Do it Yourself Circuit Breaker
- 1). Position a rubber mat below the breaker box and stand on it at all times while installing the new breaker. Place a battery-operated light in position to illuminate the breaker box area. Open the breaker box's front cover, turn off the box's main breaker and all individual breakers. Remove the box's inner cover by loosening and removing its holding screws. Use a screwdriver with an insulated handle.
- 2). Look for the main electrical power lines entering into the box. These wires (as well as the lugs they connect to) will be live, so never touch them. Loosen the terminal screw labeled "line power" on the breaker being replaced and carefully pull out the black or red wire. Loosen the breaker's terminal screw marked "load neutral" and pull out the white wire.
- 3). Loosen the terminal screw on the box's neutral bar that the breaker's coiled wire is attached to and pull out the wire. Push the front of the circuit breaker toward the edge of the box to disengage it from the bus bar underneath. Do not touch the bus bar, because it may still be live. Pull out the existing circuit breaker.
- 4). Turn the new circuit breaker to its off position. Slide the breaker into position at an angle, and then push it forward so that it snaps into position against the bus bar. Attach the black or red wire to the breaker's "line power" terminal. Attach the white wire to the breaker's "load neutral" terminal. Attach the end of the breaker's coiled wire to a terminal screw on the box's neutral bar.
- 5). Replace the breaker box's inner cover, tightening the screws. Turn on the box's main breaker and all individual breakers. Close the breaker box's outer cover.
