Troubleshooting ground fault circuit interrupts or GFI breakers is simple. Troubleshooting the circuit itself can be time-consuming. The GFI circuit breaker design has a test button integrated into the circuit breaker itself. Pressing the test button should trip the circuit breaker. On a GFI type circuit breaker, the neutral wire entering the house socket is connected to the neutral connector of the circuit breaker, and the white neutral wire coming out of the circuit breaker is connected to the neutral bus in the panel, isolating the neutral bus from the incoming neutral wire in the house. The test button actually shorts the neutral line that feeds the circuit to the neutral bus in the electrical panel, creating a ground fault that should trip the circuit breaker.

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What should we do? if the test button doesn’t trip the circuit breaker

Step 1

Press the test button on the GFI breaker. The circuit breaker should trip. If the circuit breaker does not trip, then the circuit breaker may have tripped and appear to be open. When tripping, the position of the switch can only move slightly from the open position to the closed position.

Step 2

Push the switch on the GFI circuit breaker all the way to the off position. It may take some force to reset the circuit breaker. Turn circuit breaker back to open position. After resetting the circuit breaker properly, you should feel some resistance when you turn the switch back on.

Step 3

Press the test button again and the circuit breaker should trip. If the circuit breaker still does not trip, then you should test the power supply at the screw connection inside the electrical panel. Remove the screws holding the dead corners covering the circuit breaker connection. Remove the premortem cover.

Step 4

Use your voltmeter to test the power supply on a higher graduated AC voltage. For a single-pole GFI circuit breaker, touch the black wire of the tester to the silver screw on the GFI circuit breaker, and touch the red wire of the tester to the brass screw on the GFI circuit breaker. You should see 110 volts on the tester. If the voltage is seen but the test button does not trip the circuit breaker, the circuit breaker is broken and should be replaced.

Step 5

Test the power supply of the bipolar circuit breaker by contacting the red voltmeter lead with one of the screws connected to the black or red wire. Contact the black wire to the other screw with the black or red wire attached. You should read 220 volts or close to it on the voltmeter. If you read the voltage and the test button does not trip, the circuit breaker is broken and needs to be replaced.

What if the circuit breaker does not reset and keeps tripping when turned on

Step 1

Unplug everything plugged into any socket on the relevant circuit. Try to reset the circuit breaker again by pushing the switch all the way to the off position and then turning it back to the on position. If the circuit breaker does not reset and trip when the switch is in the open position, the circuit breaker may be damaged or the circuit itself has a problem.

Step 2

Use a flat head screwdriver to loosen the brass connection screw or screw on the GFI circuit breaker. Pull the black hot wire or wire out of the connector of the circuit breaker. Loosen the silver screw that connects the white wire and remove it from the GFI circuit breaker.

Step 3

Push the switch all the way to off position. Turn the switch back to the on position. If the circuit breaker still cannot be reset, the problem is in the circuit breaker itself and it should be replaced with a new circuit breaker of the same size, brand and model. If the circuit breaker is reset properly and the test button causes the circuit breaker to trip when pressed, the problem is in the circuit itself and an electrician should be called to find a ground fault.

Step 4

Reconnect the black wire or wire to the brass screw on the GFI circuit breaker. Reconnect the white wire to the silver screw on the GFI circuit breaker.

Step 5

Reinstall the front cover on the circuit breaker panel. Install the screws or screws that hold the dead corners in place.