How to Wire a Building From a Home Breaker Box

The main power wires from the street feed into the electrical distribution box in the home. This box distributes the power to each of the individual circuits around the building. More important, it houses the electrical breakers. These are the brains of the system because they protect each wire from excessive electrical draw that may cause a fire. Connecting a circuit to the panel is relatively simple once you know where to fasten the wires.

Noncontact voltage detector
120 volt, 15 amp breaker
Screwdriver
14/2 gauge wire with ground
Wire strippers
Wire cutters
Electrical box
Outlet

Instructions

- 1
  Turn the power off for the entire building by opening the main breaker. Confirm the power is off by touching a noncontact voltage detector to the wire's insulation. Double-check the power is off by looking to see if any device has power in the entire home.
- 2
  Remove the screws that secure the cover on the electrical panel and set the cover aside.
- 3
  Open the breaker's switch and insert it into a spare slot. This is done by tilting the breaker toward the center of the panel, then pushing down on the other side until it clicks in place.
- 4
  Insert the 14/2 gauge wire through a side access hole. Pull enough wire into the panel to make your connections and secure the wire to the panel by tightening the compression mechanism.
- 5
  Strip 3/8 inches of insulation off the black, white and green wire with wire strippers. Loosen the terminal on the breaker and insert the black wire under this terminal. Tighten the terminal down.
- 6
  Loosen an empty terminal on the neutral bus bar (white wires) and insert the white wire. Tighten the terminal down.
- 7
  Loosen an empty terminal on the ground bus bar (green or bare wires) and insert the green or bare wire. Tighten the terminal down.
- 8
  Install the cover back on the electrical panel by reversing the process used to remove it.
- 9
  Run the electrical wire through the center of the wood framing members in the building to the location of the outlet you wish to provide power to.
- 10
  Insert the wire into the side of the electrical box and pull 6 inches of wire into the box. Tighten the compression mechanism on the box to secure the wire.
- 11
  Strip 3/8 inches of insulation off the three wires. Loosen the ground terminal in the back of the electrical box and wrap the green or bare wire around this screw. Tighten the terminal down.
- 12
  Loosen the two terminals on the electrical outlet. Wrap the black wire around the brass terminal and tighten it down. Wrap the white wire around the silver terminal and tighten it down.
- 13
  Push the wires into the electrical box and fasten the outlet to the box with the two screws provided.
- 14
  Have your local building authority inspect your installation before turning on the power.

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