For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost".
Unlike these dumb foreigners commenting I am actually American and I have a question. My panel and breakers are from 1987. I can't find the exact same breaker design from Bryant. Any suggestions. It's a BR 1515
I am a 74 year old woman on a fixed income so I have to do as many things myself as I can. My circuit breaker for my microwave went bad and needed to be replaced. I watched several videos on TH-cam to learn how I could replace this myself. Of all the videos I watched, this video explained and demonstrated the process the clearest, in as few words as possible and still get the point across, so that I understood and felt confident I could do this myself. Thank you for your valuable assistance!
Ohhh, don't go there. That magnetron is NOT to be messed with. Some people wire these up to burn wood and make art. Problem? When you modify the magnetron, there's no limit to the power, if I'm not mistaken. It's NOT going to shut off or overload if you get in the way to ground. Several people died doing this, btw. Magnetron is no joke. Plus some old tvs for example, hold power for days.
As a service electrician I can say you got most of the details in this video. But one very important step you left out was that when putting the heavy panel cover back on or taking it off. You have to be 100% committed to holding the panel cover steady,if it slips and it crosses the live wires you’re in for a lot of pain if you survive the blast.
Good point. I just checked mine. It has been divided into a 1/3 sized panel covering the main breakers and then 2/3 for just the regular breaker area. Probably for just that reason..
@@juggalosquad5027 I wouldn't think so, because in this case you're pulling the power from the street not just tripping the main fuse. If I were to go out and take out the main fuse that feeds into my home as a whole then there is no power coming into my box at all. If you're talking about something similar then I'm sure you could cut the main power to your house from the street as well.
@@luisgiraldo9947I feel like if you follow the instructions and have a tester like he dues that shows "live" versus non- live wires, it will be fine. Personally, I'd check every wire to every breaker just to be sure throwing the main cut all power except those lines coming in from your weatherhead where the line from the pole connects to your main panel. Then you should be good to go. Do it early in the day to give yourself time to get an electrician in if it turns out to not work. It should though. Good luck. I am thinking about doing this myself. I am not keen on electric but I have done other electrical stuff, so why not this?
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge. Just wanted to make sure the main breaker up top does shot all power off to the rest of the breakers.
Amazing! I’m going to try this. I just had my breaker trip over 10x before giving up on a project. All I needed to do was use one power tool! Killing my day, but you may have saved it.
Also before sticking your screwdriver on the terminal verify that there's no power on the breaker. And, a voltage tracer is not a substitute for a meter (ever). Voltage testers can be sensitive and subject to stray voltage alarms. Use the meter to make sure the power is off.
This was an extremely helpful video! I have an older house and the breaker for my living room keeps flipping! Finally I can watch tv without interruption!
Excellent video. You took the time to explain things that other DIYers might assume people might already know. This is how to shoot helpful and idiot-proof instructions!
I have checked numerous videos and you are the only person who demonstrates how the wire is properly inserted into the breaker. No one else shows this crucial step. Thank you.
Can you test the breaker itself? I also wanted to say when you'r turning off the panel you can shut the main off, I was told when you turn the power back on you should have all breakers off and 1 turn the Main ON then one at a time flip them all back on. I understand it lessons the SURGE to the main Panel of all breakers. I am not an electrician, but I have electrical knowledge.
One very important fact was not mentioned about replacing breakers. Always replace any breaker with the same amperage. It is dangerous to install a 20 or 30 amp breakers where a 15amp is. Some people think that when a 15 amp breaker trips often they need to add more power to the circuit. They can burn their house down that way. ALWAYS REPLACE 15 AMP WITH 15. 20 amp with 20 and so on.
Man this is awesome, just what I needed to watch. I need to replace the door bell thermostat that is situated on the side of the breaker box panel. Your videos are brief and to the point. Thanks.
In my personal experience I wouldn't recommend the non-contact voltage testers. I am a master electrician and have been in the electrical business for 20 years. I have lost count how many times those testers do not show voltage when it is actually a live circuit. I've also seen it show voltage when there actually isn't. The safest way to know for sure is with a voltage multi-meter that has been tested on a known live circuit. The biggest problem with electricity is not knowing how it works
Best example : I went to a home with an issue at the light switch. From what the homeowner told me, I told him you're probably getting a false reading (he was using a non contact). He was like huh? I explained it to him and then proved it when I got there; The meter showed he had only 87V. The non contact gave a positive for voltage. However he had AL wiring and I was not qualified or going to mess with it. In all likelihood, he had wire running in the attic that he had stepped on (he said he'd been up in the attic and issues followed) and had partially broken. I could've used Oxguard or something and joined the wires, but I wasn't messing with that shit. That's all I would have needed was to burn his f'n house down.
@@RoKCRWLR I checked ground. No current. Despite all, he had a partial break in the pairs somewhere. Regardless. It was AL wiring. I wasn't messing with that. I didn't have purple connectors. Just OxGuard. Which is unsuitable for AL/CU connections. Besides, I didn't know where the break was and had no materials. All thanks to our CSR who had no construction experience at all. And she's older than me!
In most cases, very seldom does a circuit breaker go “bad”. A circuit breaker is doing its job if and when it trips. There are many reasons why a breaker might seem to be nuisance tripping but most likely is tripping due to an actual over current occurrence. This guy gives no explanation on how he knows for certain that thiers is nothing wrong with his circuit, just because a breaker trips does not mean it needs to be replaced. Notice the label on the wire being changed. “2 baths”. This circuit breaker more than likely tripped because both baths were being used at the same time with let’s say 2 hair dryers going. This could be enough amperage draw to trip this breaker. Well done, the breaker did it’s job. Now unplug one hair dryer and reset the breaker. No need to change the breaker. You just simply can’t use 2 hair dryers at the same time and the breaker is doing it’s job to protect the wire. Many other variables need to be taken into account in a situation like this This guy is not an electrician and should not be giving advice on doing electrical work.
