How to Wire a Breaker Circuit
Switch off the main power switch., Take the cover of the breaker box off. , Use an electrical tester by putting the tip of one probe against the ground bus bar and the other against one of the screws of a circuit breaker., Remove the covering from...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Switch off the main power switch.
This should be located at the top of the breaker panel. -
Step 2: Take the cover of the breaker box off.
, Connected to this screw should be a red, black, or blue covered wire.
If you have properly turned off the power, there should be no signs of voltage. , You may need a small, pointy tool, such as a screwdriver, to get them out. , The cable clamp will keep the four-conductor cable in place after you run it through the hole.
Remove the lock-nut from the cable clamp.
Push the cable clamp through the hole.
The side that comes through the bottom should have spiral edges for screwing it in.
Tighten the lock-nut back around the cable clamp by placing it at the underside of the clamp where you see the spiral edges and screwing it in with Channel-Lock pliers. , You may need a professional to look at your breaker box and tell you which kind of four-conductor cable you need. , Inside the covering, you'll find a copper wire (the ground wire), a white covered wire (the neutral wire), a black wire (the hot wire), and a red wire (another hot wire).
In the sub-panel box, the neutral and ground wires will connect the same as they do in the main breaker box, but the red and black wires will connect to the hot bar instead of a circuit breaker. , It is a metal strip with a row of screws running down it.
Using a flathead screwdriver, unscrew one of them slightly and push your ground wire through.
Screw it back in tightly after you insert it. , Like the ground bus bar, this will be a metal strip with a row of screws, but the neutral bus bar is typically white.
Take a neutral wire and cut away about a centimeter of the covering at the end of the wire.
Use your flathead screwdriver to unscrew one of the screws and then push the wire through.
Screw it back in after you have inserted the neutral wire. , You should find a list of acceptable circuit breakers you can use.
Make sure that your circuit breaker is of acceptable size and voltage. , It will be clearly indicated where this should go.
Depending on the kind of circuit breaker you must use, you may have to attach the red hot wire as well. , One set will be on the left side, and the other on the right side. ,,,, -
Step 3: Use an electrical tester by putting the tip of one probe against the ground bus bar and the other against one of the screws of a circuit breaker.
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Step 4: Remove the covering from one of the holes that runs across the breaker panel's top side.
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Step 5: Attach a cable clamp through the hole.
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Step 6: Run a four-conductor cable from the sub-panel breaker box through this clamp and tighten it.
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Step 7: Cut the covering of the cable and pull this covering away.
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Step 8: Find the ground bus bar.
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Step 9: Find the neutral bus bar.
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Step 10: Locate an opening for a new circuit breaker.
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Step 11: Locate the black hot wire and attach it to the back of the circuit breaker.
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Step 12: Locate the two sets of clips on the back side of the circuit breaker.
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Step 13: With the circuit breaker held correctly (the text on it should indicate which way is right side up)
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Step 14: push the set of clips at the right side of its back into the plastic bar in the opening.
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Step 15: Check once more to make sure the circuit breaker is switched off.
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Step 16: Push the left set of clips at the back of the circuit breaker into place on the plastic bar in the opening.
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Step 17: Get in touch with a professional electrician to test out your work on the circuit breaker before turning power back on.
Detailed Guide
This should be located at the top of the breaker panel.
, Connected to this screw should be a red, black, or blue covered wire.
If you have properly turned off the power, there should be no signs of voltage. , You may need a small, pointy tool, such as a screwdriver, to get them out. , The cable clamp will keep the four-conductor cable in place after you run it through the hole.
Remove the lock-nut from the cable clamp.
Push the cable clamp through the hole.
The side that comes through the bottom should have spiral edges for screwing it in.
Tighten the lock-nut back around the cable clamp by placing it at the underside of the clamp where you see the spiral edges and screwing it in with Channel-Lock pliers. , You may need a professional to look at your breaker box and tell you which kind of four-conductor cable you need. , Inside the covering, you'll find a copper wire (the ground wire), a white covered wire (the neutral wire), a black wire (the hot wire), and a red wire (another hot wire).
In the sub-panel box, the neutral and ground wires will connect the same as they do in the main breaker box, but the red and black wires will connect to the hot bar instead of a circuit breaker. , It is a metal strip with a row of screws running down it.
Using a flathead screwdriver, unscrew one of them slightly and push your ground wire through.
Screw it back in tightly after you insert it. , Like the ground bus bar, this will be a metal strip with a row of screws, but the neutral bus bar is typically white.
Take a neutral wire and cut away about a centimeter of the covering at the end of the wire.
Use your flathead screwdriver to unscrew one of the screws and then push the wire through.
Screw it back in after you have inserted the neutral wire. , You should find a list of acceptable circuit breakers you can use.
Make sure that your circuit breaker is of acceptable size and voltage. , It will be clearly indicated where this should go.
Depending on the kind of circuit breaker you must use, you may have to attach the red hot wire as well. , One set will be on the left side, and the other on the right side. ,,,,
About the Author
Elizabeth Hernandez
Experienced content creator specializing in organization guides and tutorials.
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