Circuit Breaker and Electrical Panel Basics
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
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I will walk you through the basic information all homeowners and especially DIYers should know about their electrical panel and circuit breakers. The video is broken up into the below chapters:
This Video en Español: • Conceptos Básicos Sobr...
This Video Blog Article: everydayhomerepairs.com/guide...
0:00 Intro
0:39 Cover, Labels, Different Brands, and main Breaker
2:55 120 Volt and 240 Volt Breakers
3:42 Removing the Electrical Panel Cover
4:08 Safety Considerations When Working on Electrical Panels
4:58 Internals of an Electrical Panel
6:15 Example Wiring To Individual Circuit Breaker
7:44 Removing and Installing a New Circuit Breaker
8:46 Circuit Breaker Internals and How a Breaker Works
10:36 Common Electrical Panel Failed Inspection Issues
11:51 Wrap Up
Link To Breaker Internals During a Trip Condition: • How a Circuit Breaker ...
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Just a quick note on turning the main breaker off... the main breaker recently went bad in my electrical panel, and we discovered (thankfully before working on anything) that everything still had power when the main breaker was switched off. Always double check before doing work
needs to be a sticky up top!
The cold sweats I was getting every time he was pointing to anything close to the main input, I wish there was a way to just turn off the power at the meter without having to call the power company then I would be super chill about working on a panel.
There is. You can pull the meter out to disconnect power to the house. Inside the meter box is a handle to detach it. Just make sure your main is off first so you don't get sparks as you do it.
@@Sam-ey1nn in many areas no one except the utility is to touch the meter can. Not even an electrician. If you tamper with it you risk getting fined - it's a big no-no. There are even locks on it sometimes
I'm sure it was perspective... if you see how he moves his hand over the main breaker he never pulls it away, so when he is pointing to the mains he is probably still a good 3 inches away...
You are not allowed to tamper with an electric meter at all no matter where you live. All meters have some type of lock or anti-tamper device on them and as soon as they're removed you can be fined or even lose your service. If you're lucky the electric company will just put a padlock on your meter base but they could also disconnect it at the service drop. Also not only is it illegal to tamper with a meter, it's very dangerous because those top connectors are still live with no protection at all. Those are the last thing you want to be shocked by, trust me.
@@mr.g937 Of course.
There is nobody like you explaining in such detail electrical stuff. Great presentation, great video! Thank You!
agreed
You're so right about labeling being off. I did some work in my dining room where I took down a non-load bearing wall and installed some wainscoting. The wall had some electrical run through it for a switch so I needed to rewire that and since I was taking the outlet covers off anyway, I figured I would replace the older outlets and switches. Anyway, I had a breaker labeled "dining room" and shut that off. Now my lights didn't have power so I was able to safely rerun the switch to a J-box, etc. Then I checked the outlet on the wall 1, expecting it to be off. Nope, I had power. I ran downstairs and found it on a different breaker. Strange. I then checked the outlet on wall 2, again, expecting it to be off. Nope... power so I shut that breaker off. Rinse and repeat for walls 3 and 4. So I basically have 5 different circuits powering my dining room (one for the lights and then 4 for each outlet on the 4 walls). None of the other breakers were labeled to control part of the dining room. Crazy. Moral of the story... check EVERY receptacle that you will be working on and never assume that the power is off to it.
Thanks to this video I gained the confidence of installing a 15amp breaker and ran the wire to the panel. Thank you!!
I learn a lot from your videos even though I'm an extremely comfortable DIYer with electrical. Here's a safety tip that I use in my home, pertaining to the 200A main panel and 100A subpanel, because I'm always aware the main panel is always live with 200A coming in from the street (100A subpanel has a circuit breaker in the main panel): (1) no storage or debris in front of the panel and area is well lit, including a dedicated flashlight on the side of the panel, so it can easily and safely be accessed; (2) thick 1" safety mat in front of the panel; (3) use insulating safety gloves (e.g., Gorilla gloves); and (4) use insulated electrical tools (e.g., Klein or Knipex). Even with all these safety steps, just as you demonstrated in your video, I did slip when replacing the panel door, which fell into the main panel and turned off the main breaker of the 200A panel (first time it happen in all my years, so I'm thankful for stressing safety).
