Main Circuit Breaker Wiring

This diagram illustrates some of the most common circuits found in a typical 200 amp circuit breaker service panel box.

Main circuit breaker wiring.

Lock the new circuit breaker into an open slot by slipping the side with the attached hot wire under the tab beside the hot bus bar. With all circuit wires connected the circuit breaker can be snapped into place into its panel slot. Twelve gauge wire suits 15 to 20 amp breakers. The circuit breaker also needs to be large enough to support the minimum circuit ampacity which for this example would be a circuit breaker rated for at least 34 amps which means we d jump up to.

Branch circuit breakers are designed to shut off power to individual circuits if they overload by trying to draw more power than the wires can safely handle and the main circuit breaker is much the same. You only have to connect three wires to add a circuit and each circuit wire is color coded. This device is essential in a modern world that runs on electricity. Electricity is one of the most dangerous parts of construction.

The main breaker shuts off power to the entire house if the overall load demand grows too high or if there is another serious problem in the. If you don t see a circuit breaker labeled service disconnect or main in the panel it is likely in another. This circuit breaker is likely to have the largest amp value and will be located either at the top or bottom of the panel. Opening the main circuit breaker panel box and adding a circuit is actually pretty easy.

A breaker circuit is an electrical switch that cuts off electrical flow in the event of a possible short circuit or overload. Locate the service disconnect or main circuit breaker in the panel and set it to the off position. In a 120 240 volt circuit connect the red hot wire to the second circuit breaker terminal. A new project requires a licensed electrician to pass city inspections.

The wiring into a breaker must correspond to its amperage. On afci or gfci breakers this circuit wire will be attached to the terminal marked load power or black finally for afci or gfci breakers attach the breaker s coiled white pigtail wire to the neutral bus bar in the panel. How to wire a breaker circuit. The hot wire for a branch circuit is connected to the.

Circuit breaker panel box wiring diagram. But there are some safety precautions and if you ignore them you could kill yourself. The purpose of the main circuit breaker. The breakers are installed in a panel so that contact is made with one of two hot bus bars running down the middle of the box.

Turn off the power supply to the electrical panel.