Do-it-Yourself Ideas on How to Replace Faulty Fuse and Breakeraker

Replacing a Breaker

Once in awhile you might have a breaker go bad and need to replace it. Or maybe a 15-amp breaker was installed and you need a little more power. (Warning! Be sure the wiring would support a higher capacity breaker.)

Locate the Breaker Box

The first thing to do is locate your panel. This is probably in the garage, or in a closet somewhere. Remove the screws from the outside of the panel and then pull the panel cover off of the box. DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING INSIDE THE BOX UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS! There is a lot of power in there, and a false move could be lethal.
If you have a faulty breaker, locate it and turn it off. The side that faces the center will need to be pulled towards you. Then the far side will slide towards the center slightly. It hooks into place.
Now just reverse the directions to install the new breaker. It will 'snap' into place. Reinstall the panel and flip the breaker on.

Fuse Boxes

Replacing a fuse is much easier, but needs done more frequently than replacing a defective breaker. When a circuit overheats, a breaker will act and the circuit is opened. This stops the current from flowing. To restore service, simply fix the problem and reset the breaker. When a circuit overheats with a fuse, the fuse is blown which means it can't be reused. It must be replaced.
Unscrew the fuse and screw in a suitable replacement fuse. This can typically be done without removing any panel. Adding a fuse to an existing box is an entirely different story and won't be covered here. If you have a fuse box, you should consider converting it over to a breaker type box. This isn't something the average do-it-yourselfer should attempt. Seek the advice of a licensed electrician.