I had a senior moment yesterday moving a three-way switch to a different wall. Not only was I moving the switch, I was removing a second switched outlet that was right beside it. Anyway, the senior moment arrived when I forgot that I had removed the outlet, and instead of a neutral wire coming back to the box, I had a hot wire coming back. Well, you can imagine the number of times I blew the circuit breaker trying to wire the switch back! Around eight or ten times (I never said I was brilliant, just determined. :). I only figured it out what I had done during milking last night when I do all my serious thinking. :) So, my question is, how many times can you blow a circuit breaker without breaking it? It still works now, but is there any reason to consider replacing it now while I'm aware that I put it through its paces and then some yesterday? My inclination is to leave it on line, but ? What does anyone else think?

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), October 28, 2001

Answers

Odds are that if it resets, as yours obviously did, it's fine. If you're going to worry about it, though, then go ahead and replace it. It's not worth losing sleep over. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 28, 2001.

Id also day its good,, but they make a breaker tester, if it trips,, its still good. And apparnetly you "tested" it ALOT :)

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 28, 2001.

LOL! Stan, yes, I sure did test it! If I'd "tested" it much more I was about ready to rip the whole business out. :)

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), October 28, 2001.

As along as the breaker does not trip from the slightest load, ie. turning on a light, it is good. If it flips annoyingly often, replace it.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), October 29, 2001.