He wasn't giving advice on doing electrical work, he was only showing how he changes a breaker. Big difference. The bigger concern here is why you don't realize this.
@@michaelwarnock3988 Nope. I will not be liable. Everything is up to code with a permit. Furthermore, I had to redo both wiring jobs that the last two incompetent licensed Master Electricians did (they used tape everywhere). In case you didn't know, most licensed trades people do a lousy job, they just want to make their quick money and get out asap. From my experience, most horror jobs were done by licensed professionals. I am sure there are a few good ones out there, but most are awful.
@@bigmacdaddy1234 You are a fucking fool. If you really think all this bullshit then you need to find a better class of people or move to a less corrupt part of the country. You use the term "most" a lot in this diatribe, but YOU are the one that's wrong. Change most to "some" and you are a bit more correct.
One suggestion is to leave the wire in the breaker. As long as the wire is not tangled up with other wires it will help hold the breaker after you remove it. Then you can remove the wire, grab your new breaker, install the wire in the new breaker, and then install the new breaker in the panel. This gives you a better view of the nut to make sure you install the wire(s) correctly between the tabs. I also use a small brush and put dielectric grease on the panel tabs, the breaker contacts, and the nut. You'll need the corrosion protection if you're installation is in an outdoor panel.
You need to put a disclaimer on here. You shouldn't replace a breaker until you know exactly what's wrong. You need to test the breaker first. resetting breakers that are tripping constantly can cause fires.
There is no affordable/practical test for a breaker. A professional would simply install a new breaker and it will trip if/when over loaded. He hasn't increased the risk of fire in this case. If he replaced the 15A with a 30 A, he would be increasing the risk of fire :) Also, his breaker wasn't "constantly" tripping. I believe he said several times in 2 years.
Silver, You are amazing! How did you know we all need this and you have it in great detail. I appreciate your knowledge kid. Here's a big high five your way! 😊
Man great video. No 10 minutes of blabbering about bs, short straight to the point with a lot of information and most important of all safety. Thanks a lot I feel confident to swap some out on my own
I can understand your fear Pam, however always remember one major thing. If and when you do want to take a stab at fixing a electrical problem within your home, RULE NUMBER ONE, IS TO KILL THE POWER! Once the power is completely off, you can work on the electricity all day if you want. That is the most stringent rule ever to follow. If your not sure which breaker controls which area that you want to work on, again, KILL THE POWER THIS TIME AT THE MAIN, which brings in your electricity from street side to your house. Never, EVER, EVER work on anything electrical until the power is completely shut of, never work on anything or any live wires at all when the power HASN'T BEEN SHUT OFF.
@@submittedbymail Until it is bad, i have touched the output of a microwave oven transformer and have first hand experienced cardiac fibrillation, possibly the scariest experience i’ve ever had and it’s by far the closest i have come to dying. Know the risks before you do stuff with electricity.
I spent nearly 20 years as a Texas peace officer. Before that United States marine. Been in combat and I have been in police shootings. they never bothered me not the car wrecks the dead bodies the horrible things that people do to each other unless a kid was involved. I will tell you though the two things that always scare me to this day and one of them is fire especially vehicle or a house fire and the other is electricity.
This is an amazing video. I have very little electrical experience and this taught me everything that I needed. Replaced a breaker this evening after watching this last night and taking a trip to the hardware store today. Kudos to you, SilverCymbal. Excellent job.
Thank you for just explaining the process. Nobody needs you to introduce yourself or ask us to subscribe to your channel, especially at the start. Perfect factual explanation.
Thanks for the video. Very easy to understand.. Although looking at my breaker, a 30 year old GE bro GE, I still couldn't figure out the proper replacement with the numbers . Looking online didn't help any either
Nothing wrong with that, no one should work on electrical system that isn't completely comfortable. When in doubt hire someone but at least now you know what you are paying for.
Lmaoo scary mfs you take the proper precautions so you don’t end up fried thir is honestly one of the easiest electrical things you can do lol doing receptacles have 3-4 wires
This has to be the smartest, and most clearly explained video I have seen on changing a breaker in your house. Thank you for taking the time to not only share your knowledge, but actually showed the entire process. That painter’s tape trick made a lot of sense, and again, many thanks.
Nice job! My two cents It's a square d homeline 115. On panel covers, its always easier to remove center screws last. Last, you should restrip the wire, because it could be compromised by overtighten by orginal installer. 👏👏👏👌
Always easier? I generally leave the top screws for last, specifically the top right because I'm right handed. I seems to be easier for me. Of course, I have only done it a few thousand times :)
I just completed some electrical upgrades that required breaker replacements. Your video is very thorough and covers safety topics, which is nice for those who have limited experience. Nice job, brother!
Hopefully you didn’t add higher amperage breakers without also completely upgrading the whole circuit as well. I have seen many times where people take a 15a circuit with 14-2 wire and simply swap the breaker to a 20a and think their problem is solved. However now they have a breaker that will allow a current load that their wires and other components can’t handle. So guess what, they get hot. Like fire hazard hot. Just a heads up in case this happened.
@@johnd9357 Oh no. I'm fully aware of the amperage rating differences between 14 awg and 12 awg wire. My dad was an electrician for 20 years and I was fortunate enough to apprentice under him. This lesson I learned early on. 👍
@@johnd9357 Good info. Separate question: we have an unused 30a breaker. Can I assume that there's enough power coming to the house to provide adequate voltage for whatever I'd add on there? Thinking of a bidet, fwiw.
Thank you so very much for posting this. I discovered a bad breaker the other day and your tutorial was perfect to help me do the job. The new switch is now installed and everything back to normal.
This is great information, I've had a switch go out and I wondered if it was possible for me to replace it. Thank you very much for your help. We've been having lots of power surges lately. Subbed & hit the bell for notifications 👍🏽👍🏽
Super video.... In 1986 I vaporized my long pincers on the 'substation side' of my distribution board ..240 volts...UK... I was left holding the insulated handles only...the pliers had blown up and steel was peppering the walls.. So remember that even with the main breaker off, there are still big live wires when you get the panel front off...
