Replacing/Adding Circuit Breakers

Replacing a Faulty Circuit Breaker-
To replace a bad standard circuit breaker proceed as follows:

1. Turn OFF the power at the main power shutoff Stand on a dry board or rubber mat as you disconnect the power and work on the replacement breaker.
2. Remove the cover panel from the circuit breaker box. It is held with screws that turn counterclockwise. Once the panel is removed, check with a voltmeter to make sure the power is off Be careful to avoid contact with the supply wires connected to the main power shutoff They are still hot.
3. Next, switch the handle on the circuit breaker you're replacing to the OFF position.
4. Remove the damaged breaker. The breaker pulls out of its slot in the box. The breaker may be connected to the box with wires. Or, the breaker may be the type that does not have wires; it simply snaps into the box opening and, at the same time, automatically links with the power wires.
5. Loosen the screw terminals and remove the wires. A single-pole breaker will have one wire attached (usually black). A double-pole breaker will have two wires attached (usually black and red, or black and white). A tandem or "piggyback" breaker, will have twice as many wires attached, since it squeezes two circuits in the space of one.
6. Loosen the binding screw on the new breaker and move the handle to the OFF position.
7. Grip the new breaker and plug it firmly onto the mounting base and the bus bar.
8. Place the load wire in the terminal lug and tighten securely.
9. Replace the cover panel, switch the main power shutoff ON and the new breaker ON. Test the circuit with a voltmeter.

Adding a New Circuit Breaker-
If you're adding a breaker for a new circuit:

1. Turn OFF the power at the main power shutoff.
2. Test to make sure that the power is off by touching the terminal screws of the main power cables with the probes of a voltmeter. If the power is not off, call in a professional electrician to check the service panel.
3. Remove the knockout in the breaker box for the new breaker. In the side of the box, knock out the circle of metal matching the breaker location so the cable you are using may be connected properly.
4. Strip the cable insulation to allow enough wire for the connection to the neutral bus bar and the new circuit breaker. Connect the cable to the box with the proper fitting for this.
5. Run the ground wire and the white neutral wire of the cable to the neutral bus bar and connect them.
6. Attach the red and/or black wire to the new circuit breaker, also shown. Double-pole breakers are connected with a red and black wire; single-pole breakers (in most installations) are connected with just the black wire. Then clip the breaker to one of the box's hot bus bars.
7. If the breaker is a double-pole unit, it will take up two spaces in the breaker box. It is for a 240-volt circuit. Botts wires are considered power wires, and they are fastened to the breaker. The ground wire only is connected to the neutral bus bar. Combination 120/240 breakers use the very same type of double-pole breakers. The white wire is connected to the neutral bus bar.