How To Install A New Circuit Breaker DIY [AVOID Electrician]

You will learn how to install a new circuit breaker in your electrical panel and do it yourself, avoiding an expensive electrician visit. We show you all the safety measures, including all the steps on how to change a circuit breaker yourself, and how to test your electrical panel to ensure your power is on or off. We will also show you all the proper ways to connect the wires as in your fuse panel. Replacing a circuit breaker can be dangerous, but we show you how to replace a circuit breaker safely.
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00:00 Adding New Circuit Breaker to your Electrical Panel DIY
00:43 Step1: Cutting power to Electrical Panel first
01:11 Step2: Remove Electrical Panel Cover
01:45 Quick Safety Info and Where wires get connected
02:03 Step 3: Testing electrical panel to confirm power is shut off
03:08 How Power bus bars work in electrical panels
04:29 Running the new circuit wire to the electrical panel box
05:03 Demonstration of how the circuit breaker attaches to the panel
05:31 Connecting new circuit wires to the electrical panel
06:51 Step 5: Connecting the ground wire first to the electrical panel
07:11 Step 6: Connecting the white Neutral wire first to the electrical panel
07:51 Step 7: Connecting the black Line wire first to the electrical panel
08:18 Step 8: Install a new breaker onto the electrical panel
09:02 Step 9: Vacuum out the panel box
09:26 Step 10: Turn the main power back on
09:40 Step 11: Test the new circuit in the electrical panel
10:10 Reinstall the electrical panel cover
10:59 Step 12: Cover any gap openings with plastic faceplates

[@jeffostroff]

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[@mssatire14]

Thank you so much. I absolutely love your ocd. Not only because I am too but because you would be the best type of contractor to have for people and trustworthy and clean. I know how people like us ocd'ers work❤left a tip for the very first time ever here on KZbin. Not much because HELLO I'm trying to DIY because I'm low on money but it's totally appreciated ❤❤❤

[@Deputydog-xk5jl]

One more comment in case no one else mentioned it…label the new breaker. Great video sir thanks!

[@hassanbrown5908]

Im going to watch this a few more times but this was the best help to DIYERS and homeowners like myself. I will give you a updated after im done wish me luck 🤞

[@MophinLew]

I'm installing a dedicated 20amp circuit with 2 outlets in my garage for my heavier tools to use. This video was a great help. Thank you!

[@officesuperhero9611]

Honestly, this was the BEST and clearest video on how to add a circuit breaker. PLUS, it was a Siemens, which is the one I have. *THANK YOU!!*

[@johnnymccoy4311]

thats how you explain something in DETAIL. Best video on this subject

[@djcip1]

Hi Jeff, your panel is what is known as a subpanel, since the main breaker is outside. That is why it is fed with 4 insulated conductors, 2 ungrounded (the black & red) the neutral (white) & the equipment grounding conductor (green). If you were to look inside your main panel outside, you would see that the neutral and equipment ground are together. That is the only location where this occurs. But in your subpanel, if you look at the left side of the large neutral lug, you’ll see a green pan head screw with machine threads. That is there, for situations where the panel is being used as a main, and not a sub. It is intended to be screwed in tightly to the threaded hole in the back of the pane. This effectively bonds the neutral and ground together, as required in a main. It appears that it was left in place, but not screwed in. Please just remove it completely, because if it makes any contact with the panel, you lose your isolated neutral.

[@thewanderingooak]

Wow that made this seem so approachable. Thank you!

[@rauljr9869]

Great job and even better the details of everything you are doing step by step!

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks Raul glad you liked it and thanks for watching

[@jameskim62]

VERY GOOD INSTRUCTION !!!!!!!!! THANKS !!!!!!

[@jmcenterprises9591]

Nice work Jeff, it really helps to be able to do these smaller electrical jobs ourselves and not have to pay for and rely on a contractor. Thanks for the video.

[@jeffostroff]

Glad to help JMC

[@timmark4190]

Great video. Very good info.

