HOW TO REPLACE A CIRCUIT BREAKER

.     If you have tried to reset a tripped circuit breaker and the breaker continues to stay in the "OFF" position or is otherwise broken, it will need to be replaced.

    Replacing rail/recess can be a simple process if you use the correct circuit breaker or a frustrating experience involving several trips to the hardware store if you inadvertently try to use the wrong breaker.

    In this tutorial, I'll explain how to easily replace a broken breaker. If you want to make short work of this, here's the simple secret. Buy the right circuit breaker manufacturer for your electrical panel!

    Yes, like so many things that should be easy, circuit breakers come in non-interchangeable versions depending on the manufacturer. The circuit breaker must match the electrical panel into which it is being installed.

    And to make things more fun, some panel/breaker manufacturers have gone out of business or have merged with other companies. For example, an old I-T-E brand panel/breaker will now have to be replaced with a Siemens brand circuit breaker. Other common load center/power panel and circuit breaker manufacturers include GE, Square D, Eaton and Murray.

    So, unfortunately, buying a spare or replacement circuit breaker is not necessarily an impulse purchase at your hardware store. The best way to get started is as follows:
        Turn off the power to the electrical panel (also called a load center);
        Remove the power panel (load center) cover usually held on by 4 to 6 screws;
        Turn the faulty circuit breaker to the "OFF" position and remove it by lifting the breaker from the side oriented toward the center of the panel and pull it up and out. The breaker will still have a wire attached to the other end;
        Inspect the breaker for a manufacturer's name and amperage rating of the breaker;
        Replace the faulty breaker in the "OFF" position, replace the cover and restore power to the panel.
        Purchase a compatible breaker of the SAME amperage rating (e.g., 15 amp or 20 amp) as the one being replaced.
        The next page will explain how to replace the breaker.

    Compare Prices Siemens 15Amp Circuit Breaker

    Compare Prices Square D 15Amp Circuit Breaker
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    Replacing a Circuit Breaker
    back of circuit breaker
    To install, the circuit breaker will simply hook onto the mounting base and snap onto the electrical bus bar. © Home-Cost.com 2015

    Once you have the correct replacement circuit breaker, installing it is fairly straightforward.
        As in the previous step, turn off the main power to the electrical panel (load center) and remove the cover;
        Stand on a non-conductive mat like a rubber floor mat while you work on the panel. If you do not have that available, at least make sure you are wearing rubber soled shoes or boots and are not barefoot or only wearing socks;
        Make sure the handle of the defective breaker is in the "OFF" position and remove it from the panel by lifting it from the side facing the center of the electrical panel and pulling it up and out.
        Remove the wire attached to the other end of the breaker by unscrewing the terminal holding the wire to the breaker. NOTE: if you are removing a double pole 240 volt breaker you will have more than one wire to disconnect. A single pole breaker will have one hot wire (usually black) and double pole will have two hot wires. A 'piggy-back' breaker has two half-height single pole breakers in the space of one normal breaker, so it will have two separate hot wires attached.
        Loosen the connection lug screw terminal(s) of the replacement breaker making sure the handle is in the "OFF" position;
        Insert the circuit wire (with a stripped end exposing the copper conductor) in the terminal lug and tighten.
        Grab the new circuit breaker and at an angle place and hook the base of the breaker into the panel mounting rail/recess and then align the breaker's connection plug with the panel's Hot bus bar knife blade and press the breaker into place on the main bus bar.
        Replace the panel cover, then turn on the main panel power and turn on the circuit breaker to ensure proper operation.