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Replacing
a Faulty Circuit Breaker-
To replace a bad standard circuit breaker proceed as follows:
- Turn
OFF the power at the main power shutoff Stand on a dry board or
rubber mat as you disconnect the power and work on the replacement
breaker.
- Remove
the cover panel from the circuit breaker box. It is held with
screws that turn counterclockwise. Once the panel is removed,
check with a voltmeter to make sure the power is off Be careful
to avoid contact with the supply wires connected to the main power
shutoff They are still hot.
- Next,
switch the handle on the circuit breaker you're replacing to the
OFF position.
- Remove
the damaged breaker. The breaker pulls out of its slot in the
box. The breaker may be connected to the box with wires. Or, the
breaker may be the type that does not have wires; it simply snaps
into the box opening and, at the same time, automatically links
with the power wires.
- Loosen
the screw terminals and remove the wires. A single-pole breaker
will have one wire attached (usually black). A double-pole breaker
will have two wires attached (usually black and red, or black
and white). A tandem or "piggyback" breaker, will have twice as
many wires attached, since it squeezes two circuits in the space
of one.
- Loosen
the binding screw on the new breaker and move the handle to the
OFF position.
- Grip
the new breaker and plug it firmly onto the mounting base and
the bus bar.
- Place
the load wire in the terminal lug and tighten securely.
- Replace
the cover panel, switch the main power shutoff ON and the new
breaker ON. Test the circuit with a voltmeter.
Adding
a New Circuit Breaker-
If you're adding a breaker for a new circuit:
- Turn
OFF the power at the main power shutoff.
- Test
to make sure that the power is off by touching the terminal screws
of the main power cables with the probes of a voltmeter. If the
power is not off, call in a professional electrician to check
the service panel.
- Remove
the knockout in the breaker box for the new breaker. In the side
of the box, knock out the circle of metal matching the breaker
location so the cable you are using may be connected properly.
- Strip
the cable insulation to allow enough wire for the connection to
the neutral bus bar and the new circuit breaker. Connect the cable
to the box with the proper fitting for this.
- Run
the ground wire and the white neutral wire of the cable to the
neutral bus bar and connect them.
- Attach
the red and/or black wire to the new circuit breaker, also shown.
Double-pole breakers are connected with a red and black wire;
single-pole breakers (in most installations) are connected with
just the black wire. Then clip the breaker to one of the box's
hot bus bars.
- If
the breaker is a double-pole unit, it will take up two spaces
in the breaker box. It is for a 240-volt circuit. Botts wires
are considered power wires, and they are fastened to the breaker.
The ground wire only is connected to the neutral bus bar. Combination
120/240 breakers use the very same type of double-pole breakers.
The white wire is connected to the neutral bus bar.
Is
the breaker receiving power?-
You can determine this with a voltmeter, but be very careful with
the test. Touch the voltmeter probes to the terminal screws, after
you remove the cover to the breaker box. If the meter has a reading,
the power is coming to the box at this point.
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