How To Add A New Breaker Switch

Getting nervous because the lights dim and flicker every fourth dimension the fridge kicks on? Finally got that new table saw, simply the breaker trips every time you fire it up? Sounds like information technology might exist time to add together a circuit. With a few simple tools and supplies, a bit of electrical knowledge, and a LOT of caution, it'south a adequately unproblematic project. We'll show y'all how to add a circuit to your existing circuit billow.

Note: Be aware that it tin can be dangerous to add a circuit. It involves removing the embrace from your breaker box, and working about alive wiring. If you're not Really careful, it can kill you, which would likely put a damper on your whole project. If y'all're uncomfortable doing this blazon of work, or yous're adequately blow-prone – or you really exercise accept lights that dim and flicker – call in an electrician.

Tools And Supplies You Need To Add together A Excursion

In that location are 2 types of cable, commonly known as Romex, near frequently used in household wiring. Lighting or other relatively calorie-free-duty circuits mostly apply 14-gauge wire. For appliances and other circuits where in that location will be higher electric current draw, 12-approximate wiring is typically used. Both are readily bachelor at home centers and hardware stores, as are these other tools and materials.

• Wire strippers
• A hammer
• A drywall saw (for old work)
• Regular and Phillips head screwdrivers
• Outlet boxes, either former piece of work or new piece of work
• Outlets and switches for new circuit, either 15-amp or 20-amp
• Romex cable: fourteen-2 for lighting circuits, 12-2 for tools or appliances
• Wire staples
• A cablevision clamp, one for each excursion being added
• Wire nuts or push-in connectors
• A circuit breaker compatible with your breaker box. Get a fifteen-amp breaker for 14-ga. wire, a 20-amp breaker for 12-ga. For outdoor or damp locations, GFCI breakers are available, and may exist used in identify of GFCI outlets.

I'grand Not Yanking Your Chain – Information technology's Like shooting fish in a barrel To Add A Circuit!

On a recent project, I added 25 four-foot LED shop lights in my new store building (stay tuned, that article is up next). Even though LED lights are very energy efficient, if I'd added them all onto an existing excursion, my new nickname would probably be "Sparky."

I had enough of space in my billow box, and so I added two new circuits. Because I'k inherently ~~lazy~~ efficient, I also decided to connect all the lights onto switched outlets, then I wouldn't have to pull 25 bondage every time I wanted to turn the lights on or off.

When you add a circuit, start by installing your device (switch or outlet) boxes. Run your cable between all the boxes, installing outlets and switches every bit you lot get. Road the wiring along studs, joists, or other framing, to get it from box to box. Staple it frequently for support, and drill holes where necessary to go along it from beingness pinched or otherwise in the mode. Your local codes will probable accept requirements for all this.

Providing An Outlet For Your New-Establish Power

The chief focus of this post is to instruct you on the finer points of how to safely add a circuit to the main billow box. Since near new circuits are used to add outlets, we'll include a quick primer on outlet installation.

Step I is to give those outlets a home. Electric device boxes come in many shapes and sizes; a standard box for an electrical outlet or switch measures roughly 2-1/4" ten 3-3/iv", and comes in plastic and metal versions. They're available in various depths; if wall depth isn't an issue, a deeper box makes it much easier to tuck in your wires.

Boxes as well come in two types: former work and new work. If yous take access to the framing, you'll desire a new work box. Information technology attaches to a stud or joist with nails or screws. If you lot're adding a box to a finished wall, you demand an sometime piece of work box. Afterward cutting a hole in the drywall, you fish the wiring through the wall, and into the back of the old piece of work box. Then you insert the box into the cutout, and a couple of little "wings" expand out to hold it in identify.

If you're using new piece of work boxes, attach them all to the wall, then run the wiring through the holes in the back of the boxes. If you're working with old piece of work boxes, make your cutouts in the drywall, and fish the cable through the drywall where the boxes will go. Leave plenty cable to take most vi-8" of wiring protruding from the box, to make attachment to your receptacles easier.

Pro Tip: It's easier to commencement stripping the sheathing from the cable earlier pulling information technology into the boxes. Make the cutting and pull the sheathing back virtually half an inch, but leave information technology on until the cable is pulled through, so yank the sheathing off. Leave nearly ½" of the sheathing inside the box.

If you accept only one outlet on your circuit, for a high-demand appliance like a fridge or table saw, your chore is simple. Attach the ground (blank or green) wire to the grounding terminal. Strip about ¾" of insulation from the end of the white and black wires, and make a U-shaped bend at the terminate of each one.

Next, take the white (neutral) wire from the "hot" inbound cable, and connect information technology to one of the ii silver screws on the outlet. This volition be the side with the larger of the ii prong openings. Make sure your screwed connections are adept and snug. Many outlets likewise have holes in the back for "button-in" connections, only most electricians use the screw terminals, equally they're less likely to come loose.