Good tips Ed, thanks for sharing.
When I bought my current house, while it was empty, I made a map of every outlet and light, to show which breaker it was connected to. I am SO GLAD I did that! Thanks for the great info. I hope that panel was not live, as close as you were getting your fingers to everything.
This was an excellent explanation. You are thorough and explained the 'why' which is important. I love how you talk slowly and simply. Thank-you.
I'll probably never deal with this kind of work (still too timid to change an outlet lol!) But I enjoy the education as it makes me feel like a more knowledgeable home owner!
this guy is saving lives with his youtube videos. DIY electrical work is NOT the same as the other trades. mad respect
The same can be true of DIY plumbing. It is just as likely to improperly install something as simply as a sink trap and leak sewer gases into your home.
@@rhoonah5849 Except electrical mistakes will end you.
@@CL-ty6wp And leaching sewer gases will also end you. So will improper carpentry, etc.
This guy knows just enough to be dangerous.
and you should know enough to cite examples if you think this guy (who has 3/4 of a million subscribers and 10k likes on this video alone), is wrong. How may subscribers do YOU have,@@RadioRich100 ?
This was a great video for a complete n00b. Thanks for all the info!
You bet!
I'm going to be installing a generator interlock soon, and will need to move a couple circuit breakers, so this comes in very handy. Thanks!
You give the best and easiest explanation on you videos.Thank you for taking the time.
I can definitely agree on how a breaker location listing can be misleading. With the house I recently purchased I have found one breaker is listed as Hannah's Room.
I bought one of those breaker locator units and have been going room by room and creating a spreadsheet in the computer which will eventually be printed out and taped to the panel so I will know every floor, room, and device what breaker it's controlled by. Bedrooms will be named geographically, not who sleeps there.
Hannah's gonne be pissssssssed
Poor hannah. Catching heat in a YT comment section
@@killtyrant 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Haha... that is a great point. Everyone will be screwed when Hannah moves out.
Thank you for the very good information. I'm trying to setup a generator to my home for blackout situations. I know my limitations and will hire an electrician but I do like knowing what the electrician is talking about.
Exactly! Having some familiarity with electrical will help a ton even when working with pros 👍
Love this content. It really helps me to understand better. Because I want to build up my experience where I don't fear this and can do some of the work myself.
Excellent, excellent, excellent. If you EVER do a video on installing a sub-panel, I would think that would fill a real need. Every sub-panel video on youtube that I have seen, and I have seen many, many of them (as I am getting ready to install a sub-panel in my place) has serious holes and even deficiencies, or places where they are vague. I am reading tons of different stuff as well. A good, solid, complete video on installing a sub-panel would be so fantastic; as what youtube presently has is seriously lacking insofar as I have been able to tell. But you, sir, are the KING of clarity. Please, f you can, consider making a video on installing a sub-panel.
i love how basic you get, we need that. build from the ground up. talk to us like we are twelve years old. basics, then build. i love this channel. keep them coming!!!!!
The best instructional/educational video for electrical on CZcams! Well done!
Your video is very instructional, yet for a nonelectrical person like myself it is a bit intimidating. I still find it very interesting at least to know. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback and I completely agree you need to be competent and know your local code prior to jumping into DIY electrical projects. Alternatively being educated on some of these topics also helps you to hire and work with a professional 👍
@@EverydayHomeRepairs Yes, I agree with that. At least I can communicate with the electricians when they come and do work. Thanks
this is a very well explained basics in the electrical panel at home. thank you very much for the simple explanation.
Great demonstration, thanks! 👍👍. My breakers are Cutler-Hammer. I live in the South East.
