How do I replace a circuit breaker switch?

Question

Is this something anyone can do ? Or do I need an electrician for it ? How much does it cost ?

Answer 1

if you are refering to the type that is locasted in the panel box of your house yhen follow these steps,
1. locate the name brand of box you have and the size of the breaker. size will be stamped on the handle
2. go to your home center or electrical supply house and purcase a new one
3. turn the main breaker to the box off
4. remove the cover of box
5. losen the screw or screws that clamp the whire down
6. pull the old breaker out, most just snapout
7.snap in the new breaker
8. placce wires back under the screws in the same orimtation that you removed them and tighten
9. replace the cover
10. turn main breaker back on
11. turn the one you replaced back on
12, if it continues to trip out or doesnt work then call an electrician cause you have other issues

Answer 2

First of all, it is dangerous to replace a breaker with one of a larger capacity. The breaker is designed to match the size of the wire that it protects. A larger capacity breaker would allow more amperage than the wire can safely carry. I looked up that brand of heater. The one I looked at needs 12.5 amps. That is very close to the full capacity of your breaker. No wonder it trips so often. You could try to replace the breaker with another of the same capacity. I doubt that would help at all because I think it is not a defective breaker, but too much load on the circuit. A better solution would be to plug the heater into a circuit that is not used by anything that also takes much power. The chance of your having that already is almost zero. That makes the only practical solution for you to run a new circuit for just the heater if you have to have it. It is also a little unusual to need suplimental heat in a kitchen. Most already have enough because of the appliances that are there. You might look at your HVAC system to see if a damper can be opened more or there is a blockage. You did not say it was in the kitchen, so that assumption may be incorrect. As far as a house built in the 1960s is concerned, the wiring should be fine for most purposes. Granted, they are putting a lot more circuits and capacity in now, but the old one should be adequate for most purposes. This is especially true if you are using gas for the stove, oven, central heating and the clothes dryer. If you are using electric for those, some 1960s wiring would not be adequate, others would be. I have seen quite a variety of installations, even from that era. Personally, I have my microwave on a circuit with two refrigerators and some other appliances. That is NOT proper, and I would not even suggest it is, but it works fine. It has worked fine for over 50 years, 30 of those years with the microwave. The book says that the microwave and each refrigerator should be on a dedicated circuit. I agree that it SHOULD be, but it works. My wiring was done in the 1950s, long before I owned the house, and it definately is wrong. I have not bothered to fix it though because it works! It has worked fine for over 50 years. My microwave is a very large, powerful, but inefficient older style that is well over 17 years old. If it will damage the magnatron to not have it on a dedicated circuit, why has mine lasted so long? It is safer to go by the book, but that does not automatically mean it will fail if you don't upgrade. Each situation is a separate case.

Answer 3

Why do you want to? If one is faulty, then its not a big job with the power turned off. Be very careful if you are in the USA because most breakers are plugged onto the live bus and flip off real easy so if you leave the power on and flip one off that has load on it by mistake, say goodbye to your breaker panel, your eyesight and the skin on your hands and face.

However, back to the question, why do you want to replace one? if its tripping, it may be doing its job and its a fault you need to find.

An electrician is going to charge at least around $70 for a call out but this should include the first so many minutes free which would cover the time to change a breaker (5 minutes) plus the cost of the breaker $5-10. Check before you agree.

ps voltage testers are cheap (back of your hand, hmmmm)

Answer 4

Replacing a circuit breaker is not difficult to do. There should be a MAIN breaker in the panel that will need to be turned off to turn power off to the panel. After power is off, you will need to remove the front cover from the panel which will expose the rest of the breaker and the wiring. Find the breaker that you want to replace and remove the circuit wire. Most residential breakers (USA) have a "stab-in" connection and you will be able to pull out on the bottom of the breaker and it will pull right out. Installation is reverse of removal. Having said all that, I would highly suggest that you get someone else to replace it if you don't have any electrical knowledge.

Answer 5

Turn off the main power switch. If there is none or you can't find it, you can cut the little do-hickey tag they put on the meter and simply pull the meter straight off. This is illegal but safer than leaving the electric on.
Open your circuit breaker panel and locate the bad breaker. It may be just pressed in, or it may have a screw holding in on one side. Remove the screw if there is one. Pull it out and take it to the hardware store to match it. You cannot just substitute any breaker for another.
Put the new breaker in, replace the screw, replace the meter or flip the main switch back on.
Do not reach into the breaker box with the electric on!
Also, before opening or touching a breaker box, run the BACK of your hand lightly over the box without touching it. If the breaker box is 'live' (in other words, not safe to touch), you will feel the hair on the back of your hand standing up. In that case, do NOT touch the box. Call an electrician.

Answer 6

You are going to have to be a little more specific...do you want to replace the breaker or switch? I assume that you wanna replace the breaker. It is not hard at all, but if you touch the buss inside your panel, you are going to get electrocuted. I would cut the main off if I were you, but know that even if you do, that only takes the power off from the breaker down...It will still be hot above the breaker. If you aren't sure of yourself, you could call an electrician, it shouldn't cost alot of money, and should only take a few minutes.

Answer 7

Not all breaker panels have a main disconect breaker in it. While it is best to turn the power of, you can do it with the power still on. Most breakers are "stab in" or press in. You can use several brands as most are generic. Grab the breaker by the toggle switch and pull out and back. Pull it out as far as the wire will allow and unscrew the wire and replace the old with the new one. Press the new one back into place and turn back on. You dont need to run the back of your hand over the cover to check, as thats not going to work.

Answer 8

you can replace it yourself but you must be very careful around electricity! the coast of the breaker depends on the type you need and the amp requirement, the one for your home might be in the range of 15 to 30 dollars.

Answer 9

You can do it. The switch (a single switch) costs $10 at the hardware store.

THE ELECTRICITY MUST BE TURNED OFF AT THE MAIN!!!!!


THE ELECTRICITY MUST BE TURNED OFF AT THE MAIN!!!!!

THE ELECTRICITY MUST BE TURNED OFF AT THE MAIN!!!!!

THE ELECTRICITY MUST BE TURNED OFF AT THE MAIN!!!!!
Remove the circuit box cover. Pull out the bad switch. Pop in the new switch. Replace the cover. Restore the power. Click the switch on.

Answer 10

find someone that's knowledgeable about it. you will hurt yourself.