Stuck Circuit breaker screw
#1
08-23-17, 04:57 PM
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 28
Received 0 Votes
on
0 Posts
Stuck Circuit breaker screw
I tried to redistribute the wires in my main panel today to get ready to move two of them out to a subpanel to make room for the breaker that will power the subpanel.
Several of the screws holding the wire into the breaker seem stuck. I didn't twist too hard as I didn't want to damage anything. Is there any option other then pulling the breaker and replacing it or are they just torqued higher then I tried and I just need to twist harder?
Several of the screws holding the wire into the breaker seem stuck. I didn't twist too hard as I didn't want to damage anything. Is there any option other then pulling the breaker and replacing it or are they just torqued higher then I tried and I just need to twist harder?
If you break it you have lost nothing and can just replace the breaker.
#3
08-23-17, 09:59 PM
This actually happens quiet often. Often they are over torqued or corroded making it impossible to loosen.
Sometimes loose wiring can cause an arc and weld screw in place.
Make sure you use screw driver that fits as tight as possible to the screw you have. Some breakers have flat head and square drive combined. Use square bit in this case for more torque.
If they strip even after all this, then you have to change breaker. Unless they are GFCI or AFCI, it will be cheap to replace.
Sometimes loose wiring can cause an arc and weld screw in place.
Make sure you use screw driver that fits as tight as possible to the screw you have. Some breakers have flat head and square drive combined. Use square bit in this case for more torque.
If they strip even after all this, then you have to change breaker. Unless they are GFCI or AFCI, it will be cheap to replace.
