How to Troubleshoot Shorts in an Electrical Service Panel

The fuses or breakers in your electrical service panel are designed to protect against shorts and other electrical problems and keep them from starting a fire or causing damage to your house. An electrical short occurs when an appliance or the wiring in your home triggers an electrical path in an unintended spot, causing the fuse or breaker to trip. You can track down the cause of the short within your home by taking a few simple steps.

Volt/ohm meter

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off and unplug any devices or appliances that may have been running when the short occurred.
- 2
  Reset the breaker or fuse that the electrical short tripped. You may need to replace the breaker or fuse if it was damaged. If the breaker or fuse immediately trips again, and all appliances are unplugged, the cause of the short may within the wiring of your home.
- 3
  Plug appliances in and turn them on one at a time, testing to see whether the breaker or fuse trips. If a particular appliance causes the short, have the appliance repaired or replace it to avoid a dangerous situation.
- 4
  Test any power outlets you suspect to be the cause of the short. Use a volt/ohm meter. Insert the two leads into the power outlet and test the voltage, then test the ohms. If the outlet shows "O.L." you may need to replace the outlet.

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