Installing A Circuit Breaker Panel Box

Opening the main circuit breaker panel box and adding a circuit is actually pretty easy.

Installing a circuit breaker panel box.

Shut off the main power on your circuit breaker panel before you begin installation work in case you come into contact with existing electrical cable behind your walls. Snap the breaker into place by clipping it to the hot bus bar. Wiring a breaker box is a highly technical skill knowing how it operates isn t. Our electrical box buying guide explains the functions of the different box designs.

You only have to connect three wires to add a circuit and each circuit wire is color coded. To install a circuit breaker start by turning off the power supply to the electrical panel and removing the cover over it. Take some of the mystery out of those wires and switches that lurk behind the door of your breaker box with this. Clear a knockout panel install cable clamps in the hole and feed the wires through the clamp.

Connect any new circuits to the subpanel attaching the hot wire to a circuit breaker and the other wires to their respective buses. A breaker box in a detached garage is usually a sub panel to the main circuit panel in the home. Before deciding where you ll install your new circuit breaker panel decide the size you ll need such as 200 amp 300 amp or 400 amp. With all circuit wires connected the circuit breaker can be snapped into place into its panel slot.

Make sure you use a test light or meter to verify that the power is off since it s dangerous to install a circuit breaker in a panel that still has power. If you follow our safety steps in order and to the letter you ll. 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. The advantage of installing a breaker panel in the garage is that it allows you to have multiple circuits available while only needing to run one line to the garage from the house.

Tighten the clamp to secure the wires. But there are some safety precautions and if you ignore them you could kill yourself. Circuit breaker panel box wiring diagram. If your future circuit needs are for fewer than 40 circuits the 200 amp panel will suit your needs.