Thank you for the nice video. We have a loss of power to some outlets in the basement, but no breakers are in the tripped position. We suspect that some breakers have gone bad and probably need to be replaced, but we have difficulty identifying which ones are the bad ones. The labeling is not detailed enough to be helpful, so how should the bad breakers be identified? Would the voltage detection pen be the tool to use or are there other means?
Not trying to be a buzzkill, but as a licensed electrician there are a lot of steps I would go through to verify the safety of that circuit before I even considered just replacing the breaker and calling it good. I know that it isn't common knowledge, but under some circumstances turning a breaker on in an unsafe circuit can cause an arc explosion in a panel, which would be extremely dangerous to your average homeowner with limited or no ppe on.
I really appreciate your thorough no nonsense informative style! So many videos I see talk for 15 minutes and half of it is about the screwdriver that they’re using. Thank you very much for delivering this helpful information quickly and effectively!
You don't turn a breaker especially a Main by facing the panel. You inhale and hold your breath and turn on the breaker with your face looking away from the panel.
You absolutely helped me oh so much!! I'm a single 31 yr old mother and I have done all my electrical outlets. Light fixtures and outside lamps as well... lately my breakers have been throwing when I don't even have close to the amount it would need to throw it... so im going to try this.... I'll lyk exactly how it went. I also have this other problem where my room my room mate room and the bathroom are all of the same breaker.. I need to make a new breaker just for my room or just for his room and the bathroom... do you have any videos on that? I'm not stupid when it come to electricity. I absolutely in no way want to die or be flown across my house so I am SO CARFULL and have a reader and a wand to tell me if wires are live or not and also hold my breath quite a bit and stand off to the side of the breaker box lol in case ya know.... but I absolutely need to make a new breaker to even out the electricity used in my room. If you have any tips I'd really appreciate it.
I would pull the breaker out of it's socket before loosening the wire. And then attach the wire to the new breaker before inserting it into the electrical panel. The reason being if the main breaker was faulty or the owner forgot to flip the main off, there would be an added level of safety.
Really great video. I appreciated the little details like how you need to hold the panel cover while you unscrew it. Really shows that you've done this before and are giving good advice.
For safety purposes have a meter and do use proper PPE like rubber gloves with no punctured holes and leather gloves over rubber gloves with those gloves you can work on live wire but do turn off power if can
great video. I need to upgrade from a 30 amp to 50 amp, and I'm sure there's plenty more involved than just a break replacement (most likely a totally different wire/cable). But I appreciate the learning opportunity. Now, on to calling an electrician with helping me with upgrade.
@@S.P.Kid88 Call an electrician. Replacing a breaker is cheaper and quicker. It may not solve the problem, but you've lost nothing by trying it. Just make sure you do it correctly.
Funny you mention the ground because I'm having an issue and I'm not sure is it's ground related. while doing laundry the clothes dryer breaker kept tripping. I went to the panel and it was very hot. I reset the main and it happened a few more times. Now I only have power to half of my house. Any ideas/ Suggestions? what do i need to replace? I asked this of others but forgot to mention after tripping the main a couple of times power came back to the house but not to certain areas in the kitchen. I hit the test button on my gfci and it knocked the power to the entire house again so now only half the house is powered. Any suggestions??
I think it's important to note that breakers dont go bad as often as circuits have faults. If your breaker is tripping, it probably means a fault on the circuit.
Certainly. But if the circuit has nothing plugged in or turned on and hasn't been altered for decades, chances are decent it's a mechanical part failing versus a static part. And as mentioned in the video there's very little to lose by replacing a breaker (as long as it's done correctly) so it's worth trying as a diagnostic step.
As and electrician and an avid diyer I'm all about learning new things and trying stuff out. While the average homeowner should be able to replace a bad breaker just one warning. If you don't know or aren't sure ask an electrician. I see too many people" diy" some electrician work and it's like dude that's a fire waiting to happen. If you diy some drywall or some paint or some trim carpentry and do it wrong/ mess up it will just look crappy. If you diy some electrical stuff and mess up it could kill someone, kill yourself, or burn your house down. Y'all stay safe out there and don't trust widowmakers. (Non contact voltage testers)
Exactly!! I don't want to be given false confidence and lose something valuable like, oh i donno, MY WHOLE GOD BLESSED HOUSE hahaha. I'm smart enough to know how dumb I am and that I could easily screw this up bad
If your breaker is tripping, there’s likely a cause for it. It’s way more likely that something is causing the fault and not that the breaker itself is “bad” and doesn’t make any sense to just replace a breaker when you don’t know for sure that the breaker itself is the problem. You can test breakers to make sure that they are bad. This is like saying “something is wrong with my car” then just picking some random part to replace without even knowing if that is the cause of the problem, then just hoping it fixes it. Also, don’t ever trust those pen testers without verifying with an actual multimeter first, especially if you’re not a licensed electrician and you’re opening up your electrical panel. I’m certainly not saying that no homeowner should do this, but I am saying that you should know exactly what you’re doing before doing this kind of work, and if the only research you’ve done is from this video, definitely do more research first.
I'd suggest unplugging Smart TVs and routers before switching their circuit off, especially the main. There is a very short brownout voltage sag period during the switchover, and some electronics do not take well when they are under volted. They may appear to still work, but can exhibit glitches or lag until fully factory reset or reflashed. My Netgear could deal with a year's worth of random power outages before slowing down, but if I would play around with the circuit it was connect to it immediately would slow down, in some cases brick into some help-me mode, and require a low level reflash from the Windows command prompt...not fun when you have other things to be doing.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost".
We had a power outage last night and now we have a buzzing now coming from the breaker box. It buzzing and stops. When it buzzes some lights blink. But not all. Could it be from the outage? Could it be breakers that are bad be now because of the outage? I need help..
