterior wall the power lines connect to. If your entire house loses power, resetting a main breaker may restore it.
Breaker panels are very safe, but small safety precautions can mean the difference between life and death in unlikely situations.
Wearing work gloves can alleviate this concern but aren’t considered a necessary safety measure. If you’re not sure if your hands are dry enough, wipe them off one more time for safety.
The panel lid will open like a door. Never touch the breaker panel with both hands at once.
Flip the switches one by one. Some switches may be connected to one another. Those are fine to flip together.
The power meter and panel are located where the power lines connect to the external wall of your house. Do not touch the meter itself.
Do not touch the main breaker panel with two hands at any time. Do not attempt to do this in the rain. Wait until it’s dry to open the main breaker’s lid.
Although you switched it back to “on,” this often won’t reset the main breaker, and your house will still be without power. Remember, even if the power comes back on, all of the individual breakers are still off, so the lights won’t come on.
Although you switched it back to “on,” this often won’t reset the main breaker, and your house will still be without power. Remember, even if the power comes back on, all of the individual breakers are still off, so the lights won’t come on.
You won’t know if this worked until you turn all the individual breakers in the breaker panel itself back on. Close the lid on the main breaker panel if it’s outdoors at this point.
Remember to make sure your hands are dry and only to touch the panel with one hand at a time.
If the power does not come back on at this point, there may be an issue with the flow of electricity into the house. Contact your power company to help determine if power is not reaching your home breaker panel. If the lights do come back on, close the panel back up.
