I had a basement finished about 2yrs ago. Everything went good and is still functioning with no major problems, but I have a question regarding one of the room's circuit breakers. I'm not sure what its really called, but a special breaker had to be put in the panel for the two bedrooms down there. It basically looks like a regular breaker switch in the panel, but just below it is a special little button that is associated with it.
At the time, it was required for code for bedrooms & is some sort of safety feature. I think I understood it as being needed cause it will help prevent an overload (or something like that) for high current items that might get plugged in to a bedroom (like a space heater). I think you are suppose to plug the item in first and THEN turn it on. If you plug it in with the switch on, it will trip the circuit. Again, I'm not totally sure how this type of breaker works so I might not have the correct info here (& sort of why I'm posting here)
For the most part, we don't have any problems, but occasionally, the circuit will get tripped when I plug in simple items. Most recently when I tried to plug in a satellite radio in one of the bedrooms that has a universal AC adapter. The breaker switch would not reset until I totally unplugged this universal AC adapter from the outlet. Once unplugged, the breaker would reset properly.
What is maybe going on here with this simple electronic item that I can't seem to believe is the sole reason it is tripping the breaker EVERY time. Or how does this kind of circuit breaker really operate in general and the correct way to go about using items in these bedrooms with this type of breaker system?
Any help understanding this would be great. Thanks
At the time, it was required for code for bedrooms & is some sort of safety feature. I think I understood it as being needed cause it will help prevent an overload (or something like that) for high current items that might get plugged in to a bedroom (like a space heater). I think you are suppose to plug the item in first and THEN turn it on. If you plug it in with the switch on, it will trip the circuit. Again, I'm not totally sure how this type of breaker works so I might not have the correct info here (& sort of why I'm posting here)
For the most part, we don't have any problems, but occasionally, the circuit will get tripped when I plug in simple items. Most recently when I tried to plug in a satellite radio in one of the bedrooms that has a universal AC adapter. The breaker switch would not reset until I totally unplugged this universal AC adapter from the outlet. Once unplugged, the breaker would reset properly.
What is maybe going on here with this simple electronic item that I can't seem to believe is the sole reason it is tripping the breaker EVERY time. Or how does this kind of circuit breaker really operate in general and the correct way to go about using items in these bedrooms with this type of breaker system?
Any help understanding this would be great. Thanks