At present attach the blackness wire to the copper-colored screw, on the side with the shorter prong opening. Tuck the wiring carefully into the box, adhere the outlet to the box, and install the embrace plate. All washed!

If you've got more than one outlet, you've got a fiddling more work to exercise. Pull the "hot" wire, which volition exist providing the power, in to the box through one opening in the rear, and the "power out" to the next outlet through another.

Pro Tip: To make sure your ability is continuous, even if an outlet goes bad, brand "pigtails" for all three conductors. Cutting a piece nearly 6" long of black, white and blank wire. Connect your incoming, outgoing and pigtail wires of each color together with the same-colored wires. Either twist them together and use a wire nut, or employ a push-in connector if your codes allow.

Now make a U-shaped bend in the end of each pigtail. Secure the basis wire to the green spiral on the outlet. Adhere the neutral (white) wire to one of the white terminals on the outlet (on the same side as the ground spiral). Attach the blackness pigtail to one of the copper-colored screws on the outlet. Carefully tuck the wires into the box, push the outlet into the box, and secure it with the fastened screws. The outlet at the end of the run is wired as if it were a solo outlet. Once all the outlets are wired, information technology'south fourth dimension to attach your string of outlets to the breaker box!

How to Add a Excursion – Time To Focus!

When you've got everything installed, run the cable over to the breaker box. At present it's time to first existence extra cautious. For maximum rubber, flip the service disconnect (main breaker) to the "OFF" position. Caution: Although about of the console is now safe, the large service cables coming into the service disconnect are nevertheless live – and they pack a LOT of juice!

Lose A Knockout, Add A Circuit

Remove the screws belongings the front panel cover on. Find an unused knockout to bring the cable in. Nearly boxes have knockouts on the acme, bottom, and both sides; pick ane that will requite you like shooting fish in a barrel admission inside the box.

how to add a circuit — Later flipping the service disconnect (main billow) OFF, remove the front console…

Tap on it with your pliers to swing it out a bit, and then twist it off. To protect the cable every bit it enters the box, securely install a cable clamp into the knockout.

Find an open spot in the box where you tin can install your new billow. Y'all tin add a circuit in whatsoever open slot. Get a rough idea how much cable you'll need to reach the new breaker, keeping in listen you lot'll have to route it around the box'due south inner edges to connect to the new breaker, too every bit the basis bar and neutral bar. Add virtually an extra 2-3 feet to that for insurance, and cutting your cable free from the gyre.

After gauging where your cable will enter the box, use your wire strippers to cutting through the cable's sheathing, making certain there'southward enough capsule left to extend nigh ½" into the box. Don't pull the sheathing off yet; pull the cablevision all the way through the cablevision clamp, beingness conscientious to keep it away from the exposed innards of the breaker box.

Tighten the cable clamp, and pull the sheathing off the cable, along with any inner paper wrapping.

Keeping the white and black wires bent out of the style, find an open spot on the grounding motorcoach bar (which will have all the blank ground wires attached to it). Bend the ground wire carefully effectually the inner edges of the box, routing information technology so it's tucked back out of the way.

When you get to the open spot on the ground bus bar, curve the ground wire toward information technology, and cutting it to length, leaving enough to insert into the bar. Loosen the screw, tuck the ground wire into the bar, and tighten the screw, making certain the ground wire is secure.

Now follow the aforementioned procedure for the white (neutral) wire. Strip about ¾" of insulation from the end before connecting it to the neutral coach bar (with all the other white wires fastened).

How to Add together A Circuit . . . Billow

At present for the breaker. It's dangerous to use an oversized billow; for fourteen-gauge wire, use a 15-amp breaker, and a 20-amp breaker for 12-gauge. Follow the aforementioned process to route the black wire to the vicinity of the open breaker slot, but don't install the breaker yet. Strip virtually ½" of insulation from the end of the wire. Loosen the clamping screw on the breaker, slide the wire in, and tighten the screw securely.

With the breaker's switch in the "OFF" position, install it on the main jitney. Many breakers have a hooked outer border; slide it into the hot double-decker bar until information technology engages, then firmly push the other stop down over the protrusion on the bus.

Reinstall the front cover on the breaker box, after knocking out the tab that corresponds with the slot where your new breaker is. Flip the service disconnect to the "ON" position, and switch the billow ON if all your wiring is finished.

Now, how to add a excursion is no longer a mystery! It'due south time to relax, and breathe a heavy sigh of satisfaction and relief – your quest to add a excursion is complete. Plug in, power up, and savour watching as the lights DON'T dim and flicker!