View Full Version : How to change a circuit breaker in a 200 amp box
Joe3
Mar 17, 2008, 06:56 PM
How to change a circuit breaker in a 200 amp box
Stratmando
Mar 17, 2008, 07:06 PM
Power will need to be off, Most single and double pole breakers pivot out. If it is the 200 Amp breaker, their may be a screw going through breaker into panel. What breaker?
stanfortyman
Mar 17, 2008, 07:49 PM
Considering the question you are asking, and how you are asking it, I'd say you'd be well served staying out of your electrical panel.
stanfortyman
Mar 17, 2008, 07:57 PM
What's the matter Joe? Truth hurts?
Fr_Chuck
Jul 23, 2008, 08:37 PM
It is posible to get hurt if you don't know how to properly change this. While it can be simple please understand that warning you not to try it can be good advice also.
donf
Jul 24, 2008, 10:26 AM
Joe,
Do you have any experience with respect to working within an electrical panel?
This is a potential kill zone, that's the reason for all the concern!
Crucial to anyone being able to help you is for us to know what breaker you are trying to change and why. Electricity can be very unforgiving.
DC Kelley
Jul 25, 2008, 11:46 AM
Presuming this question relates to your other post asking about installing a 220v 2 pole breaker as well (and ignoring for the moment that you can easily kill yourself doing this)
If you need to replace a breaker, they are simply held in by the screw that attached to the back metal bar you will see running along the back. Remove, tilt, and left out (having first removed the back wire that take the current off into your home). Readily available replacements can be found at the hardware store. Please keep in mind that lethal voltages still exist in the box even once you have turned off the "main" breaker, and dropping a screwdriver can be deadly here.
If your motivation for doing this is to install a 2 pole breaker for your 220v needs, it is very likely you will also have to remove and replace an existing breaker so that the new 2-pole one can be installed. Take a look at what you see at the hardware store, or whatever is in your box today (perhaps the stove of AC fuses), notice that the 220v volt ones mount to both sides (both supply bars) in such a way that they need an open position on both sides. If you do have to move things around to make room, be sure to update the documentation on the panel
Stratmando
Jul 25, 2008, 04:14 PM
Poster Emailed shortly after his first post, I think it was a dryer receptacle, and it was no problem, and had been taken care of.