How to Add a Breaker Panel to an Existing System

The breaker panel is the main electrical circuit in your homes and is responsible for the distribution of electricity in your homes. One breaker panel can supply your home approximately 200 amps of power, without a circuit breaker panel there will be no electricity flow to your home. Thus, these breaker panels are useful at home.

If you want to add another breaker panel or a sub-panel to an existing main breaker system either to increase circuit capacity or to build local load centers, this article will help guide how to do it yourself. Although this project is moderately difficult and needs simple skills which you can easily comply, you may have to understand some rules and regulation of NEC and may need you to get an electrical permit to do this.

Step 1 – Do the Necessary Preparations

Using the drill/driver to install the first screw, place the additional breaker panel against the wall and check the vertical alignment of the panel before installing the remaining three screws. Make sure that the location of your sub-panel can be readily accessible all the time and not blocked with any appliances or items and keep in mind that it is an NEC violation if the breaker panel is blocked.

Direct the 3-conductor using a ground feeder from the load center up to the service panel and leave extra cables each end to allow ease of access of the top and bottom parts of the breaker panel. Next, take out the core top of the subpanel and attach a cable connector with the use of a screwdriver and hammer to strongly grip the lock nut.

Let the cable pass through the connector and tighten the clamping screws. Open the exterior of the cable connector at ½ inch using the Electrician’s knife do this carefully to avoid damage on the insulation. Then detach the conductors from the opened jacket and completely remove the exterior with a knife or diagonal pliers.

Step 2 – Connect the Cables/Wirings

Connect the neutral conductor (colored white) to the inside of the subpanel’s neutral bar. Remove the access conductor using wire cutters, get 3/4 inches of insulation, and place it beneath one of the compression screws.

Direct the bare copper system-grounding conductor towards the panel’s grounding bar (hint: it has color green screws), cut if necessary, and place it beneath one its green colored compression screws. The NEC necessitates that additional breaker panel must have different neutral and ground bars and that the neutral bar is not allowed to be connected to the box. Linked the color red and black hot-wires unto the two Buss Bar Lugs on top of the circuit panel.

Step 3 – Do the Finishing Touches

You may now take out the main breaker panel’s cover and switch your work light on while the main breaker must be switched off. Position your DMM to AC Volts range and check if the Buss Bars are safe to do service. After confirming safety, attach the 2-pole circuit breaker and then switch on the main breaker. Also attach the cables in the service panel.

Install the neutral conductor and bare grounding conductor using separate screws towards the neutral/grounding bar of the service panel. Also link the red and black conductors the 2-pole breaker panel. Inspect your finished project.