How to Replace a Circuit Breaker
Circuit breakers are designed to interrupt the power to a circuit and protect your wiring. If your circuit breaker keeps tripping, the steps below will show you the right--and safe--way to fix it.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Determine Whether You Have a Problem
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1
Plug a radio into an outlet on the circuit you're dealing with. Make sure that the volume is turned up so you can hear it when it comes on.
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2
Find your panel box. It's usually in the basement or utility room.
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3
Turn off the main power, if possible. Most panel boxes have a main on/off switch.
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4
Press the tripped breaker toward "off" to reset it, then to "on." If it trips immediately, you either have a bad breaker or a short somewhere in the circuit.
Replace the Circuit Breaker
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1
Purchase a new circuit breaker from a hardware store.
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2
Take the panel cover off the panel box by unscrewing the face plate.
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3
Notice the two wires feeding into the side of the breaker. Remember which one is in which position.
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4
Loosen the screw holding the white wire first just enough to get the wire out.
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5
Put a wire nut on the end of the white wire and bend it out of the way.
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6
Loosen the other screw and do the same thing with the colored wire.
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7
Pull the old circuit breaker out and snap a new one into place.
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8
Replace the wires in the same positions as they were on the old breaker - colored one first, white one second.
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9
Tighten the screws holding the wires.
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10
Replace the face plate.
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11
Turn the power to the panel on, if necessary.
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12
Turn the breaker on. You should hear your radio. If it trips, call an electrician since you most likely have a potentially dangerous short circuit.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Replace breakers with units of the same amperage. They are specifically designed for safety. If you use a higher amperage, you are overriding the safety feature.
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Comments
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Thanks! wd40 worked great for me.
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bravedave
Jun 03, 2010
I need to add a 30 amp single pole breaker into a 100 amp panel. However, the panel does not have a main or disconnect. It's wired directly to the meter. Being careful, can I simply remove the panel cover and snap in the new breaker and then connect the wires? -
ry3100
Mar 16, 2009
Just call the electrician! Is saving a few bucks worth endangering your lives. Electricians go to school and have creditable time on the job and most of them are liscensed. You wouldn't practice to be your own lawyer, why try to pretend your an electrician an get yourself KILLED!
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allenjf
Dec 16, 2008
Step 3 should be: Turn off the main power. (Period). If you cannot find the main power switch DO NOT ATTEMPT THE REPAIR, and call an electrician. Step 4 and 3 should be swapped because, once you turn off the main breaker, the circuit breakers won't be energized and they won't trip. Most breakers will have only one black wire, or two black wires it's for a water heater, AC, stove, or dryer. If it's a high amperage breaker (60A or 100A) and it feels hot before/after it trips, you could simply have a loose or bad connection. Replace the breaker and make sure your wire(s) are not corroded. Cut off any corroded part of the wire and restrip the insulation.
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Freon
Aug 03, 2008
Sometimes a breaker will not stay in the "on" position because the switch is slightly sticky. Before concluding that the breaker is bad and replacing it, try squirting a little WD-40 into the switch and turning it on and off a few times. It worked for a breaker I was having trouble with.