Thanks for adding the info on the internal workings of the breaker
Well done bro! Explaining was easy for you like your a teacher ! Step step you had my attention ~ so I have also learned that all breakers are not the same , I went to Loew and got what I thought was my breaks 2 pole 50/50 -60//60 and it was $18 for one I neede 2 it was the wrong one and I had to go back ( I didn’t open the panel , this wanted to do more research and pow! Your video of this information was perfect so inane t back , replace , found the right one it turns out one breaker was $35 bucks / so I’m waiting on tomorrow to turn off all my breaker / mark the ones I’m moving and get to it
Thanks again
You are very good teacher, perfect pace and great detail. thanks for this video!!
Well I've finally found my go to place for home repairs. This guy is not only thorough, he's articulate and an excellent teacher as well. Thanks for the great video ! ! ! It would be nice if you could introduce yourself before starting in on the rest of the video. Thanks ! !
Please be careful doing things electrical. I’m an electrician and I kinda don’t like seeing videos like this sometimes. It might give people the wrong sense of I know what I’m doing and they get theirselves hurt.
It's a little weird, but the hot bus bars actually "zigzag" across the board, so the left and right incoming phases actually power alternating breaker slots on both sides of the panel. That's how the 240v breakers are able to grab both 120v phases from the same side of the panel. It took me embarrassingly long to figure that out though. One of those things I always just assumed without giving it due thought.
Good callout Marc 👍
I stopped the video as soon as he explained that the two hots are left and right and was about to write the same comment. As Marc said they actually do a sort of zig zag so every other notch on each side is the opposite 120v feed (or phase is actually the term) thus allowing 240v breakers to have one feed from each 120v feed.
Yup, just came here to say the very same thing.
Agree. I was about to comment until I saw yours.
I also noticed.. they zigzag, that's why you can get 220 and have the breakers on same side..
You do a very good job of explaining! Thank you!
Thanks for the video , removing my Jacuzzi tub and putting in a shower and was wondering how to terminate the jacuzzi power now I have a much better understanding of what to do . Thanks
great information. answered most of the questions I have but unable to find answer to.
First of all, I am a big QO fan..only panel I put in...Great videos and the way you describe stuff
Thanks for your time. These videos are always very well done and informative.
Thanks Joe!
Thank you so much! Diyer here, going to replace that switch!
Remarkably clear and helpful! Thank you sooooo much for these awesome videos.
So far the ONLY DIY content creator who seems to really know what he's doing. Learning a lot with these videos.
Thanks for the feedback!
Are you serious?? You truly havent seen the ball since kick off.
Thank you! Very concise and easy to follow.
Excellent lesson !, I am now more informed than ever, Thank you, God Bless
They do make protective covers that go over the incoming power lugs. Two in a set for about $15 (when I bought them) from Home Depot online. Have not installed yet as I am waiting until the next time I remove the cover. Enjoyed the video.
Great idea! I'm going to order a set.
Link?
Thank you for the great educational video. I know you mentioned that you are adding a circuit breaker for the garage but can you add another circuit to provide a power to the new outlets in a room that can be used as a kitchen without scraping existing wiring? Adding 20 Amp for the half of the room.
You did a good job explaining what's inside your load center. Working on or around energized equipment is definitely not for a DYI'er. Different levels of PPE's are required for different voltages and it's probably over kill from a safety standpoint but qualified electricians in my state are required to go full rambo. The PPE required is super uncomfortable and HOT. But .. you better not let OSHA catch you because they will fine you for not having the full arc flash suit on if your in any kind of panel.
@One I totally understand your position on this. I have been retired for about 10 years now but the PPE requirements were just coming into law back then and were being enforced in the state of California. Just like the title 24 stuff and the required safety training. I know it's totally ridiculous but it is what it is. Bottom line if you work for a company that requires it you either go by their rules or find another employer that doesn't require it.
Can wait for the video on adding a breaker! - I hope to learn more than other videos. I feel like others leave so much info out.
benjamin sahlstrom has some of the best demo videos for electrical on youtube.
