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Simple. Your main electrical panel will have a "main breaker". This will be a two pole breaker, usually at the top of the panel. It will have a number on the breaker "handle" such as 150 or 200. This is the maximum number of amps your panel can supply. Most newer homes, 1975 and newer have a 200 amp service.

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Q: How do you find out how big your main breaker box is?
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How do you replace a 15 amp breaker in the circuit box?

The breaker will have a black wire connected to it. Turn off the main breaker and then disconnect that black wire from the breaker. The breaker will snap into the main bar. Remove the breaker and install the new one. Reconnect the black wire to the breaker and then install the cover and turn the main breaker back on.


Why does the breaker in the main panel flip before the breaker in the spa box?

the problem is between these two breakers or you have a faulty or oversized breaker closest to the spa.


Can you install a 2 20 breaker into a breaker box that has space but all other breakers add up to more amps than the 200 amp main breaker?

Yes. You'll seldom run every circuit to full capacity. The main breaker will trip if all the individual circuits exceed the 200 amp rating of the main breaker.


How do you read breaker box amps?

The main breaker will have marking indicating size of electrical service, or if it is a fuse system....the fuses will have current ratings. If it is a subpanel, it might not have a main breaker. In this case you would have to look in the panel that the feed is coming from and find the size of the breaker that is feeding it. In either case you must look for the manufacturer's label that will have the maximum current the panel can handle, make sure the breaker feeding the panel doesn't exceed this rating.


What size wire is best to run for a breaker box piggy back from another breaker box?

The wire is sized to the breaker in the main box that is feeding the subpanel. The calculations for the subpanel is based on what devices will use the subpanel and an estimate of duty factors for the devices. An electrician can provide this information, or you can look on-line in the National Electric Code for estimation methods.

Related questions

What is the difference between a 100 amp breaker box and a 125 breaker box?

The amperage capacity of the main bus bars and the connection of the main breaker to the bus bars.


Can you downgrade from a 125amp main breaker to 100 amp breaker using the same box?

You can reduce the breaker size because that limits the current that can reach the main panel. There is no safety issue other than the significant danger in an unskilled person changing out a main breaker.


Is it ok to change a breaker box in a house from 2 fuses at 50amps to one at 50 and one at 35 amps?

Breaker boxes do not have fuses associated with them unless the main disconnect is independent from the breaker box. If that is the case both fuses have to be the same in the main disconnect that protects the breaker box.


How do you replace a 15 amp breaker in the circuit box?

The breaker will have a black wire connected to it. Turn off the main breaker and then disconnect that black wire from the breaker. The breaker will snap into the main bar. Remove the breaker and install the new one. Reconnect the black wire to the breaker and then install the cover and turn the main breaker back on.


Is it unsafe to have 60A service going into a new electrical box designed for 100A?

Its not recommended because your new main breaker will allow up to 100 amps and your old wire can only safely handle 60amps. If you put a 60amp main breaker in the new box, that would be acceptable. No, it is perfectly safe. Because the box is overrated, there is no problem. If the box is the main panel, and not a subpanel, install a 60A main breaker so you cannot overload your service. If it is a subpanel this 60A breaker should be in the main panel.


Why does the breaker in the main panel flip before the breaker in the spa box?

the problem is between these two breakers or you have a faulty or oversized breaker closest to the spa.


When setting up a breaker box how do you determine circuit breaker capacity?

find amphere required


Can you install a main breaker box between studs on a outside wall?

Yes


Will turning off the main breaker turn off all the power to the circuit breaker box?

No. Power to all the circuit breakers will be cut off except for the Main power breaker. The Main power breaker (which supplies power to all other breakers and will say 100, or whatever your max breaker box power is, on it )will have power going to it all the time, unless power is turned off outside the house.


What cause the Main Breaker trips when I start a 30KW 3-phase Motor(Star Delt Starter)?

The wiring is like this:[[30KW Motor ---- Star Delt Starter(100A Breaker inside) ----- 200A Breaker------50A Breaker(Inside the breaker box which located inside the factory) -----100A Main Breaker]]Once I try to start the Motor, the Main Breaker trips immediately.


What does the lights on the GFCI outlet mean?

It means the breaker has been tripped. There are two possible ways to reset it - some have a button on the outlet (there may be several outlets on one circuit, so you may have to look around) the other is the main breaker in your breaker box. You'll need to find a reset the breaker.


Can you install a 2 20 breaker into a breaker box that has space but all other breakers add up to more amps than the 200 amp main breaker?

Yes. You'll seldom run every circuit to full capacity. The main breaker will trip if all the individual circuits exceed the 200 amp rating of the main breaker.