One circuit breaker won't reset after lightning (replaced the circuit breaker already)?

Question

When the lightning and thunderstorm struck 2 days ago, the lights flickered couple times and eventually triggered one circuit break. Since then, the circuit breaker won't reset, I measured the resistance from the electric box(popped out the breaker of course), it points to zero. I had a hard time to find out which light/outlet caused the short. any advice?

Answer 1

Since you know which outlet is the cause of the short.I'd(with breaker out) try runing it back from the outlet to the breaker(chances are the problem is in the outlet or at a junction ie daisy chained with other outlets) by takeing the outlets off the wire and measureing toward the breaker at each outlet till you find the problem.

Answer 2

USA   You measured resistance from the box to what?  From hot to ground should be infinite.  From hot to neutral should be infinite.  From neutral to ground at the box should be zero.  From hot to hot - breaker to busbar - should be zero.

Turn the breaker off.  Remove the wire from it.  Reset the breaker.  If it resets without the wire hooked up, the breaker is ok and not damaged.  If the breaker does not reset, replace it.  If the breaker is ok, the lightning loosened or burned a connection.  Take all the lights/switches/receptacles out and clean / tighten all connections

Answer 3

Disconnect the wires from the fan and the outlet and cap off the wires and see if it will reset. If it does turn back off and hook one of these back up and turn breaker back on. If it doesn't trip then the problem will be with the other. Hope this helps and hope its not nothing more serious like a burnt up wire inside the wall somewhere.

Answer 4

First unplug everything on that circuit and see if the short is still there.  If so it is in your wiring or an outlet actually shorted.  Go to each outlet on that breaker and inspect and ohm for shorts.  Work you way back until you isolate the problem then replace or repair the problem.  It could be where the wire enters the outlet box, so inspect there also.  Don't forget to inspect in the breaker box itself.  Also check if there are any light fixtures on that circuit.  Good luck.