Last Updated on August 22, 2022 by Kevin Chen
Image source The Spruce
The main purpose of a circuit breaker in a building is to protect electrical equipment from overloading and overheating.
A circuit breaker is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit from overload or short circuiting.
However, sometimes, you want to do troubleshooting on your circuit before the breaker box.
This is vital especially when the rest of the circuit is connected to the primary power source before it reaches the breaker box.
In such a scenario, it will be prudent to shut off the power before the breaker box panel.
But, how do you do so?
Read on as we guide you on how to shut power off before the breaker box.
Tools for the job
The main task at hand is shutting off the power. So, you will not need any special tool to do the job.
However, you may come across switches that are secured with cable ties and screws.
For such, you will need some basic tools such as scissors and screwdrivers.
You may also need a non-contact voltage meter to test the presence of electric current in the circuit.
Steps for Shutting power off before the breaker panels
Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Turn off all the appliances and devices in the building
Step 2: Determine the location of the main breaker panel
Step 3: Turn off the main breaker
Step 4: Test the individual breakers using a testing device
Step 5: Now switch on the main breaker
Now let’s discuss each of these steps in detail:
Step 1: Turn off all the appliances and devices in the building
It’s common sense that you should turn off all the electric devices in the building.
Don’t stop there, unplug them if necessary.
This is a major safety measure that is meant to protect the devices from electrical damage when you are troubleshooting.
You probably know that an unexpected power loss can have some damaging effects to some devices, especially sensitive electric appliances.
Step 2: Determine the location of the main breaker panel
The main breaker panel is the one that controls the power in your building.
If you have a house, it should be near your fuse box.
If you have an apartment, it should be somewhere near the fuse box, but not necessarily in the same location.
Step 3: Turn off the main breaker
Before turning off the main breaker, make sure you know where all other breakers are located and which one controls power to which circuit.
Step 4: Test all individual breakers using a testing device
You can do this by using a simple non-contact voltage meter or by plugging in a test lamp into each circuit and turning on that circuit.
The lamp will light up if there is power in that circuit.
If there is no power, then turn off that circuit’s breaker and double-check with your non-contact voltage meter or test lamp to make sure there really is no power in that circuit.
Once you are sure of this, you can proceed with all the electrical troubleshooting that you wanted to do.
Step 5: Now switch on the main breaker
Once you are done with all the tasks that you intended to do, now it is time to switch on the main breaker.
This is a simple step. Simply turn on the main breaker and check if all the breakers in your apartment or house are also switched on.
Check for electrical problems
Now, check for any problems with the electrical system in your home.
You can do this by doing a visual inspection of all electrical appliances in your home.
If you find any problems, then you need to take some time out to find a qualified electrician and get it fixed as soon as possible.
Should you turn off all breakers before turning off main breaker?
Probably you are wondering why we should take all the above steps.
The main reason is safety.
Sometimes, you may turn off the main circuit breaker so that you can work on your circuit.
Even after doing this, you may still be at a high risk of electrical shock since the circuit is still getting power from the main source.
So, cutting off power from the main power supply before the main breaker is a proven safety measure.
You will be able to work on your circuit with high confidence-no worries about being electrocuted by power from the source.
Can a breaker box shock you?
Yes. As simple as it may look, the breaker panel has tons of electrical components that have electric current flowing through.
You stand the risk of electric shock when you touch the box with your bare hands.
To be safe, it is advisable to wear insulated gloves when working on the breaker box.
Even with the gloves, you still need to be extra cautious when working on the panel.
Do I need to shut off power to install the breaker?
This is another ideal scenario where you need to shut off the power before the breaker panel.
Experienced electricians can easily install a breaker without having to shut off the main power source.
But if you are just an armature electrician, it will be safer to shut off the main power source before you think of working on or installing your circuit breaker.
How do I turn off the power to my breaker box?
This is pretty simple. Just flip the breaker switch to the “off” position.
If you are working on a circuit that is in use, turn off the circuit first.
If you are not sure of what circuit to shut off, turn off all breakers and then one by one, flip them back to the on position until you find the right breaker switch that controls your circuit.
Conclusion
I hope now you know how to shut off power before the breaker box.
If you want to learn more about the process of how to shut off power before the breaker box, check out this video.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a good circuit breaker in China, consider contacting us.
At ICRFQ, we link buyers to reputable circuit breakers manufacturers in China
If you want to find more Electronic Components Distributors, please check out the following articles:
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Electronic Components Distributors In UK
Electronic Components Distributors In China
Electronic Components Distributors In India
Electronic Components Distributors In Singapore
Electronic Components Distributors In Malaysia
Electronic Components Distributors In Vietnam
Electronic Components Distributors In South Korea
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