Home breaker Box panel question .see pic

[crazy charlie]

Take a look at the green breakers.Im not familiar with breakers at all.They look like double breakers and there is a metal piece that works the 2 outside breakers together..?? I am asking because one of the breakers was acting like it was trying to trip and I think the metal clip was stopping the breaker from tripping .There was a feint arcing sound and it was tough to isolate which was trying to trip.Want to learn a little before I call an electrician or handy man. Charlie.

 

[racerone]

What circuit is it on ?

 

[crazy charlie]

What circuit is it on ?

Not entirely sure what you are asking ?? The breakers are for the bedrooms and garage outlets

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Usually, a double breaker is for 220v applications, like dryer, water heater, oven. If it's outlets/switches for two different rooms, they should be seperate breakers.

The circuit is what is powered by the breaker, so in this case the outlets.

I'm no electrician, but this looks weird to me.

 

[crazy charlie]

Usually, a double breaker is for 220v applications, like dryer, water heater, oven. If it's outlets/switches for two different rooms, they should be seperate breakers.

The circuit is what is powered by the breaker, so in this case the outlets.

I'm no electrician, but this looks weird to me.

Thanks for the explanation,much appreciated. Im pretty sure the 220 breakers are the large black ones up top but I will take a closer look. In the 30+ years I am in my home I rarely go in the breaker box and when I need to I shut the main. I fear electric, always have. I had to replace a simple outdoor outlet recently and my wife asked "Do you have to shut off the whole house?" and I replied YEP!!

 

[tphoyt]

One of the most common reason for linked breaker is they share a neutral so if one trips it will trip the other. If your hearing arcing in the panel it could be several causes including lose lugs and or corrosion. If you not comfortable messing with it then it best to make a call. For kicks you could unplug anything on those circuits and see if it’s still causing trouble to rule out a bad appliance or device.
You can also get a tester that plugs into an outlet and will tell you if there is a short or ground fault.

 

[cyclops222]

FIRE HAZARD !!!!!
Turn that breaker off !!! Turn the MAIN BREAKER OFF ....FIRST !! THen try to turn off the arcing breaker.
If it will not go to ....FULLY OFF ? Leave the main breaker off. Until a electrician can do it safely. He may have to pull that bad breaker out of the panel. THEN turn power back on. Any electrician will come immediately to prevent a fire.
CALL NOW !!!

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

I fear electric, always have. I had to replace a simple outdoor outlet recently and my wife asked "Do you have to shut off the whole house?" and I replied YEP!!

Individual breakers for anything in that circuit, main breaker for working on the other breakers in the box, breaker at the pole for main breaker back.

Most important tool is a light pen to make sure the desired area is shut off. If you can't confirm no power, don't work on it.

 

[KD4UPL]

Those 4 green breakers are actually 2 double poles in one. It's a way of getting 2 double pole breakers in 1 double space. The 2 outside are one double pole breaker. The 2 inside are another double pole. Each set should trip as a set.
I'm guessing this is a Westinghouse breaker panel; they used the bright colors like you have. I think Bryant may have used them too.
If your breakers aren't tripping together they need to replaced. It will be difficult but not impossible to find one of those. Your best option, if you have another double space in the panel, is to get rid of that thing and replace it with 2 normal double poles.
If it matters, I'm an electrician.

 

[cyclops222]

DO NOT work on the circuit breakers with the....MAIN.... still on !!!
A friend did the breaker work with the Main Breaker still on.
Panel caught fire. Badly burned the siding on the outside of the house.