Home Breaker Boxes Explained pt.2 www.hofpodcast.com

A video-cast showing the inside of a breaker box and all its parts. Check out all the audio podcasts at hofpodcast.com

Category:

Education

Tags:

• hofpodcast
• breaker box
• circuit breaker
• load center

[Hofpodcast]

You need to use a meter or test light and check for power at your devices. Sounds like you may have a bad connection(s) somewhere. Look in the box for any corrosion - there should be none.. Check voltage across the main feeds, should be 220 or so, turn on one of the appliances and test it again - does it change? It should not - a bad connection will make it lower.

[Hofpodcast]

Thanks for the comments!

[Hofpodcast]

Single breakers are always for 120 volts circuits and doubles are 220. They can be near each other, that is no problem. Black wires are hot leads for 120 volt circuits and red and black are used for the hot leads of 220 volt circuits. White is used as a neutral and green or bare is ground. In some cases, neutrals and grounds may go to the same bus since they are both essentially the same. Neutral is also ground practically speaking.

[Hofpodcast]

I was using a non-shielded cable - fixed now! Thanks. Steve

[vacuumboy69]

oh dear god you gona get your self killd thats 240v 200A kill you instantly

[TexasHomeInspector]

Good video, just to note that you are describing a main panel box, a sub panel or any box with a 4 wire feeder will be wired much differently.

Also some 220 volt branch 3 wire circuits, for electric water heaters, older 3 prong type receptacles, etc. will have a neutral that also acts as the ground.

[MendingMedia]

Great video!

[cruz47144]

Your scaring me why don't you use a pencil or a non conducting pointer you are getting closer than 6 inches. I don't know where you live but we have 240 and not 220 volt. Neutrals and ground wires can not be connected to the same buss. You will get noise on your electronic devices. You clearly not a trained electrician.

[WizzRacing]

@Hofpodcast Neutral is never a ground! The ground is an "none current carrying conductor" the neutral is. You disconnect the neutral then grab it, you will get shocked or killed if its under load!

I will also correct your single breaker is always 120. Your wrong again. Some homes have "High Leg Delta" is 240 volt. I seen more people burn up their toaster, TV, etc. because they seen all those empty B phase breaker slots. The moral of the story is never assume anything.

[brewerbrian420]

Got a problem. I recently bought a place and it came with stove, washer and dryer. The stove will not heat up (its electric). And the dryer when I try to turn it on hums and the lights dim. Also the hot water heater is not heating the water. Please help.

[cobrachoppergirl]

Whenever you do anything like messing around inside a breaker box you should flip off the main breaker outside your house under the power meter. If you don't see one, its inside the grey metal box usually below the power meter. Mine has a swinging door on it, that swings out and up from the bottom like a doggy door. Inside you will find a huge main breaker. In case of fire or accident, or when working on your inside house electrical wiring, you go to this big main breaker & switch it off.

[cobrachoppergirl]

You know, there's (or there should be) a huge breaker under your power meter, that you can switch off and that will switch off ALL POWER to your breaker box inside your home. Before making this video, you should of switched off that outside breaker, and run your video equipment off of batteries. I had to replace that outside breaker outside because of corrosion damage, and the only way to do that is to PULL THE METER OUT, which pisses off the power company and they charge you $20 for a new tag.

[redrumredrum89]

This might be a video for pros but you really really need to test anything before you do any thing ,,,, a tester is cheap an you can use it all the time