Here's a link to Ben's video
czcams.com/video/zpIIYWhCFgo/video.html
Yeah I have seen some of Ben's videos and agree he does a great job with the channel.
I liked this-I have three comments. 1) I always turn the main breaker off BEFORE removing the panel 2) I would have liked you explaining the simple/standard breaker hookup with one black wire BEFORE discussing the AFCI and GFCI that has the addition of the white wire and 3) explaining why and how the AFCI, Arc-fault circuit interrupter, and GFCI, Ground-fault circuit interrupter, work. If you DID do these, I missed them or misunderstood. Good job!
His video is replete with bad information. How is that a "good job"?
@@DiffEQ Your comment without facts is useless.
I'm so paranoid that I go outside and switch off power to the entire house at the meter before opening the breaker panel.
Says the guy who can't even supply examples.@@DiffEQ
Thanks for sharing this knowledge.
Very important information. Thank you for sharing
The feeder for the neutral wire going in to the sub should be phased with white tape
How do you know if it’s a neutral or a ground?
@@MoneyManHolmes neutral or ground it should have been phases with either white or green tape
I'm not interested in working on the breaker box myself, but I DO want to understand what I'm looking at, and understand what the electrician is talking about when I get the run down of what he's done. This is the tutorial I was looking for.
A couple tips I use are
1. I have a cell phone pic on the door showing the normal configuration for the box to compare everyday operations to some future issue that might come up ... say an electrician leaves but he failed to reset the main. If I didn't know what the main was supposed to look like, I'd have to call him back to flip a switch, which might not be until the next day. But .. why?
2. I affixed a button LED light to the box for power outage. A tap and I can see which breaker is the problem in what would otherwise be total darkness of the basement.
3. I wouldn't expect anyone else to do this but I printed out a rough layout of the house, and color coded breakers for the area. Mine outlines which breaker controls which outlet, ceiling light and appliance, something I did with the former landlord with meter test by test. But that's a little too Karen for most people. It was helpful for us because it told us at a glance which circuits were already maxed out, and which could still be tapped for what we wanted to do (install a closet security system and router). Later the electrician was ecstatic because he only had to test after the breaker like he usually does, only with more confidence about what else was lurking on the line. Later, the landlord and I did all the floors of the property and garage that way, with outdoor security lighting/generator outlets, and pool heater, and I put them in a 'Landlord Book' for when he decided to sell the property. (And then he sold the property and evicted me, but that's another story.) :D
Great video, thank you soo much! I really appreciate your straightforward and honest tutorial, it's very helpful.
Happy to help!
Clear information. Great looking main box.
I'm a handyman with over 40 years of experience in everything from automobiles to toilets (jack of all trades; master of none!).
1) A client had problems with her kitchen, in that several outlets would go out at the same time. Although not a DIY-er, she is very capable, so, I told her to check the circuit breaker box, look for the one that was tripped, which took a bit of explanation over the phone, as she didn't know what that meant! She said that none appeared to be tripped. I, then, told her to look for the big label on the box door and/or little labels next to each breaker (I had never seen her circuit breaker box, so I gave her as much info as possible). Then, came the bomb: There were NO labels whatsoever! An hour later, I came by, and, sure enough, she was correct! I couldn't believe it! It took the two of us nearly 3 hours to identify all the outlets, in which I applied a new door label and individual labels; just a couple of weeks after that, I was convinced that it wasn't 100% correct! Regardless, the box didn't turn out to be the problem. Her 15-year-old GFCIs were shot (4 of them were in series, such that if even one was out, the next one(s) down the line wouldn't work, either. So, I replaced all of them (generally speaking, they should be tested every month and replaced every 10 years or so, depending on usage, but, hardly anyone ever does that, myself included!). Major point: NEVER trust circuit box labels! ALWAYS check voltage on the outlet or wiring you're working on!
