As long as the work is done carefully, and with all safety precautions in place, wiring new circuit breakers in a house circuit panel can be done by almost anyone. However, if at all in doubt about the process, employ an electrician.
Shut off the main circuit breaker. Remove the cover plate and test for power before touching any internal parts. Using a neon power tester, touch one probe to the neutral bus bar and the other to each of the set screws on the individual circuit breakers.
2
Use a hammer and screwdriver to open as many of the round knockouts on the side of the circuit breaker panel as needed for new connections. Attach a cable clamp into each of the knockout holes and route the new wiring cables through the clamps and into the service panel.
3
Double check again to be sure the power is off. Then feed enough cable into the panel box as is needed. Bend the grounding wire on the cable around the terminal on the grounding bus bar.
4
Strip one half inch insulation from the end of the white circuit wire. Connect this bare end to an open screw terminal on the neutral bus bar and tighten the set screw. On the end of the black circuit wire strip one-half inch of installation and connect the bare end to the terminal on one of the empty single pole circuit breakers. Tighten the set screw.
5
Push one end of the new circuit breaker onto the hook next to the bus bar. Continue until it snaps into place. Route excess black wire around the inside of the panel.
Tips & Warnings
The amperage of the circuit breaker to which wires are being connected must not exceed the amperage of the wires themselves.
When attaching bare wires to set screws, wrap the wires clockwise so that when the set screw is tightened, the wire will not cross rotate.
Never touch the service wire connections from power coming into the circuit breaker. Get an electrician to work on this part if outside power is not connected to the house.
Electricity flowing into your house beyond your meter goes to receptacles, lights and appliances throughout your house. All of this electricity flows...