[@TheOctapodi]

Great video! Very easy to follow. Thank you!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MarkAlbert]

Nice job, Jeff and appreciate your concern about safety to suit your audience! Still, I have installed many a breakers for new circuits without ever shutting off main power. Just need to know where to touch and where not to. Also, keep in mind the torquing requirements of latest NEC code. Especially important for stranded 6 gauge cable for 50 Amp car charging ports. Have installed a few of those, and still have no torque screwdriver. Just make sure all is snug and tight!

[@jeffostroff]

Good stuff!

[@mssatire14]

Thanks!

[@smittyone66]

Great job Jeff

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks Smitty!

[@afjeep3325]

Great video, thank you again!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@terrylowther794]

Very good video

[@dangerdoberman]

Whoa. That's really great.

[@dungle-wh9td]

You are awesome!

[@skyrim2615]

Thanks

[@davidm2778]

Awesome video...

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks so much David!

[@mohandasu43]

Thank You Sir.

[@jeffostroff]

You are most welcome

[@kylesalter7051]

Great video

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@davidperry5631]

Forgot to mark the circuit on the panel label.the copper lines he referred to is the ground wire.good video for beginners and good safety advice.

[@steveofsd]

My first add a circuit to my panel, thanks for the safety tips, you sound just like my neighbor (retired Army cpt) who taught me gun safety. Always treated it loaded.

[@jeffostroff]

Great advice Steve, love your neighbor already

[@richardsmith-qz1nx]

Hey Jeff what is the voltage reading on the bar inside panel I have a reading at 160v on my multimeter 😊

[@deltafour1212]

What a godsend

[@tretre1692]

You made that so much easier than I thought! Before I go buying all this wire though, can I simpy splice and add a junction box to the oven wires to add a 210 in the garage?!

[@jeffostroff]

No, oven should be its own dedicated home run from the panel to the oven outlet.

[@wranther]

Great to see that during this lingering lull in Big Box Bonanzas that Jeff has resorted to his old school Electrifying his audiences! Seems the Holiday Season rush has been crushed by expansive inflation Jeff. Of course in these parts with no freight movement for nearly 5 days from all the Blizzarding last week, could be many empty shelves and Christmas trees too. Hope you and your family have a Wonderfully Enjoyable Christmas Eve Week! -Bob...

[@tedy2777]

All of slots in my panel are occupied with either 15A or 20A breakers. Is it perfectly fine to do the "duplex" set up where one slot will have a double 15A or 20 A so I can free up some space? I want to add a new 20A breaker for a fridge as well as in a room.

[@williamsnyder6514]

I have followed you since the Champlain towers collapse and I am a JW in Colorado with 27 years experience feel free to hit me up with any electrical code questions I am co-host of the High Voltage Live Show and we will answer any questions you have sir!

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks William!

[@DanEBoyd]

I'll still pay the electrician. Maybe with that outside main shutoff I'd consider working on it, but absolutely not if there's any straight live power in there. I do kind of enjoy fishing wire and installing devices - it's super satisfying when you turn on the circuit and flip the switch for the new light, or plug in something and turn it on.

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, always safer to have a licensed electrician doing it

[@scottmorris4914]

The neutal buss has an issue. The green screw is installed, tying the ground and the neutral together. By code that screen needs to be removed, as there is another box ( main breaker - cutoff) above that circuit breaker box. The box closet to the meter is where that screw is allowed to be installed. Any subpanels must have that removed. We added a whole house generator, including an ATS. We had to remove the green screen, because the ATS was the box between the circuit breaker box and the meter.

[@chumbie500]

What size 6:05 cable connectors do you use?

[@CosmicJesterX]

tyty.

[@richardsmith-qz1nx]

I’m adding a 20a circuit breaker and it single one so I just was wanting to make sure that I don’t have problems

[@darthwelder652]

Your three main wires on top are hot, hot, and neutral, and the copper is ground. 120 volt, 120 volt , together 240 volt. The romex has black=120, white= neutral, copper= ground. Ussually for single pole breaker. A double pole breaker will be a 240 volt since each side of the beaker taps off each 120 volt. But, absolutely treat the box as hot. Just like a gun, treat it as always loaded. Peace all.

