How to Replace a Circuit Breaker
Electrical work is dangerous if you do not have a basic concept of what components you are working with. Some jurisdictions require that a professional licensed electrician do all electrical work, so first check with your building department for any permits that may be required. Additionally, to replace a circuit breaker you will need to open up the interior panel of your electrical box. If you don't know what that is, stop reading this and hire an electrician.
In your home (sometimes outside) is a panel or fuse box that houses circuit breakers for each of the circuits within your home. A circuit breaker provides protection for each of your electrical circuits by cutting off the flow of current if a problem occurs. They come in a variety of sizes but the most common ones are 10, 15 or 20 amps. When a problem happens, the breaker on that circuit "trips" and stops the flow of current to that circuit.
Occasionally circuit breakers wear out and will need replacing. Symptoms of a worn out breaker include a breaker that does not reset, "trips" too easily, or does not "trip" when needed.
To start the work you want to turn off the power at the main cutoff. Usually you will see two large breakers at the top of you electrical box (50 or 100 amp). Throwing these two breakers to off will shut off power to the house.
Once the power to the house is shut off, you can remove the cover panel. Locate the circuit breaker that you want to replace and remove it by by pushing it inward and pulling it towards you. This motion will cause the outside end of the breaker to move away from the panel. You will then be able to pull it out from the panel.
The breaker will have screws holding the wire(s). Simple turn the screw to release each wire. Be sure to replace the circuit breaker with the same style and amp circuit breaker. This way you can easily match the wiring from the old to the new.
Once you have attached the wire(s), insert the new breaker into the box using the opposite motion that you used to remove it. Next reinstall the cover of the panel and turn the main breakers back on.
I always use an electrical tester on the panel to make sure that no wires came loose and "charged" the panel. I also wear rubber glove and rubber boots when working on an electrical box for added safety.
Published by Kevin Flynn
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1 Comments
Post a CommentHey Brother! It's allot safer if you remover the wire from the breaker (after it's turned off). That way both hands are not busy (one with a breaker and the other with a wire) with a live buss bar exposed, and you can safely move the wire aside.
The main reason I wrote is to say that it is much safer if you pull the breaker towards the outside (whether left or right side of the panel). You can use the breaker lever while in the off position to pull the breaker in that same direction. You want the breaker to come out from the middle (LIVE part) of the panel first. To do it the other way as you suggested, there are potential dangers. First, the breaker is still connected to the LIVE buss bar while it is in your hand. Secondly, if you pull it towards the center of the panel as you suggest, it is possible that while you remove the one breaker that way, it could put enough pressure on the breaker on the opposite side of the panel and cause it to come loose of pop out of place.