How to Wire a Breaker to a Service Panel
Electricity is delivered to your home's service panel from the power company by two hot wires at a voltage of 110 volts each and returned by a neutral, or common, wire. These wires are connected to buss bars in the service panel, which are connected to each other by the main breaker, usually designed to pass 200 amps. Individual circuits in the house are connected to smaller breakers that clip onto the hot buss bar. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Insulated screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Insulated pliers
- Splicing tool
- Rubber gloves
Instructions
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1
Turn off the main breaker to the panel before making any connections.
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2
Pull the wire to the circuit you are connecting through a knock-out in the panel that has been fitted with a wire clamp. Pull enough wire so that the white wire will reach an insertion point on the chrome buss bar, the black wire will reach the location of the breaker you plan to install, and the bare wire will reach the ground buss bar. Tighten the wire clamp with a screwdriver.
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3
Use a utility knife to remove enough sheathing so that the wires can be separated with enough slack to comfortably reach their insertion points. Cut around the circumference of the wire, being sure not to cut into the plastic casings of the wires inside, and pull the sheathing off with pliers.
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4
Remove about a 1/2-inch of plastic casing from the white and black wires with a splicing tool.
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5
Loosen the nut on an available receptacle on the chrome buss with a screwdriver. Insert the end of the white wire and tighten the nut securely.
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6
Loosen the nut on an available receptacle on the ground buss and insert the bare wire, then tighten the nut securely.
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Loosen the nut on the circuit breaker and insert the end of the black wire. Tighten the nut securely.
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8
Hook the end of the breaker into place on an available slot and push it into place so it clips firmly onto the brass buss bar.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure the that breaker you are using is rated for the load you plan to carry on the circuit and for the thickness of the wire. For example, you will need 12-gauge wire for a 20-amp breaker.
Be sure you label the circuit for easy identification in case problems arise.
Never touch the hot buss bar. It is energized even when the main breaker is off.
Use rubber gloves and rubber-soled shoes when working in the panel for extra protection.
References
- Photo Credit high voltage electricity pylons near the houses image by GoodMood Photo from Fotolia.com