2) Another client had a peculiar problem where her front yard and/or backyard porch outlets would stop working, but, the circuit box never tripped! After about a half-hour of investigation, I discovered that each of those outlets was in series with a corresponding GFCI in the garage! As they were just over 10 years old, I replaced the two GFCIs, and, voila, no more troubles! Whoever installed them in the 10+ year old home, had stripped too much insulation off the GFCI wires, such that just the right amount of wiggling/shaking - - such as hard pushing/pulling an electric cord or tap into the porch sockets - - would short them! I, then, put labels on the porch sockets and the garage sockets to ensure that future problems would be more easily solved!
Amazing, amazing Thank you for this! From me in South Africa
That was a great video, very well explained and I feel like I have good information in my head.
Doubled lugged neutrals/grounds are very common and a no no.
🤗 THANKS SCOTT 👍 GOOD INFORMATION ….WE ALWAYS NEED TO BE SAFE 😳 and pay attention 😍😍😍
💯
Thank you for the informative video I learnt a lot
Excellent - clearly presented! Thanks
Top notch video. This is the CZcams I love. Thanks for putting it together.
Great explanations of the panel and potential violations buddy.
You bet!
Thanks for the video on circuit panels. I like it!
Thanks. Excellent tutorial.
Very Informative video. Thank you.
Very informative,thank you.
Awesome video , back to basics
Excellent explanation, thank you. I have a 15 amp GFCI for my outside outlets that is always, always tripping...for a start, I don't know why my electrician only wired them for 15, to me they should be 20 amp, so I can use my chop saw etc. without it tripping. Annoying indeed.
you are amazing explaining everything
Great video as always. Thanks!
Great explanation. Thanks
Great info, thanks!!
at 12:24 where you are saying the left side wire powers the breakers on the left and the right side powers the breakers on the right. I don't think that is the case as, for example, the breakers on the left are "every other one" on the left...the breakers on one side or the other alternate between the left and right input power, that is how you get 220 using a double breaker on the same side be it the right or the left.
5:40 ** and yes that’s correct, they alternate. That’s how the double pole 240 breakers are able to deliver 240
Appreciate the correction 👍
So many comments on this, but I do think that he meant to speak of the left and right bus bars. Funny thing on my 2 year old Siemens panel - it is actually opposite as the main breaker swaps the left and right phases. I found this out when I was trying to balance the loads on my panel for whenever my generator is supplying power. I was measuring the current on the 2 incoming phases and the changes kept being opposite of what I expected based on what was running. I was surprised that Siemens would do this given how some many inspectors always want black feeds on the left and red on the right in the meter socket, main panel, and any subpanels.
Super helpful, thank you! Question: My garage (detached) is on a single 20 amp breaker off the main house / main breaker. The garage then has its own smaller breaker panel and a "Main" double 30 amp breaker. This is an old house, a lot of janxy things to discover. When I pop a breaker in the garage, it isn't popping a breaker in the garage panel, but instead popping the breaker at the house (20 Amp single). It seems to me it's because the double 30 amp "main" at the garage is obviously higher than the 20 at the house, so the house pops first. Also, the 20 at the house is just a single. I'm wondering if that should be a double 30, then go down to 20 at the garage, then 15 for individual things like outlets, lights, etc. Feedback from the pros appreciated! I'm handy, but if this is a job for a pro, that would be good to hear as well. Cheers!
Very educational, appreciate you!
11:20 If you ever run into that situation where there are two wires under the screw of one breaker. Just remove both wires, find a like or greater sized pig tail. And wire nut the 3 wires together. Use the pig tail to attach to the breaker. This is allowed in the code book.
Doubling, or even tripling, wires under a signal screw is against code.
Please provide the location in the national code. I've looked and from I see the code that was in place in 2014 is still in place today which is that if a breaker is so labeled, two wires(legs of the same circuit) can be terminated under the same breaker screw terminal.
@@davids7209 I ain’t gonna lie, I’m going off of 2008 code. Which is what I was trained on in 2010. Haven’t been in the field per se. I’m an electrician building submarines, whole different ball field.
