How do I change a circuit breaker without turning off the power main?

Question

A friend who is an electrician told me years ago but I seem to have forgotten and electricity is too dangerous to take chances. The breaker box has no main and we live in a condo and I have yet to find the electric meter. Besides I want to take the old breaker to the store to match it with a new one and do not want to leave the power off more than a minute or two.

Answer 1

get some big rubber lineman gloves and say your prayers.

Answer 2

Just unsnap the breaker you wanna change...they snap in and out...but don't touch the bus bar..(which is what it snaps onto)..change the wires to the new breaker and snap back in.

Answer 3

It's not hard to do, but I would suggest you have a friend with experience do it or pay an electrician. Once you see someone else do it, you can do it yourself, but you best not try with just written instructions..........

Answer 4

Turn off the breaker that you want to change.

Carefully reach in with a s***w driver and loosen the s***w that holds the wire.

Bend the wire out of the way, cap it off.

Pry the breaker out. If the breaker is on the right side of the box it rotates out ot the right.

If on the left it rotates out to the left.

Reinstall the new breaker but first turn off the new breaker, attach he wire then rotate the breaker into place.

Answer 5

Read the panel brand and model/type of the system.  The amperage is written on the handle. With this info you should be able to gat the correct replacement. Do not try to replace the  main buss by yourself.  Call a qualified professional electrician to do the work.

Answer 6

Casey I know from reading your question you should not do this.  Please hire  electrician do this job.  This could be so dangerous.

Answer 7

You call an electrician or make sure your life insurance is paid up.

Answer 8

For safety sakes you shouldn't be fooling with breakers while the power is on (unless you are a electrician) as easy as it is things can go wrong and you will be responsible.

Answer 9

If you need to ask, you really need to ask a professional.  You are messing around with voltage that can kill you.  Find a buddy that has electrical experience and have him come over and help you, then just buy him lunch or dinner.  That will be much cheaper than a trip to the emergency room.