Did you make sure the wires to each breaker are seated securely first? I know it is a pain to check each one but it could prevent a bigger issue down the road. When a wire tip is not secure the breaker will still work but it will spill off electrical heat which is not only dangerous but will cause circuit breakers to age prematurely.
SC, good info. Another thought is to put the wire into the breaker before you put the new one in. IF you have enough wire! The new style of screw set, or whatever its called, is so much nicer than having to make a loop the wire. Question: How do you test a breaker if it's ok or needs replaced?
Yes, I like to put the wire in after it's mounted for the reason you said, usually the wire is not free enough, but also it's much easier to get it good and tight. When you hold it in your hand you kind f fight the torque. im sure it can work but with both choices I usually wire it after it's in. So there really is no great test. Because you can short a circuit and a breaker will trip but it might fail one out of ever 20 times. My advice is if you think the rest of your circuit is good, Replace the breaker and see if it helps.
great video. thanks for sharing. if my breaker trip frequently when i got like two small load running, is that means my beaker is bad or old? house about 20 years. thanks
Solution for cheap/poor? Find out your map, (what's using that line) and use another line/outlet. Shut off one breaker at a time, and find out what runs where on each line. Shutting off the whole house is unnecessary and more trouble. Don't ever touch the big nasty looking cables coming in from the top (usually) or side. That's full power from the street. We font wanna go there. Literally: DO NOT TOUCH THE THICK MAIN LINE FROM STREET! That one is NEVER off and it's over your pay grade. It's serious juice. Don't go there. Plus, the big nasty from the alley out back, also. Avoid obvious things like running heating or cooling things (air conditioners, air fryers, hot air heaters) with other high-draw stuff, especially at the same time on same line.
If a breaker keeps flipping due to an overload at a specific receptacle in the home, can you swap it out for a higher amp breaker, or does it have to the same amp? I have a receptacle in my kitchen that trips whenever I turn on a certain appliance.
Thank you for posting this instructional video. Not only was I able to replace our circuit breaker quickly and with confidence (and without frying myself) but your explaination and walk-thru was quick and concise, without all the typical backstory most TH-cam instructional videos come with. Thank you again.
Thanks for watching please *LIKE & SUBSCRIBE* - Volt meter: amzn.to/3lIYyQA - Volt detector pen: amzn.to/3ggLOQ8 - Thrunite Flashlight: amzn.to/37B3cLn
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost".
The video is really helpful : )
Unlike these dumb foreigners commenting I am actually American and I have a question. My panel and breakers are from 1987. I can't find the exact same breaker design from Bryant. Any suggestions. It's a BR 1515
Can u do it without turning off the main breaker? Thank you
@@Ru4444 I would not recommend leaving it on.
I am a 74 year old woman on a fixed income so I have to do as many things myself as I can. My circuit breaker for my microwave went bad and needed to be replaced. I watched several videos on TH-cam to learn how I could replace this myself. Of all the videos I watched, this video explained and demonstrated the process the clearest, in as few words as possible and still get the point across, so that I understood and felt confident I could do this myself. Thank you for your valuable assistance!
If you happen to be in the Detroit metro area (which is very unlikely) I'd love to help you with anything you need.
@@mdelong6989 simp alert
@@B_COOPER lame ass
Ohhh, don't go there. That magnetron is NOT to be messed with. Some people wire these up to burn wood and make art. Problem? When you modify the magnetron, there's no limit to the power, if I'm not mistaken. It's NOT going to shut off or overload if you get in the way to ground. Several people died doing this, btw. Magnetron is no joke. Plus some old tvs for example, hold power for days.
?? What if it’s the wrong gauge wire?! Idk, be careful. 20 amp requires a 12 gauge wire I believe, 15, idk 13-14 gauge. 🤷🏽♀️. Good luck!
Tripping for a year! Sounds like my baby mama!
🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
But is it your... FAULT?
😂
Best comment ever
💀😭🤣💀😭🤣
As a service electrician I can say you got most of the details in this video. But one very important step you left out was that when putting the heavy panel cover back on or taking it off. You have to be 100% committed to holding the panel cover steady,if it slips and it crosses the live wires you’re in for a lot of pain if you survive the blast.
Good point. I just checked mine. It has been divided into a 1/3 sized panel covering the main breakers and then 2/3 for just the regular breaker area. Probably for just that reason..
Does it still have power if you shut it off at the box outside?
@@juggalosquad5027 yes 2:50 outside power is on, inside is off
🤔Very good point right there!👍
@@juggalosquad5027 I wouldn't think so, because in this case you're pulling the power from the street not just tripping the main fuse. If I were to go out and take out the main fuse that feeds into my home as a whole then there is no power coming into my box at all. If you're talking about something similar then I'm sure you could cut the main power to your house from the street as well.
Worked exactly as shared. Took less than 5 min to actually do (after procrastinating for weeks for fear of killing myself). 🙏🏻
Im in the same boat brother but im stuck in the procrastination for fear of killing myself
@@luisgiraldo9947I feel like if you follow the instructions and have a tester like he dues that shows "live" versus non- live wires, it will be fine. Personally, I'd check every wire to every breaker just to be sure throwing the main cut all power except those lines coming in from your weatherhead where the line from the pole connects to your main panel. Then you should be good to go. Do it early in the day to give yourself time to get an electrician in if it turns out to not work. It should though. Good luck. I am thinking about doing this myself. I am not keen on electric but I have done other electrical stuff, so why not this?
OMG, I'm a terrible handyperson, but even I can do this. That was the best how-to video I've ever seen!
Super clear and to the point without unnecessary comment. I love that! I feel totally confident now. Thanks!
Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge. Just wanted to make sure the main breaker up top does shot all power off to the rest of the breakers.
things like this should be bare minimum learning in school, how many skills like this could be taught in an hour class from plumbing to electrical?
Wow! Your video totally gave me the confidence to do it myself. I usually to not like to mess with anything electrical. Thanks you much!
