Hello Forum
Yesterday, I added a dedicated circuit to a bathroom remodel, GFIC. Due to physical constraints, the circuit breaker size in the panel box I had to secure the wires to the breaker before adding it to the bus. With the breaker off, wires secured I added the circuit breaker. I’m still alive, and the receptacle works fine.
However, for safety reasons, one is suppose to add the breaker to the bus, terminate the ground first, neutral wire 2nd, then hot wire.
Any insights?
Thanks
Drake
Replies
I see no problem with the procedure you used. If you're nervous about it, just throw the main before plugging it onto the bus.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
You did fine. They're just being over-cautious.
I'm not an electrician, but I don't know why it would matter. I can understand the ground first, but i usually ad the ground and the neutral, then screw the common to the breaker, and with the breaker off, snap it into place. I always do the service end of the circuit last, so the receptacle/switch is already done. Then when I'm sure everything is finished on the other end, turn it on. I don't know why it would make any difference if hte breaker was snapped in first, then the wire attached to it.
Forum
For the most part, adding a dedicated circuit to the panel is a piece of cake. The pain in the rear was getting under the house to run the wire and getting that wire through the conduit to the panel.
Yet, since this was my first time adding a circuit breaker, I wanted to do my home work so I did my homework and read FHB article "Installing a Circuit Breaker in and Existing Panel." In the article it went over standard operating procedure. Yet, as we all know something always comes up that is not covered in the article; like physical constraints. So, I just terminated the wires to the breaker and plugged it in.
According to the article, with the off breaker installed terminate the ground wire first, the neutral wire second, and the hot wire last. Working in this order is the electrical equivalent of hooking up the overflow and the drain before the suppy line in plumbing.
Well, ok that sounds good. Yet, if the situation requires one to work out of order is there an issue? It sound like it is not an issue, it just a safety step in working on a panel. Yet, it seems much easier to terminate the wires outside the box, and add the breaker to the bus.
Drake
In a tight box I think it's probably safer to do it the way you did.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
I have always put the neutral on first and removed it last........well, almost always:(
you WILL have some nasty surprises if you don't and you really should check the tightness of the wire on the breaker now. since you had to finagle it in.....just don't over-tighten it..
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., wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?
Shared neutrals, 277v ligthing panels, and 3 phase 120v/208 make you develope neutral safety habits huh?
Dave
I'm not an electrician. My dad's dad was and he wired up the breaker first, then snapped it onto the bus. It makes sense since you would not be using a screwdriver or manipulating as many wires in the panel. Of course the breaker must be off before snapping it in.
Whatever I wire I go Ground, neutral, then Hot. As far as installing breakers, wire first or not, doesnt really matter to me. I do have the breaker off though.