Installing A Circuit Breaker In An Existing Panel

The national electric code nec includes the minimum standards for installing a circuit breaker panel box.

Installing a circuit breaker in an existing panel.

Tighten the clamp to secure the wires. To install a new circuit you will need an open slot in your breaker panel for a new circuit breaker. After making sure the circuit breaker is still in the off position connect the white neutral wire and the black hot wire to the breaker. The a phase feeds breakers one and two the top row.

Connect any new circuits to the subpanel attaching the hot wire to a circuit breaker and the other wires to their respective buses. Plan to work during the daytime as you will need to shut off all power in your home during most of the project. Install the breaker first. If you re installing a breaker on a sub panel place the neutral and ground on separate bus bars.

100 amp service upgrade how to wire install an electrical service hello we hope you enjoy and learn from out how to videos. A subpanel connects to the main service panel with a thick three wire cable. Snap the breaker into place by clipping it to the hot bus bar. Connect the circuit wiring to the electrical panel.

Clear a knockout panel install cable clamps in the hole and feed the wires through the clamp. Snapping the circuit breaker into place is the easiest part of the job but it s important to take some safety precautions before you begin the installation. The feeder breaker in the main panel acts as the main disconnect for the subpanel. The b phase feeds the second row breakers three and four and so on down the panel.

If the service panel does not have room for new circuit breakers and you cannot use tandem breakers a subpanel may be the answer. On afci or gfci breakers this circuit wire will be attached to the terminal marked load power or black finally for afci or gfci breakers attach the breaker s coiled white pigtail wire to the neutral bus bar in the panel. On a main panel you connect the ground wire from the new cable and the neutral white pigtail from the afci to the neutral bus. Three of these standards concern the box location clearance and space around the box and box height.

With all circuit wires connected the circuit breaker can be snapped into place into its panel slot. Connect the white circuit wire not the coiled white wire to the breaker terminal labeled panel neutral or white connect the black circuit wire to the breaker terminal labeled load power or black. Loosen the screw over the breaker s connection terminal insert the wires into the appropriate terminal locations then tighten the screw until snug. Measure the room or rooms where you ll be installing the circuit and draw a detailed accurate floor plan.

Route the afci neutral pigtail and ground wires to empty screws on the neutral bus and tighten.