Look for any signs of rust, discoloration, charring or moisture when you first examine the circuit breaker box and throughout the process. If you see anything that seems dangerous or unexpected, call an electrician. Beware of certain types of panels, specifically those bearing one of the following names: Federal Pacific Electric, Federal Pioneer, Zinsco, Kearney, GTE Sylvania, or Stab-lok. The safety of these panels is highly debated. [2] X Research source Research the issue and contact an experienced electrician for advice. Decide what to do based on the information you find.
If you don’t have rubber-soled shoes or if you want to take further precautions, put down a rubber mat below the circuit breaker box. If the area around the breaker box is damp or otherwise unsafe, call an electrician.
Breakers trip because they’re over capacity, often because there are too many items plugged into the same circuit at the same time. If this is a recurring problem, you may need to run an additional circuit and install a second circuit breaker. [6] X Expert Source Jesse KuhlmanMaster Electrician Expert Interview. 29 April 2020. If a breaker trips repeatedly over a long period of time, it may become defective, in which case it will need to be replaced. [7] X Expert Source Jesse KuhlmanMaster Electrician Expert Interview. 29 April 2020.
If the circuit is overloaded and that is causing the breaker to trip, it is working properly. You’ll likely need to reduce the power usage in that section of your home rather than replacing the breaker. [9] X Research source If you think the breaker is tripping without being overloaded, it may be wearing out and have a reduced capacity for amperage. If you think this is the case, you should check the amperage of your circuit breaker.
Keep in mind that if you have a double pole circuit breaker, it pulls from both of the hot wires that are powering the circuit panel, so it will have about twice the voltage. [11] X Expert Source Jesse KuhlmanMaster Electrician Expert Interview. 29 April 2020. Only touch the components you need to touch, and only with the leads on the voltage tester. The power will need to be on for this to work, so be very careful.
Even once you have turned the power off, you should act as if it’s still on. [13] X Research source Only touch the parts of the circuit breaker box you need to touch. If you are turning off the main power, or the power to the area around you, the lights will likely turn off as well. Keep an alternative light source nearby so you don’t have to work in the dark.
Always remove the panel by pulling it towards you and then sliding it down. Don’t let it touch or bump anything inside the circuit breaker box as you are removing it. Put the screws and the faceplate somewhere you can easily find them when needed. While the screws can be replaced, it’s much easier to keep them in a safe place while they’re not attached to the breaker box.
Keep an eye out for any rust, moisture, signs of pests, loose wires, melting, discoloration, charring, heat marking, strange wiring, multiple wires connected to one screw, damaged wiring, debris, or multiple colored wires connected to each other. These can all be dangerous.
Always keep track of loose wires, as they can be incredibly dangerous. Tuck the wire into the circuit breaker box to keep it out of the way. Make sure you know which wire you have disconnected, as you’ll need to reconnect it when you install a new circuit breaker.
If the circuit breaker you are replacing is a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) or AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) breaker, as sometimes used for outdoor, bedroom, garage, kitchen or bathroom circuits, be sure that you replace it with another one of the same type.
It may help to use a pair of needle-nose pliers to hold the wire in place as you tighten the screw. [22] X Research source While the screw should be tight, you do not need to over-tighten it. Make sure it is secure, but don’t risk squeezing the wires to the point of damage. [23] X Research source Make sure the rubber insulation on the wire does not touch the screw or the circuit breaker, as it may be damaged or melt over time. [24] X Research source
Always use a screw of the same length and type when reattaching the faceplate. If the screws are too long or have a pointed end like wood screws, they may screw in too deep and damage the wiring.
