How to Replace a Circuit Breaker

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about How to Replace a Circuit Breaker and hope the blog can help you.

If you’re dealing with a faulty circuit breaker or simply need to upgrade to a code-compliant model, this guide on how to replace a circuit breaker has you covered.

A home’s entire electrical system runs through one distribution hub: the electrical panel. The electrical panel, or breaker box, is full of individual circuit breakers that control circuits or branches of electrical wires throughout the house. One circuit breaker may control all of the outdoor lights, another your kitchen outlets, and another may control individual appliances like a washing machine or air conditioner.

The circuit breaker’s job is to trip if the circuit is drawing too much power, as this can be hazardous for many reasons. However, circuit breakers don’t last forever and eventually need an upgrade, so learning how to replace a circuit breaker may be a handy skill to have. This guide will explain how to safely handle this potentially dangerous—but surprisingly simple—job.

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When to Replace a Circuit Breaker

Circuit breakers don’t last forever. Many can effectively operate for around 20 years or so. Frequent circuit breaker tripping can wear down a breaker’s internal components over time, however, causing it to trip even without much electrical load on the system. Circuit breakers that get hot often or for extended periods (such as in breaker boxes located in very warm utility rooms or along exterior south-facing walls) can also degrade more quickly than those that remain cool. Below are some signs to look for if you’re unsure if your circuit breakers need to be replaced.

• The circuit breakers are worn. To test a circuit breaker for wear, unplug everything from the circuit and reset the breaker. If it doesn’t snap into the “on” position and stay there securely, or if it feels like it lacks resistance, it’s time for a circuit breaker replacement.
• The circuit breakers don’t meet code requirements. Building codes often require homeowners to upgrade existing circuit breakers from standard models to those that detect arc or ground faults. Adding an outlet on a circuit or rewiring a switch may require heading to the panel and swapping out the circuit breaker controlling that device.
• The breaker amperage needs an upgrade. There are cases where a new circuit requires a larger breaker, such as moving from a 15-amp to a 20-amp breaker. In this case, the wiring will need to be replaced as well, but it starts with the circuit breaker.
• The circuit breaker is faulty. There are several symptoms of a bad circuit breaker, like burn marks, cracks in the casing, or a smoky smell. Look for these telltale signs in new and old circuit breakers alike.

In any case, circuit breaker installation or replacement isn’t very difficult. However, it does require a bit of experience and care to do it safely, and the sections below cover everything you need to know. Learning how to change a circuit breaker safely stands to save DIYers a lot of money when compared to hiring an electrician for this easy job.

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