Amazing! I’m going to try this. I just had my breaker trip over 10x before giving up on a project. All I needed to do was use one power tool! Killing my day, but you may have saved it.
Also before sticking your screwdriver on the terminal verify that there's no power on the breaker. And, a voltage tracer is not a substitute for a meter (ever). Voltage testers can be sensitive and subject to stray voltage alarms. Use the meter to make sure the power is off.
But how do I do that? What settings should the meter be at?
Learn how to use meter.
Got to be smarter than your tools.
A working black man bravo
@@paulgarcia1566 I am sure there is a youtube video on that.
@shawn t..... that's a fact
This was an extremely helpful video! I have an older house and the breaker for my living room keeps flipping! Finally I can watch tv without interruption!
Excellent video. You took the time to explain things that other DIYers might assume people might already know. This is how to shoot helpful and idiot-proof instructions!
The way you explained this gave ME a jolt lol like I CAN definitely do it...but I'm still afraid. Thank you for showing me the steps, so I can know❤
Thank you for sharing this information. I just changed a breaker myself and am feeling like a boss.
Gongrats, now get insurance for your house
Good for you! I’m still not sure how plus panel cover too heavy!
and an electrician would charge at least $85.00 if you were lucky.
@@spartt4360 😂😂😂
😅😳😳😳
Very informative video. I don't trust myself doing this but hats off to those that do! I'll just stick to plumbing jobs around the house.
Interesting.. it looks like you're replacing a printer ink cartridge that could fry you into oblivion. That's terrifyingly fascinating
That is a very clever observation, I never thought of that but you are right, they go in just like them!
No sir, it's only 120 volts going into that one breaker. Just turn it off and you are safe.
Fantastic job and great explanation is on point I watch this video and did the job exactly like you said thanks for sharing your knowledge
I have checked numerous videos and you are the only person who demonstrates how the wire is properly inserted into the breaker. No one else shows this crucial step. Thank you.
Seriously
💯
Thank you for sharing! Just swapped my breaker out using your steps.
Glad it helped! Thank you
Can you test the breaker itself? I also wanted to say when you'r turning off the panel you can shut the main off, I was told when you turn the power back on you should have all breakers off and 1 turn the Main ON then one at a time flip them all back on. I understand it lessons the SURGE to the main Panel of all breakers. I am not an electrician, but I have electrical knowledge.
last month I paid 300 for changing one ,today just now I change another one by myself.. thank u so much
One very important fact was not mentioned about replacing breakers. Always replace any breaker with the same amperage. It is dangerous to install a 20 or 30 amp breakers where a 15amp is. Some people think that when a 15 amp breaker trips often they need to add more power to the circuit. They can burn their house down that way. ALWAYS REPLACE 15 AMP WITH 15. 20 amp with 20 and so on.
I was gonna replace 10 with 40
If you're that stupid, you deserve to get a zap or burn the place down lol.
He did cover that
He did mention that
Man this is awesome, just what I needed to watch. I need to replace the door bell thermostat that is situated on the side of the breaker box panel. Your videos are brief and to the point. Thanks.
In my personal experience I wouldn't recommend the non-contact voltage testers. I am a master electrician and have been in the electrical business for 20 years. I have lost count how many times those testers do not show voltage when it is actually a live circuit. I've also seen it show voltage when there actually isn't. The safest way to know for sure is with a voltage multi-meter that has been tested on a known live circuit. The biggest problem with electricity is not knowing how it works
Best example : I went to a home with an issue at the light switch. From what the homeowner told me, I told him you're probably getting a false reading (he was using a non contact). He was like huh? I explained it to him and then proved it when I got there; The meter showed he had only 87V. The non contact gave a positive for voltage. However he had AL wiring and I was not qualified or going to mess with it. In all likelihood, he had wire running in the attic that he had stepped on (he said he'd been up in the attic and issues followed) and had partially broken. I could've used Oxguard or something and joined the wires, but I wasn't messing with that shit. That's all I would have needed was to burn his f'n house down.
@@WiPri0371 87v sounds like an open neutral
@@RoKCRWLR I checked ground. No current. Despite all, he had a partial break in the pairs somewhere. Regardless. It was AL wiring. I wasn't messing with that. I didn't have purple connectors. Just OxGuard. Which is unsuitable for AL/CU connections. Besides, I didn't know where the break was and had no materials. All thanks to our CSR who had no construction experience at all. And she's older than me!
No lie here. I found out the hard way lol
Trust, but verifty. Agreed never work on a circuit without testing with a meter yourself that it is off.
Thanks again for taking something that seems so complicated making it so simple
Absolutely best DIY video ever. No hype. No elementary prologue. Super practical step by step. Awesome!
This should be the standard for all instructional videos.
In most cases, very seldom does a circuit breaker go “bad”. A circuit breaker is doing its job if and when it trips. There are many reasons why a breaker might seem to be nuisance tripping but most likely is tripping due to an actual over current occurrence. This guy gives no explanation on how he knows for certain that thiers is nothing wrong with his circuit, just because a breaker trips does not mean it needs to be replaced. Notice the label on the wire being changed. “2 baths”. This circuit breaker more than likely tripped because both baths were being used at the same time with let’s say 2 hair dryers going. This could be enough amperage draw to trip this breaker. Well done, the breaker did it’s job. Now unplug one hair dryer and reset the breaker. No need to change the breaker. You just simply can’t use 2 hair dryers at the same time and the breaker is doing it’s job to protect the wire. Many other variables need to be taken into account in a situation like this
This guy is not an electrician and should not be giving advice on doing electrical work.
He wasn't giving advice on doing electrical work, he was only showing how he changes a breaker. Big difference. The bigger concern here is why you don't realize this.
@@michaelwarnock3988 You are wrong. I watched his video and changed my own breaker. It was simple and easy.
@@michaelwarnock3988 Nope. I will not be liable. Everything is up to code with a permit. Furthermore, I had to redo both wiring jobs that the last two incompetent licensed Master Electricians did (they used tape everywhere). In case you didn't know, most licensed trades people do a lousy job, they just want to make their quick money and get out asap. From my experience, most horror jobs were done by licensed professionals. I am sure there are a few good ones out there, but most are awful.
