Installing A Circuit Breaker Sub Panel

Clear a knockout panel install cable clamps in the hole and feed the wires through the clamp.

Installing a circuit breaker sub panel.

Learn more about wiring a sub panel. Locate the service disconnect or main circuit breaker in the panel and set it to the off position. If you need more 15 or 20 amp breakers a simple solution is to install a tandem breaker. To install a new circuit you will need an open slot in your breaker panel for a new circuit breaker.

On a main panel you connect the ground wire from the new cable and the neutral white pigtail from the afci to the neutral bus. Snap the breaker into place by clipping it to the hot bus bar. Planning for an electric sub panel. These panels have certainly changed over the years.

Tighten the clamp to secure the wires. Route the afci neutral pigtail and ground wires to empty screws on the neutral bus and tighten. The overall size of a tandem circuit breaker is the same as that of a standard breaker but instead of a single breaker it has two narrow side by side breakers. If the service panel does not have room for new circuit breakers and you cannot use tandem breakers a subpanel may be the answer.

Install a electrical circuit breaker sub panel when your main circuit panel is full and you need to add more circuits. Plan to work during the daytime as you will need to shut off all power in your home during most of the project. A subpanel connects to the main service panel with a thick three wire cable. The fuses are designed to take a predetermined amount of current and then the fuse link will melt.

Measure the room or rooms where you ll be installing the circuit and draw a detailed accurate floor plan. Sub panels can be installed both next to the main electrical panel or close to the area you are bringing power to such as when finishing a basement adding an addition to your home or you simply need more power in the garage. Identifying panel circuits and connected loads. If you don t see a circuit breaker labeled service disconnect or main in the panel it is likely in another.

Either way its job is to protect the home s wiring from overload via either fuses or circuit breakers. This circuit breaker is likely to have the largest amp value and will be located either at the top or bottom of the panel. Enjoy the videos and music you love upload original content and share it all with friends family and the world on youtube. Connect any new circuits to the subpanel attaching the hot wire to a circuit breaker and the other wires to their respective buses.

The feeder breaker in the main panel acts as the main disconnect for the subpanel. Sub panels are installed and used for several reasons including expanding the circuit breaker capacity of the main electrical panel.