How to Add a Circuit Breaker to an Electrical Panel

In this video, you will learn how to add a circuit breaker to an electrical panel.

The individual circuit breaker is a means of protection that makes it possible to cut the electrical current if there is a problem with a circuit. It is one of the essential safety elements for appliances and electrical circuits.

Prior to this intervention, please cut the power to the main circuit breaker.

To add an individual circuit breaker, you will need your circuit breaker, a flat-headed screwdriver, a wire stripper and a wire cutter.

This operation is carried out in three steps that we will explain here.

STEP 1: CHOOSE THE WATTAGE FOR THE CIRCUIT BREAKER

STEP 1: CHOOSE THE WATTAGE FOR THE CIRCUIT BREAKER

The wattage choice for the circuit breaker is made in function of the appliances to be installed on the circuit.

For example, for a lighting circuit, choose a 16-amperes circuit breaker. The circuit breaker will cover 8 lights per circuit.

Renvoi à la vidéo “Installer un tableau électrique”

To learn more about the intensity of the circuit breaker to be used for a circuit please watch the video "How to install an electrical panel".

STEP 2: INSERT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER

STEP 2: INSERT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER

Unscrew the fasteners on the front of the panel and remove them.

Put the circuit breaker into the available space, next to an already installed circuit breaker.

Clip it into the bar provided for this.

STEP 3: CONNECT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER

STEP 3: CONNECT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER

Cut two lengths of conductor wires of about 5cm each.

Strip the ends of the 2 electrical wires with the wire stripper.

Unscrew the two terminals of the neighboring circuit breaker and the new circuit breaker.

Put one of the ends of the blue conductor on the neutral terminal of the neighboring circuit breaker, and the other end on the neutral terminal of the new circuit breaker.

Screw back in the neutral terminal of both circuit breakers.

Place one end of the other conductor on the phase terminal of the neighboring circuit breaker, and the other end on the phase terminal of the new circuit breaker.

Screw back in the phase terminals of both circuit breakers.

The conductors form a bridge between the two circuit breakers. This bridge guarantees the continuity of the circuit to be connected.

Lastly connect the conductors for this circuit to the terminals at the bottom of the circuit breaker. To do this, please watch the video "How to install an electrical panel".

Replace the cover of the electrical panel.

Turn the main circuit breaker back on.

You now know how to add a circuit breaker to an electrical panel.