How to Install an AFCI Circuit Breaker | Ask This Old House

In this video, Ask This Old House master electrician, Heath Eastman, wraps up an electrical project he started over a year ago by replacing the circuit breaker at his panel with one that is up to code. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Heath Eastman explains how earlier in the pandemic, he installed a new USB receptacle in his kitchen but he never got around to installing AFCI protection. Whenever a receptacle is replaced, its corresponding breaker in the panel needs to be upgraded to an AFCI breaker. Heath demonstrates how this is done. Time: 15 minutes Cost: $200 Skill Level: Professional Tools: Screwdriver [https://amzn.to/3yXUgMY] Shopping List: AFCI circuit breaker [https://amzn.to/3ic8l3m] Steps for installing an AFCI circuit breaker 1. Only licensed professionals should be touching an electrical panel. With the box open and the breakers exposed, there is a risk of extreme shock injuries and even death. 2. Shut the power off to the breaker panel. 3. Remove the cover plate for the panel. 4. Identify the breaker that needs to be replaced and flip it to the “off” position. 5. Grab the breaker by the center and carefully pivot it out of position until it snaps out. a. There could still be live voltage running through the panel, so this must be done very carefully. 6. To install the new AFCI breaker, the same process is done in reverse. 7. Wire the breaker by connecting the hot wire to the screw and the neutral wire to the bus bar, and the neutral pigtail to the neutral screw. 8. Hook the breaker onto the bar in the panel and snap it into place. 9. Reinstall the cover plate with the two screws. 10. Flip the breaker on and then restore power at the electric meter. Where to find it? Any work that is done on an electrical panel should be tackled by licensed professionals only. When replacing a circuit breaker, the circuit should be compatible with the manufacturer of the panel itself. In this case, Heath’s panel is manufactured by Siemens [https://ift.tt/35Gg9Dv] and the AFCI circuit breaker [https://amzn.to/3ic8l3m] he installed is also manufactured by Siemens. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/3jclZ3N About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG How to Install an AFCI Circuit Breaker | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/