@@robertsteich7362 Is everything explosion proof in a sub? I would also add that residential code is a lot different than commercial or industrial.
@@davids7209 That’s something I can’t not speak(type) on.
Great video brother.. thanks for sharing
Good information.✅
Doing some of that now, like the inside view of the Sq D 20 amp QO CB.😎👍
Thanks!
The utility goes to the meter first before the main service panel. So the location of where the utility comes in doesn't really determine where your main breaker is located. It all just depends on where everything is set up.
My friend, you are a talented 'Master of all trades." You can walk into a house and do whatever there is to be done to perfection, on top of that you have the time to teach other ignorant guys like me the basics. I enjoy watching your videos immensely . Thank you very much. .
Excellent video - thanks!
Gracias amigo for your advices
De nada
Got my Zinsco 😬 panel replaced last year. It appeared to work fine, but it was highly suggested it be replaced. It had to be relocated out of my bedroom closet. So I decided to have it installed to the back of the house. I have SO many open slots available now in the new panel.
Same with me! My old panel was jampacked and my new one has lots of space
@@matthewp1682 As a matter of fact, it was two years to the day.
@@SeanBaker Interesting, I got mine done right after I bought my house in May 2021. I was told it was from the 1950’s and that it needed replacing, and I figured better safe than sorry
Clear and concise
That’s a clean breaker box sir!
It should be noted that no matter what power can NOT be shut off to the main breaker at all unless your house has a separate main breaker from the box which is usually outside near the meter base, however in most cases those are locked to prevent tampering with especially if the power was shut off to the property. Then messing with a meter or removing anti-tampering devices or locks is not only illegal, it's very dangerous due to two lugs still be live from the service drop.
Hey Ben, agree and noted that around 6:00 mark in the video 👍
In a lot of jurisdictions if you have a main on the outside of the property (meter main) legally the utility company has NO control over the main breaker in the encloser. Thier authority ends at the output of the meter socket. They will try to lock your main but that is because they are lazy buggers and do not want to actually pull the meter to sleeve it. Tell them to stay out of the main IMO. They are more than willing to make other trades life a pain in the butt just trying to pass it on :P. also if they lock the main they may actually be violating NEC code depending on what version of the code your area has adopted
Love the channel, excellent advise, but I would add, always turn the main breaker off first, before removing cover and then test with a meter
Always wear gloves, as an extra insulating safety precaution
NEVER put both hands in the panel, this can lead to electric shock.
Cool thank you I gotta remove a circuit and now I understand it better
You're doing the LORDS work. Great education. Clarity, easy going, distinct, understandable, and any other adjectives one can think of.
Thanks Otto!
Great informative video, thank you so much!!
Happy to help!
Note that even with the main breaker being switched off, working in the load center is still dangerous. The lugs on the incoming side of this breaker are still hot and deadly. That being said, there people with enough experience to work with the main breaker still on!
Depending on what I'm doing, I work a panel hot most times. The key is to purchase the breaker ahead of time, remove the wire from the old breaker, remove the breaker to be replaced, screw the circuit hot wire back into the new breaker BEFORE seating the new breaker into the vacant slot then turn it on. I think this whole process typically takes me 2 to 3 minutes tops.
Now, why in the world do they leave those hot wires completely non-insulated and exposed for someone to accidentally touch and get killed?
Very informative, Thank you!
You bet!
Thank you!
Thank You Sir 👍
Nicely done sir
great information
Thank for the information that led to me doing something I'm not qualified to do, but still resulted in me getting my own water pump back on since my landlord won't send anyone
Nice video shot, well done, thank you for sharing it with us :)
Thanks for the info!
You bet!
Thank you Sir!!!💥💯
great video!!!!
this is really informative!
Great video! Just wondering where the ground wire is connected and coming out of the box going to to the outside grounding rod?
Good video. I noticed the grounds and neutrals were attached under the same screw which is no longer allowed.
Great job