How to Install a 60 Amp Double Pole Breaker

Turn off the main breaker. You will find this in the electrical panel located outside your home. Lift up the outer cover of the panel and locate the largest switch.

Put one hand on the cover and remove the screws holding the cover in place. Carefully remove the cover using both hands.

Set the voltmeter for 250-volts a/c or greater. Use the probes attached to the voltmeter to touch two adjacent terminals on existing breakers. If you do not get a voltage indication on the meter, the panel is safe to work on.

Locate two adjacent vacant spots in the panel and break off the associated tabs on the panel cover. Hook the breaker onto the center bar in the panel while holding the breaker at a 45-degree angle. Slowly lower the breaker until it snaps onto the outer bars. The breaker will be completely seated at this time.

Locate the wires for the new circuit in the panel. You should have two wires that are black or red and a green wire that will be the ground connection. Some circuits will also have a white wire.

Use the wire stripper to cut the wires to appropriate lengths and strip 1/2-inch of insulation from the ends. Route the black and/or red wires around the panel and insert the stripped ends into the terminals of the newly installed breaker. Tighten the screws holding the wires in place. Route the wires neatly around the perimeter of the panel, following the location of the other wires.

Route the ground wire and the white neutral wire (if utilized) as above and connect the wire(s) to the neutral/ground buss-bar. Since you are working in the main panel, the neutral and ground buss-bars connect together. If the breaker is in a sub-panel, the neutral and ground wires will attach to separate buss-bars.

Replace the cover on the panel. Turn on the main breaker and the new breaker and plug the appliance into the receptacle. Turn on the appliance and confirm that is working properly.