Installing A Circuit Breaker Box

Connect any new circuits to the subpanel attaching the hot wire to a circuit breaker and the other wires to their respective buses.

Installing a circuit breaker box.

Select the electrical box you need for every receptacle switch and fixture in your new circuit. On afci or gfci breakers this circuit wire will be attached to the terminal marked load power or black finally for afci or gfci breakers attach the breaker s coiled white pigtail wire to the neutral bus bar in the panel. 8 gauge wire goes with 40 or 60 amp two pole breakers. The neutral white from the new cable attaches to the afci.

Many circuit breakers will physically fit into different panels however only those identified on the panel s label are approved for use. Never install a circuit breaker into a panel for which it was not designed. If you re not sure how many circuits you ll need you will be better off with a panel that has a few more. Our electrical box buying guide explains the functions of the different box designs.

This diagram illustrates some of the most common circuits found in a typical 200 amp circuit breaker service panel box. The advantage of installing a breaker panel in the garage is that it allows you to have multiple circuits available while only needing to run one line to the garage from the house. Circuit breaker panel box wiring diagram. A breaker box in a detached garage is usually a sub panel to the main circuit panel in the home.

Attach the wires to the breaker and then snap it into the box or install the breaker first and insert the wires last. Grounding in the maze of wires that inhabits your breaker box there s one more to be. Using improper circuit breaker causes forfeiture of ul factory mutual and all other listings. With all circuit wires connected the circuit breaker can be snapped into place into its panel slot.

Just be aware that wiring an afci style breaker is different from wiring ordinary breakers. Before deciding where you ll install your new circuit breaker panel decide the size you ll need such as 200 amp 300 amp or 400 amp. Twelve gauge wire suits 15 to 20 amp breakers. Clear a knockout panel install cable clamps in the hole and feed the wires through the clamp.

If your future circuit needs are for fewer than 40 circuits the 200 amp panel will suit your needs.