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There
are several good reasons for extending your electric service. Does
your circuit breaker trip or fuse blow often? Do your lights flicker
when large appliances are turned on? Do you use too many extension
cords? Or do you wish to add a new branch circuit to provide electric
power in a newly finished attic or garage, or to an outdoor lighting
system or newly converted workshop? To resolve any of these situations,
you most likely have to extend your electrical service.
WIRING
IN AN EXISTING SERVICE PANEL BOX:
The first step in extending your electric service is to determine
if there are any blank spaces in your service panel. If not, it
may be possible to double up by replacing an existing breaker with
a pair of skinnies or a tandem device. In a fuse box you might be
lucky enough to find an unused terminal and socket that could be
put to work. To wire a circuit breaker or fuse block into an existing
service panel, proceed as follows:
- Turn
off the power at the service panel by turning off all main circuit
breaker disconnects or removing all main fuses.
- Remove
the screws that hold the panel cover on. Remove the cover.
- Strip
off the outer covering to let the wire reach through a spare knockout
and inside the c panel to the proper point of hookup (allow a
foot or more of wiring).
- Run
the cable through the knockout with a cable connector and clamp
it securely.
- Run
the black wire to the spare circuit breaker or fuse, then strip
and connect it.
- Connect
the white wire to the neutral and the bare wire to the ground
bar (if there is one) or the neutral.
- Replace
the panel cover. Energize the panel and the individual circuit.
- Test
the circuit. Always use a circuit tester to verify that voltage
is present in any circuit on which you have just worked. To use
the tester, place one lead on any bare, grounded metal such as
an equipment ground terminal, ground wire, or neutral terminal.
Carefully touch the other lead to the terminals or wires you are
testing for voltage. If the tester bulb glows, voltage is present.
To check for voltage on the load side of a main breaker, it may
be necessary to test the load terminal of a branch breaker. In
this case, the branch breaker must be in the ON position. Check
several branch breakers to be sure.
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