Why There's A Flashing Light On Your Breaker Switch Panel

Your breaker switch panel (also called a circuit breaker box or just breaker box) is where main power from the utility company enters your home. From there, it goes to the various outlets and lighting circuits. If all this is new to you, it's worth spending a few minutes reading our article on everything you should know about circuit breaker boxes. Modern breakers have a small LED light. If you see it flashing, it's telling you there's a fault. Some indicate a risk of fire, while others warn of potential electrical shock, but regardless, it's imperative that you deal with the problem quickly.

Standard breakers (typically found in homes 25 years or older) don't have lights. There are still warning signs if a breaker is bad, but you don't get the visual alert. National building codes now demand AFCIs (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters) or GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) in all new homes. In a nutshell, AFCIs protect in situations where there's a fire hazard, while GFCIs protect against shocks.

When these advanced breakers detect a problem, two things happen. First, they normally trip to cut off the power. Second, they flash. The pattern of flashes (there are several different ones) shows the type of fault. Patterns vary from one manufacturer to another, but in addition to arc or ground faults, they warn of things like a circuit overload, a short in the household wiring, or a failure in the breaker itself.

First, you can try resetting the breaker. Unexpected surges can sometimes throw them out. Unplug or turn off everything on that particular circuit, then push the button or flip the switch. Next, turn things on one at a time. If you plug in a hair dryer, for example, and the breaker trips again, it could be a fault with that appliance. Another common reason is an overload caused by trying to plug too many devices into a power strip.

If it keeps happening to the same breaker switch, whether immediately or on and off over a period of days, it's likely the problem is more serious. Although you might be able to find an explanation of the flashing light patterns online, you should not attempt to resolve the issue yourself. Even for a qualified electrician, the pattern may just be a place to start, and further investigation will be required to track down the fault.

There are a few common reasons your breaker keeps tripping, and you may be able to fix it yourself, but if you've tried the simple steps and that hasn't worked, it's time to call in a professional. Your home, and even your life, could be in danger if you don't.