@@bigmacdaddy1234 You are a fucking fool. If you really think all this bullshit then you need to find a better class of people or move to a less corrupt part of the country. You use the term "most" a lot in this diatribe, but YOU are the one that's wrong. Change most to "some" and you are a bit more correct.
You are 100% correct!
Nice flashlight - I have that exact model too. Compact, bright, and magnetic.
One suggestion is to leave the wire in the breaker. As long as the wire is not tangled up with other wires it will help hold the breaker after you remove it. Then you can remove the wire, grab your new breaker, install the wire in the new breaker, and then install the new breaker in the panel. This gives you a better view of the nut to make sure you install the wire(s) correctly between the tabs. I also use a small brush and put dielectric grease on the panel tabs, the breaker contacts, and the nut. You'll need the corrosion protection if you're installation is in an outdoor panel.
Check for grease in New Breaker. Confirm it's inserted correctly
Thanks! I'm doing this in a few minutes. TH-cam has empowered so many women to be DIY. ❤️
You need to put a disclaimer on here. You shouldn't replace a breaker until you know exactly what's wrong. You need to test the breaker first. resetting breakers that are tripping constantly can cause fires.
Right on
😱
There is no affordable/practical test for a breaker. A professional would simply install a new breaker and it will trip if/when over loaded. He hasn't increased the risk of fire in this case. If he replaced the 15A with a 30 A, he would be increasing the risk of fire :)
Also, his breaker wasn't "constantly" tripping. I believe he said several times in 2 years.
Silver, You are amazing! How did you know we all need this and you have it in great detail.
I appreciate your knowledge kid.
Here's a big high five your way! 😊
Man great video. No 10 minutes of blabbering about bs, short straight to the point with a lot of information and most important of all safety. Thanks a lot I feel confident to swap some out on my own
I did not know flipping the main breaker cut the power off to the breakers below I always thought it was hot. Thank you
I'm a chicken when it comes to electricity, but this is a really informative video!
I can understand your fear Pam, however always remember one major thing. If and when you do want to take a stab at fixing a electrical problem within your home, RULE NUMBER ONE, IS TO KILL THE POWER! Once the power is completely off, you can work on the electricity all day if you want. That is the most stringent rule ever to follow. If your not sure which breaker controls which area that you want to work on, again, KILL THE POWER THIS TIME AT THE MAIN, which brings in your electricity from street side to your house. Never, EVER, EVER work on anything electrical until the power is completely shut of, never work on anything or any live wires at all when the power HASN'T BEEN SHUT OFF.
@@submittedbymail Until it is bad, i have touched the output of a microwave oven transformer and have first hand experienced cardiac fibrillation, possibly the scariest experience i’ve ever had and it’s by far the closest i have come to dying. Know the risks before you do stuff with electricity.
@@tf3confirmedbuthv54 Agree with you, complety!
Hahaha me too
I spent nearly 20 years as a Texas peace officer. Before that United States marine. Been in combat and I have been in police shootings. they never bothered me not the car wrecks the dead bodies the horrible things that people do to each other unless a kid was involved. I will tell you though the two things that always scare me to this day and one of them is fire especially vehicle or a house fire and the other is electricity.
Clear, concise appropriate information. You get an A+ for this video. Thank you !!
This is an amazing video. I have very little electrical experience and this taught me everything that I needed. Replaced a breaker this evening after watching this last night and taking a trip to the hardware store today. Kudos to you, SilverCymbal. Excellent job.
Thank you for just explaining the process. Nobody needs you to introduce yourself or ask us to subscribe to your channel, especially at the start. Perfect factual explanation.
The most straightforward and easy video one could ever want. Awesome job!
Thanks for the video. Very easy to understand.. Although looking at my breaker, a 30 year old GE bro GE, I still couldn't figure out the proper replacement with the numbers . Looking online didn't help any either
I’m no electrician but this is exactly why I’ll leave this to the electrician my life is to valuable
Nothing wrong with that, no one should work on electrical system that isn't completely comfortable. When in doubt hire someone but at least now you know what you are paying for.
I agree 100% something you just don't play with especially where you sleep at night.
Lmaoo scary mfs you take the proper precautions so you don’t end up fried thir is honestly one of the easiest electrical things you can do lol doing receptacles have 3-4 wires
Actually, a really good demonstration video.
This has to be the smartest, and most clearly explained video I have seen on changing a breaker in your house. Thank you for taking the time to not only share your knowledge, but actually showed the entire process. That painter’s tape trick made a lot of sense, and again, many thanks.
Very well done you explained it well you showed it well congratulations keep up the good work
Great video! After watching your very informative video, I am very confident that I will be calling an electrician for all of my electrical needs!! 😆
Very nice video! Thanks for sharing are the info. That flashlight is cool!
Nice job!
My two cents
It's a square d homeline 115.
On panel covers, its always easier to remove center screws last.
Last, you should restrip the wire, because it could be compromised by overtighten by orginal installer.
👏👏👏👌
Always easier?
I generally leave the top screws for last, specifically the top right because I'm right handed. I seems to be easier for me.
Of course, I have only done it a few thousand times :)
Cool vid bro ! Greetings from Texas.
I just completed some electrical upgrades that required breaker replacements. Your video is very thorough and covers safety topics, which is nice for those who have limited experience. Nice job, brother!
Hopefully you didn’t add higher amperage breakers without also completely upgrading the whole circuit as well. I have seen many times where people take a 15a circuit with 14-2 wire and simply swap the breaker to a 20a and think their problem is solved. However now they have a breaker that will allow a current load that their wires and other components can’t handle. So guess what, they get hot. Like fire hazard hot. Just a heads up in case this happened.
