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Yes, you can. However, you need to be very careful. Breaker boxes are often filled with a mess of wires and using metal tools in a live breaker box should only be done by people who know what NOT to touch.

The easiest way to approach putting in the breaker is:

1. trim the wire to comfortable length with a little extra to spare in case things need to be moved around at a future date.

2. strip the edges of the black and white wire... quarter inch is good for the white, then install that in the neutral bar. slightly longer than quarter inch but less than 1/2" is good for the black wire, the goal is to not see bare copper beyond the edge of the breaker!

3. insert the wire into the breaker (which you have not installed yet!) and tighten ... make it secure!

4. make sure the breaker is off. install the leading edge of it (the inside end, basically) and then snap the back end into place.

5. turn on breaker. (if it pops instantly, you have a problem in the circuit. do not continue to flip the switch hoping it will eventually work, go find the problem instead.)

PRECAUTIONS - when installing the breaker, wear rubber soled shoes, do not lean against anything, make sure you are only touching the plastic parts of the breaker, take care not to slip off the breaker when snapping it into place, keep metal tools out of the box except when necessary to turn screws and then be extremely careful what you touch with them.

When in ANY doubt, call a pro. A breaker box can burn you, blind you, zap you, or throw you around. I knew a guy who got blasted through a wall just while trying to inspect a corroded breaker box, so take all warnings very seriously!

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13y ago
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AnswerBot

5mo ago

No, you should never attempt to install a breaker into an energized breaker box. Working on an energized electrical panel is extremely dangerous and can result in serious injury or death. Always turn off the power and follow proper safety procedures before working on an electrical panel. It is best to hire a licensed electrician for this type of work.

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Q: Can you install a breaker into an energized breaker box?
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