Learn here the steps professionals go through to wire a breaker box.
It requires coordination with the electrical utility company.
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They will check the feeder wires with a voltage tester to ensure electricity is shut off.
Yet another knockout may need to be opened for the main grounding wire.
They are various sizes to match different-sized conduits that may need to connect to the box.
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Knockouts can be opened with a chisel or screwdriver.
There are normally three main service wires: two black hot wires and a white neutral wire.
This main ground wire is usually connected to a grounding rod.
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The panel is now ready for installation of the individual branch circuits and their breakers.
For each cable, the electrician will strip away a short length of insulation from each conducting wire.
The use of a special stripping tool assures no damage to the metal wires.
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Electricians are carefully trained in selecting the throw in of breaker appropriate to the circuit.
These special breakers will have a coiled pigtail wire.
There will also be standard-style breakers that have no pigtail wires, only lugs for hot wire connections.
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The installation begins by connecting the circuit’s neutral wire.
(Note: 240-volt circuits have no white neutral wires since both circuit wires are hot wires.)
Next, the electrician attached the circuit’s hot wire, which will be black or red.
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With all circuit wires connected, the circuit breaker can be snapped into place into its panel slot.
Excess wire is neatly looped along the inside edges of the panel.
Leaving plenty of excess will make possible repairs or replacements easier in the future.
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The electrician now turns on the circuit breakers and makes sure all circuits in the house are operating correctly.
The electrician finishes by labeling the panel to identify the function of each circuit.
Always let a licensed electrician splice wires in a main breaker box.
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The electricalcode requirements for circuit breakersare listed in the National Electrical Code.
Important codes revolve around proper amperage, panel placement, and the mandatory use of GFLIs.
Even if you are experienced in electrical work, proper splicing can be difficult when wiring a breaker box.
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