@@johnd9357 Oh no. I'm fully aware of the amperage rating differences between 14 awg and 12 awg wire. My dad was an electrician for 20 years and I was fortunate enough to apprentice under him. This lesson I learned early on. 👍
@@johnd9357 Good info. Separate question: we have an unused 30a breaker. Can I assume that there's enough power coming to the house to provide adequate voltage for whatever I'd add on there? Thinking of a bidet, fwiw.
Such a descriptive video. Very well done. Thank you.
Thank you so very much for posting this. I discovered a bad breaker the other day and your tutorial was perfect to help me do the job. The new switch is now installed and everything back to normal.
Can you please tell me how you determined the breaker was bad? Did it keep tripping?
@Carlos Garcia it's been a while
But I believe I kept moving breakers to a circuit I was positive was good and isolated the bad breaker.
This is great information, I've had a switch go out and I wondered if it was possible for me to replace it.
Thank you very much for your help. We've been having lots of power surges lately. Subbed & hit the bell for notifications 👍🏽👍🏽
Super video.... In 1986 I vaporized my long pincers on the 'substation side' of my distribution board ..240 volts...UK... I was left holding the insulated handles only...the pliers had blown up and steel was peppering the walls.. So remember that even with the main breaker off, there are still big live wires when you get the panel front off...
Thank you for the nice video. We have a loss of power to some outlets in the basement, but no breakers are in the tripped position. We suspect that some breakers have gone bad and probably need to be replaced, but we have difficulty identifying which ones are the bad ones. The labeling is not detailed enough to be helpful, so how should the bad breakers be identified? Would the voltage detection pen be the tool to use or are there other means?
This was a really helpful video. Thanks for saving me a bunch of money on an electrician!
Circuit probably feeds 3 rooms
Microwave fridge and bathrooms gfci
Spliced to knob&tube and box with romex mixed in it
Yeah probably it will trip
Not trying to be a buzzkill, but as a licensed electrician there are a lot of steps I would go through to verify the safety of that circuit before I even considered just replacing the breaker and calling it good. I know that it isn't common knowledge, but under some circumstances turning a breaker on in an unsafe circuit can cause an arc explosion in a panel, which would be extremely dangerous to your average homeowner with limited or no ppe on.
Excellent tutorial. No fluff, not a single distraction. Thanks.
I really appreciate your thorough no nonsense informative style! So many videos I see talk for 15 minutes and half of it is about the screwdriver that they’re using. Thank you very much for delivering this helpful information quickly and effectively!
You don't turn a breaker especially a Main by facing the panel. You inhale and hold your breath and turn on the breaker with your face looking away from the panel.
And, say a little prayer :)
Thanks. Just save me a few hundred bucks and a refrigerator full of food.
Good vid as always. Very informative. Not sure why the several thumbs down. Maybe electricians who don’t want owners doing their own work?
Thank you very much, could be!
Thanks got my breaker for the AC changed. Cool again 😁
This is exactly the type of Instructional video I was looking for. It was super informative. Thank you so much for sharing.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for the nice words
You absolutely helped me oh so much!! I'm a single 31 yr old mother and I have done all my electrical outlets. Light fixtures and outside lamps as well... lately my breakers have been throwing when I don't even have close to the amount it would need to throw it... so im going to try this.... I'll lyk exactly how it went. I also have this other problem where my room my room mate room and the bathroom are all of the same breaker.. I need to make a new breaker just for my room or just for his room and the bathroom... do you have any videos on that? I'm not stupid when it come to electricity. I absolutely in no way want to die or be flown across my house so I am SO CARFULL and have a reader and a wand to tell me if wires are live or not and also hold my breath quite a bit and stand off to the side of the breaker box lol in case ya know.... but I absolutely need to make a new breaker to even out the electricity used in my room. If you have any tips I'd really appreciate it.
I would pull the breaker out of it's socket before loosening the wire. And then attach the wire to the new breaker before inserting it into the electrical panel. The reason being if the main breaker was faulty or the owner forgot to flip the main off, there would be an added level of safety.
"its"
Current NEC code requires that all terminals be torqued to manufactures specification, just not "tightened".
Really great video. I appreciated the little details like how you need to hold the panel cover while you unscrew it. Really shows that you've done this before and are giving good advice.
Thank you. Very well done and saved me lots.
Great video! This was the first time I replaced a breaker and this video was exactly what I needed. Thanks
For safety purposes have a meter and do use proper PPE like rubber gloves with no punctured holes and leather gloves over rubber gloves with those gloves you can work on live wire but do turn off power if can
Excellent instructions! Every step covered. No missed steps as in so many of these instructional videos.
Just want to say two words. Thank you
great video. I need to upgrade from a 30 amp to 50 amp, and I'm sure there's plenty more involved than just a break replacement (most likely a totally different wire/cable). But I appreciate the learning opportunity. Now, on to calling an electrician with helping me with upgrade.
Lesson learned: Don’t be a tough guy.
Rarely do circuit breakers go bad. 99% of the time the circuit is either overloaded, a short-circuit is happening, or a ground fault.
Having an emergency, can you help?
What do you do then?
@@S.P.Kid88 Call an electrician. Replacing a breaker is cheaper and quicker. It may not solve the problem, but you've lost nothing by trying it. Just make sure you do it correctly.
Funny you mention the ground because I'm having an issue and I'm not sure is it's ground related. while doing laundry the clothes dryer breaker kept tripping. I went to the panel and it was very hot. I reset the main and it happened a few more times. Now I only have power to half of my house. Any ideas/ Suggestions? what do i need to replace? I asked this of others but forgot to mention after tripping the main a couple of times power came back to the house but not to certain areas in the kitchen. I hit the test button on my gfci and it knocked the power to the entire house again so now only half the house is powered. Any suggestions??
@5:04 - You should TEST an outlet (which is controlled by the replaced breaker), prior to reinstalling the cover.
I think it's important to note that breakers dont go bad as often as circuits have faults. If your breaker is tripping, it probably means a fault on the circuit.