[@catchingdreams600]

😂😂 you’re now playing electrician

[@sunseekerfl]

I only have one comment. You turn the main off before taking the cover off to make sure you don't accidentally touch anything when removing the cover that is great but you turn the main on and then put the cover on!! Wouldn't you be far safer killing the main after your check before messing around trying to rehang the cover?

[@jeffostroff]

I have one response. We did cut the power outside before removing the panel and we showed it in the video

[@Rominxile]

I think what the gentlemen was meaning is that, yes you turned off the main breaker before pulling the cover off in the beginning. However, you turned the power back on to test the new circuit and put the cover back on when the main was on. I believe his point was why implement a safe practice in the beginning but disregard it at the end.

[@mssatire14]

I do totally agree but I'm hoping other DIYers like me watched a hundred videos and have a spotter (like my 77yr old electrician stepfather) to watch over them before attempting their first electrical job. 😮

[@DieselGeneratortraining]

Happy new year 2023 from #PowerLearningChannel

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks power lighting and Same to you as well

[@tiggeroush]

Everyone misses the torqueing. It is part of the listing and labeling instructions, It is on the panel, it is on the breaker and it is in the NEC twice.

[@craigwilliamson9041]

Does it matter where the white wire is connected I know the black goes to the breaker

[@jeffostroff]

White wire goes to the bus bar where the other white wires are

[@williamsnyder6514]

Keep in mind in the 2023 NEC microwaves are covered under 210.8(D) and GFCI protection is required.

[@Sylvan_dB]

My jurisdiction has not yet adopted 2023 NEC. Not many have.

[@williamsnyder6514]

@@Sylvan_dB 3 places do Jan 1st 2023

[@youentertainmee]

Take that green bonding screw out of that sub. That’s shouldn’t have passed an electrical inspection. And people, don’t rely on that $5 glow stick with your life. Lol.

[@jeffostroff]

That's why I showed the multimeter measurements

[@renatamorgan488]

Also, ppl that make these videos have u use a pen or multi meter but never show us how to set the meter. I paid 40 bucks for one and theres not even directions on the package on where to put the dial for checking the circuit to change my gfci. My thinking if your showing us to do something show us how. Other than those couple of things great job. Now I can add a new 20 am breaker to run a few more plugs .

[@renatamorgan488]

One thing no one ever states is the panel marking. Nothing worse than trying to find the breaker that goes to the whatever.

[@gary4307]

Should mention to use the appropriate size wire for the circuit you are installing.

[@jeffostroff]

There's a million things to mention, but wanted to keep it short and focused on just changing the breaker

[@DeltaCo7175]

You would sppend a couple hundred bucks for an electrician because he would install the proper breaker . In my area when adding circuits a combo afi/ gfi breaker should be used

[@jeffostroff]

Yes this is a grandfathered in electrical panel. If you switch panels you would use the combo breakers

[@vizioasdf]

All the dings/bells/chimes sound effects are annoying.

[@jwilson1484]

And never just use your NCVT. Test with a Multimeter.

[@jeffostroff]

That's why we showed both at the beginning of the video

[@BlurnGanston]

Ads on YT Premium 👎

[@evilla410]

Is not that easy, you can just install a breaker where ever you want , you have to valance you breaker box. Small tip use the right screwdriver for the right job. Look at the insulation at tip.

[@garyglenn3654]

English version please!

[@evilla410]

😂😂😂😂😂 so fu….$&k funny

[@avinaftali8595]

Please don’t listen to this gentleman. If his opinion is that it CANNOT be done live, then I have to question his knowledge.

[@timmark4190]

This is for people who are beginners. Not experienced guys

[@57silverwings]

So why did you turn off all the powe to remove the panel but you turned the power on when you .installed the panel cover

[@michaelwilson4700]

Thanks!

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks for the $2 Superthanks Michel!