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How to Replace a Circuit Breaker
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Replacing a circuit breaker
requires you to work inside of a live electrical panel. If you are at all uncomfortable with this idea, then you should by
all means hire a licensed electrician to handle this task for you. If you decide to tackle the project yourself, be sure to
wear safety glasses and use a screwdriver with an insulated handle. You should also make sure that you have shoes with insulated
soles, and that you are not standing in water or on a damp floor. Ideally, you should stand on a rubber mat or some other
non-conductive material. Make sure that you have a flashlight available so that you can see after turning off the main circuit
breaker.
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Your first action would be
to turn off the main breaker in the panel. Keep in mind that while this action will disconnect the power to the rest of the
branch circuit breakers, the panel should still be considered ‘hot since there are still energized wires present in
close proximity to where you’ll be working.
Identify the circuit breaker you need to replace. Determine the amperage of the breaker
(it’s usually printed on the handle). Next, determine if it is a single pole or double pole breaker. Lastly, identify
the type of breaker and the manufacturer of the panel. Any breaker you replace should be made by the same manufacturer. Although
other brands may fit in your panel, this action has not been specifically approved and it would violate your panel’s
UL listing, making it potentially unsafe.
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Once you have your new breaker
in hand, you’re ready to begin. Start with turning off the power to the panel. At the top (usually) of the panel is
a large breaker that may (or may not) be labeled MAIN. It would also have the highest amperage of all of the breakers in the panel. Turn
this breaker off. Remove
the panel cover to expose the breakers. The wires that bring electricity into the service panel (usually at the top)
will still be hot even after you switch off the main breaker, so never touch them or lugs they are terminated on. Verify
with a meter or circuit tester that all of the other breakers are no longer energized. On the breaker you plan to replace, loosen
the screw and pull the wire out. To remove the breaker, carefully pry up the edge of the breaker that is closest to the center
of the panel, then remove the other edge.
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Install the new circuit breaker
by slipping the screw terminal end of the breaker under the clip and snap down the end of the breaker that is closest
to the center. Insert the wire that you removed from the old breaker into the new breaker and tighten the screw. Leave
the circuit breaker off.
After you replace the service panel cover, turn the main breaker back on. Lastly, turn
on the new breaker and check to make sure everything is working again.
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Licensed electricians serving Orange
county, Sullivan county, and Ulster county in New York (845) 888-8000
_________________________________________________________________________________________________ All information contained within this site ©2004-2016, Wurtsboro Electric Service, Inc. All rights
reserved.
Reproducing or duplicating any information contained herein is prohibited by law.
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