GFCI Breaker (not plug) test button not working.

9 years ago

I have a gfci breaker in my electrical box that I believe only has one outlet on it. My refrigerator has been plugged into an outlet that is a few feet away from it. After pulling the fridge out, I found an outlet behind it, but it does not worked. I have check wiring at the receptacle and have also replace the receptacle. Plug in tester doesn't show anything working at the outlet. After having relabeled everything in my electrical box (just moved in last year) I am quite certain that this fridge outlet is connected to the gfci circuit breaker. When I press the test button on the circuit breaker, it does not flip or do anything. The test button is very loose and doesn't flip the circuit off. However, checking the hotwire on that breaker, I am indeed getting the proper voltage off of it. Is this a simple matter of the gfci breaker gone bad or is there a possible wiring issue related to a bad ground? Any ideas? Have not found any other forums about this specific issue....

Featured Answer

Kevin Dobbs
Original Author

6 years ago

Ended up determining bad breaker. Replaced breaker and issue is fixed.

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Comments (7)

Ron Natalie
9 years ago
Is the neutral pigtail connected to the neutral bus? If the breaker has power and the pigtail is connected properly, the failure of the test button indicates the breaker is defective (either the test button is broken or the GFCI circuit isn't working). Either way , you'll need to replace it.
Kevin Dobbs thanked Ron Natalie
greg_2015
9 years ago
If the hot side of the breaker is providing power, but the receptacle you suspect is downstream doesn't have any power, then something is going on between the breaker and the outlet.

Like maybe it isn't actually feeding the outlet.

Or maybe there's another GFCI outlet between the breaker and the outlet and THAT GFCI is tripped.

Or maybe however you are testing for power is being done incorrectly and it isn't actually hot.

Have you turned that breaker fully off and back on again?
Kevin Dobbs thanked greg_2015
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Kevin Dobbs
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Ron, the neutral pigtail is indeed connected to the neutral bus. The button definitely seems to be malfunctioning. Trying to replace and will see what the test bring.

Greg, it definitely appears the breaker is not feeding the outlet. I am certain that my readings are correct on the breaker. I have turned it off and on all the way multiple times. It reads about 120 V when its on and reads zero when its off. Everything was connected properly. Will have breaker swapped out soon.

Thank you both for the help.
greg_2015
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
So when it read 120V when it's on ... did you tested it at the outlet (the same way) and it's zero? If so, there is something breaking it between the breaker and the outlet.

A quick test would be to move the wires over to a different breaker temporarily. Don't go out and buy another GFCI breaker until you've determined that's the problem (they're expensive). In fact, if this is just protecting a fridge, you may not want a GFCI breaker anyways. Nuisance trips can cost you lots of money in spoiled food.

Or if you want GFCI protection, a regular breaker and a GFCI receptacle might be cheaper than a GFCI breaker.
John M
6 years ago
coming in late, but having a similar problem. What ended up happening here? Thanks!
John M
6 years ago
Ha , awesome..thanks for the quick reply!