Certainly. But if the circuit has nothing plugged in or turned on and hasn't been altered for decades, chances are decent it's a mechanical part failing versus a static part. And as mentioned in the video there's very little to lose by replacing a breaker (as long as it's done correctly) so it's worth trying as a diagnostic step.
Thank you for this detailed video!
You forgot to mention to make sure the new breaker is in the OFF position before installing it and wiring it.
Should it matter if the main breaker is off? No juice going down the wire.
I noticed that Square D breaker are tripped when you buy them. They probably test them before shipping.
As and electrician and an avid diyer I'm all about learning new things and trying stuff out. While the average homeowner should be able to replace a bad breaker just one warning. If you don't know or aren't sure ask an electrician. I see too many people" diy" some electrician work and it's like dude that's a fire waiting to happen. If you diy some drywall or some paint or some trim carpentry and do it wrong/ mess up it will just look crappy. If you diy some electrical stuff and mess up it could kill someone, kill yourself, or burn your house down. Y'all stay safe out there and don't trust widowmakers. (Non contact voltage testers)
Looks so simple that I’m almost tempted to try it iffffff I wasn’t fearful of burning the house down🥲.
Thank you, nothing wrong with that, at least if you hire someone you now know what's involved.
Exactly!! I don't want to be given false confidence and lose something valuable like, oh i donno, MY WHOLE GOD BLESSED HOUSE hahaha. I'm smart enough to know how dumb I am and that I could easily screw this up bad
If your breaker is tripping, there’s likely a cause for it. It’s way more likely that something is causing the fault and not that the breaker itself is “bad” and doesn’t make any sense to just replace a breaker when you don’t know for sure that the breaker itself is the problem. You can test breakers to make sure that they are bad.
This is like saying “something is wrong with my car” then just picking some random part to replace without even knowing if that is the cause of the problem, then just hoping it fixes it.
Also, don’t ever trust those pen testers without verifying with an actual multimeter first, especially if you’re not a licensed electrician and you’re opening up your electrical panel. I’m certainly not saying that no homeowner should do this, but I am saying that you should know exactly what you’re doing before doing this kind of work, and if the only research you’ve done is from this video, definitely do more research first.
So, how do you test your breakers? :) Nobody uses load testers in situations like this. You install a $5 breaker and observe the results.
I'd suggest unplugging Smart TVs and routers before switching their circuit off, especially the main. There is a very short brownout voltage sag period during the switchover, and some electronics do not take well when they are under volted. They may appear to still work, but can exhibit glitches or lag until fully factory reset or reflashed. My Netgear could deal with a year's worth of random power outages before slowing down, but if I would play around with the circuit it was connect to it immediately would slow down, in some cases brick into some help-me mode, and require a low level reflash from the Windows command prompt...not fun when you have other things to be doing.
So, there's a "brownout" when powering off via a circuit breaker, but not when unplugging it?
@@JackJensenTrader seems like an eddy current..
On the left neutral/ground bar it looks like maybe a couple neutral and ground are under the same lug. If so separate those.
As I've said before, always producing solid content.
I really appreciate that. Thank you
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost".
We had a power outage last night and now we have a buzzing now coming from the breaker box. It buzzing and stops. When it buzzes some lights blink. But not all. Could it be from the outage? Could it be breakers that are bad be now because of the outage? I need help..
Did you make sure the wires to each breaker are seated securely first? I know it is a pain to check each one but it could prevent a bigger issue down the road. When a wire tip is not secure the breaker will still work but it will spill off electrical heat which is not only dangerous but will cause circuit breakers to age prematurely.
SC, good info. Another thought is to put the wire into the breaker before you put the new one in. IF you have enough wire! The new style of screw set, or whatever its called, is so much nicer than having to make a loop the wire. Question: How do you test a breaker if it's ok or needs replaced?
Yes, I like to put the wire in after it's mounted for the reason you said, usually the wire is not free enough, but also it's much easier to get it good and tight. When you hold it in your hand you kind f fight the torque. im sure it can work but with both choices I usually wire it after it's in. So there really is no great test. Because you can short a circuit and a breaker will trip but it might fail one out of ever 20 times. My advice is if you think the rest of your circuit is good, Replace the breaker and see if it helps.
Lots of breaker tripping problems can be cured by putting the proper torque on the wire connected to the breaker.
Great video. Down to business, step by step, no unnecessary babble. Loved it. On my way to Lowes.
i love the way you explain this!!
great video. thanks for sharing. if my breaker trip frequently when i got like two small load running, is that means my beaker is bad or old? house about 20 years. thanks
What is "two small loads"? A microwave and a hair dryer? LOL
A breaker is only $5 so, replace it with the SAME AMPERAGE RATING and find out.
@@jackconnolly2665 air fryer and a small rice cooker 😆
Solution for cheap/poor? Find out your map, (what's using that line) and use another line/outlet.
Shut off one breaker at a time, and find out what runs where on each line. Shutting off the whole house is unnecessary and more trouble.
Don't ever touch the big nasty looking cables coming in from the top (usually) or side. That's full power from the street. We font wanna go there. Literally: DO NOT TOUCH THE THICK MAIN LINE FROM STREET!
That one is NEVER off and it's over your pay grade. It's serious juice. Don't go there. Plus, the big nasty from the alley out back, also.
Avoid obvious things like running heating or cooling things (air conditioners, air fryers, hot air heaters) with other high-draw stuff, especially at the same time on same line.
THANK YOU for not blabbing about everything, like so many other videos that I’ve wasted my time on.
This video was great!
If a breaker keeps flipping due to an overload at a specific receptacle in the home, can you swap it out for a higher amp breaker, or does it have to the same amp? I have a receptacle in my kitchen that trips whenever I turn on a certain appliance.
Thank you for posting this instructional video. Not only was I able to replace our circuit breaker quickly and with confidence (and without frying myself) but your explaination and walk-thru was quick and concise, without all the typical backstory most TH-cam instructional videos come with. Thank you again.
Thanks you to save my day.