It can be very difficult to install anything related to wiring and electrical work if you are not sure what to do.
How to install electrical subpanels
If the service panel does not have enough space to install new breakers and you cannot use the breakers at the same time, installing a sub-panel may be the ideal option. The sub-panels are connected to the main service panel with thick three-wire cabling. A power switch in the main function of the main panel serves as an isolating switch for the subpanels. Before installing the circuit breaker, contact the inspector to ensure that you are not overloading the main electrical system.
A subpanel consists of separate busbars for the neutral and ground cables and generally does not have a main switch. It may not be labeled "Subpanel" but rather "Lugs Only" and may be a different brand than the main panel.
An experienced commercial and residential wiring inspector approves the subpanel, power cord, and circuit breaker.
Before starting, the main switch on the service panel must be switched off. The job usually takes around two hours and includes stripping and some electrical skills.
Tools needed for the job:
- Long nose pliers
- screwdriver
- Voltage tester
- Lantern
- hammer
- Strippers
- Linemans pliers
Required materials:
- Subpanel
- Approved supply cable
- Cable clips or staples
- Fastening screws
- Circuit breakers for new circuits
Step 1 - assembling the subpanel
The subpanel should be installed approximately a foot from the main service panel. You must first determine the distance the cables must travel through the subpanel and pull on the cables before adding the cable and stripping the jacket as needed. It is necessary to remove the dummy plug, slide the wiring, and then clamp the line.
Step 2: plan the route
The route for the four wires (ground, neutral and two hot wires, black and red) needs to be planned in the main service panel. The coating has to be peeled off, the blind plug removed and the cable clamped. Carefully route the neutral and ground cables, and then connect the busbars. In a well-wired panel, the cables are routed in neat paths around the perimeter to make it easier to see which cable goes to which switch and to prevent the cables from touching hot busbars, creating a serious fire hazard can.
Step 3 - Stripping
The red and black wires must be routed, cut, and stripped before connecting to the feed switch, and then snap the switch into place.
Step 4 - Connect the cables
The installation cables must be laid, cut and stripped in the sub-cladding and connected to the terminals. Then the black and red wires should be connected to the hot busbars, the neutral cable to the neutral main terminal and finally the ground wire to the grounding bar.
Step 5 - Connect the cables
For new circuits, route the cable in the lower cover and clamp the cable in place.
For each circuit:
- Run the cables around the perimeter
- Connect the ground wire to the ground bar
- Connect the white wire to the neutral busbar
- Connect the hot wire to the circuit breaker
