

The amp rating on this main circuit breaker identifies your electrical service size. Turning this main breaker to the off position shuts off power to the entire house and all the branch circuits. It is a double-pole breaker, connected to both 120-volt service wires to power both hot bus bars running down through the panel. The main circuit breaker dictates how much power is available to your entire house. The main circuit breaker may be bolted in place, or it may be a snap-in breaker similar to those serving branch circuits. In rare instances, the main circuit breaker may be mounted at the bottom of the service panel. This is the main circuit breaker, and its amperage rating will be something like 60, 100, 150, or 200 amps. The amperage of these individual breakers will be between 15 and 50 amps, usually.Īt the top or bottom end of the two rows of branch circuit breakers, there will be a central circuit breaker that controls the power to the entire panel. These individual, or branch, circuit breakers are numbered, and they control individual branch circuits running through your home. Inside the panel, you will see two rows of individual circuit breakers with small toggle levers.

Make sure the floor near the main service panel is dry, then open the metal door on the service panel. Read the Main Circuit Breaker or Fuse Block.The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
