Electrical Installation: Circuit Breaker

As you look to plan out your electrical installation, you will need to carefully consider how upgrading to a circuit breaker system will help the overall performance and electric supply to and within your home. Circuit breakers are a type of electrical switch. They are generally used to protect from electrical damage. Sometimes a surge comes through the main power lines and enters your home through the main electrical panel. With a circuit breaker system, this surge would be detected and the breaker would switch off, thereby stopping the electrical flow to your home and to the individual outlet. Below are a few things you should consider during your electrical installation of circuit breakers.

Upgrading Amperage and Replacing the Panel

As you look to plan out your electrical installation, if you intend to upgrade the electrical panel then you will need to go and shop for a new circuit breaker box. You will also need to purchase a new set of individual circuit breakers. During this type of upgrade or installation, you will probably want to upgrade the amperage available to your home. Many newer homes built since the year 2000 are built with 200 amps standard service. If you have anything lower than that, you will want to consider the upgrade.

Why Add just One Circuit Breaker

If you have some capacity in your current circuit breaker panel then you are probably safe to just add a single circuit breaker to the electric panel. You would want to do this in order to reduce the load that another circuit breaker has. As you start to connect multiple different electrical devices in your home, you need to make sure that those devices are supported by different circuits. As you start to increase the number of devices per circuit, then you need to add the additional breakers to the box.

Installation of a Circuit Breaker

Before you begin your installation, you need to make sure the power to the entire house is shut off. Do this by turning the switch on the main circuit breaker panel. If you are not comfortable with this type of work, consult an electrician before you proceed any further.

Next, unscrew the panel to the breaker box. You will notice the following:

• Black wires - They send the electricity into the home from the main breaker.
• Breakers - These are your currently installed circuit breakers
• Knock outs - Open spots for new circuit breakers

Remove one of the knock outs (blank spots) and install a new cable clamp. Take out your wires and run one strand into the circuit breaker panel. Connect the ground wire next and then attach the neutral wire into what is called the neutral bus.

Strip the wires an inch or so from the end. Use wire strippers. Tighten the wires around the neutral bus.

Last, but certainly not least install the circuit breaker into the panel. Slightly loosen the screw that is located on the bottom of the breaker. Place the last of the 3 wires into the breaker and tighten completely. Snap the breaker into place and make sure that it is secure. Remove the loose knockout and close up the panel.