How to Replace a Cutler and Hammer Circuit Breaker

Replacing a blown or "fried" circuit breaker is not that difficult. However, if you have never done this before, you will soon realize that not all circuit breakers are the same. If you have a Cutler and Hammer circuit breaker box, this article will help you replace the broken breaker. If your circuit box is not C&H, look elsewhere for help.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wire strippers
• Wire cutters
• Needle-nose pliers
• Flathead (flat blade) screwdriver
• New circuit breaker

1. Unscrew and remove the cover of the circuit breaker box.

2. Unscrew the hot wire (red or black wire) from the defective circuit breaker. If the defective breaker is a GFCI (Ground Fault Current Interrupter), there will be an additional white wire attached at the hook end of the breaker. If the breaker has a button on it that reads "test," then it is a GFCI. This white wire will also need to be unscrewed, perhaps cut, from the breaker.

3. Pull the broken circuit out by unsnapping it from the hot bus bar (bar with the clips in the center of the breaker box) and pulling toward the other end of the breaker to unhook the end from the metal flange in the circuit breaker panel.

4. Before you begin installing the new breaker, make sure you are replacing the old one with a new one of the same amperage.

5. Connect the hot wire to the new breaker and tighten the screw to hold it into place. If the replacement is a GFCI, you need to also connect the white ground fault wire. At this time, also make sure the white neutral wire is still screwed into place in the neutral bus (the bar with a series of screws holding the other neutral wires in place). If it has become dislodged, reconnect it.

6. 
   C&H breakers have a hook on one end.

   Place the hook end of the C&H circuit breaker under the metal flange in the circuit breaker panel and pivot the breaker down, or in, toward the hot bus bar. Press the end of the new breaker into the hot bus bar. Push until you feel or hear the breaker snap into place.

7. Flip the breaker switch to the "on" position and test things that operate off of that circuit.

8. Once you have established that the circuit is live again, replace the circuit breaker box front panel and screw it into place.

Tips & Warnings

• You might find that you need to cut and/or strip away some insulation from the wires. Do so carefully.
• Normal circuit breakers are not that expensive to replace. Double pole (two switches) breakers and GFCI breakers will be more expensive.
• If the bad circuit was a GFCI, be sure to replace it with a GFCI. Doing otherwise might be against code.
• If your old breaker had a piece of metal on the hook end, it is not necessary for the new one to have it. In fact, you will likely NOT find a new one with the metal piece.
• It is not always necessary to shut off the main power supply (main breaker) to do this replacement. If you feel safer with the main off, switch it off.

[lanijo]

on 8/13/2009 Very Good article, I was going to do this cutler hammer breaker replacement but you covered it well *****