How to Install an AFCI Circuit Breaker | Ask This Old House

In this video, Ask This Old House master electrician, Heath Eastman, wraps up an electrical project he started over a year ago by replacing the circuit breaker at his panel with one that is up to code.

Heath Eastman explains how earlier in the pandemic, he installed a new USB receptacle in his kitchen but he never got around to installing AFCI protection. Whenever a receptacle is replaced, its corresponding breaker in the panel needs to be upgraded to an AFCI breaker. Heath demonstrates how this is done.

Time: 15 minutes
Cost: $200
Skill Level: Professional

Tools:

Shopping List:

Steps for installing an AFCI circuit breaker
1. Only licensed professionals should be touching an electrical panel. With the box open and the breakers exposed, there is a risk of extreme shock injuries and even death.
2. Shut the power off to the breaker panel.
3. Remove the cover plate for the panel.
4. Identify the breaker that needs to be replaced and flip it to the “off” position.
5. Grab the breaker by the center and carefully pivot it out of position until it snaps out.
a. There could still be live voltage running through the panel, so this must be done very carefully.
6. To install the new AFCI breaker, the same process is done in reverse.
7. Wire the breaker by connecting the hot wire to the screw and the neutral wire to the bus bar, and the neutral pigtail to the neutral screw.
8. Hook the breaker onto the bar in the panel and snap it into place.
9. Reinstall the cover plate with the two screws.
10. Flip the breaker on and then restore power at the electric meter.

Where to find it?
Any work that is done on an electrical panel should be tackled by licensed professionals only.

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Install an AFCI Circuit Breaker | Ask This Old House

[Guardducks]

I liked how heath makes sure no one turns that breaker back on, padlock that sucker shut. 👍🏼

[Venumundo]

Love electricians who take the time to layout their wiring going to the panel, yes it may cost more in labor but well worth it.

[nilz]

Holy crap I've never seen a box and romex wiring so neatly done in a residential setting in my whole life. I've never seen such a thoroughly labeled panel anywhere ever.

[mondavou]

Love the organization of your wire and labeling. Locking the disconnect is a nice touch too.

[MoneyManHolmes]

Finally, I understand why it took Ellie so long to turn the power back on in Jurassic Park. She didn’t want to have a bunch of equipment try and start up at the same time.

[jimz]

We are just getting ready to start our new house and plan on wiring it myself like I did in our current house. I am amazed at the changes in the 2023 NEC. Hard to believe I need Arc Fault in all rooms except bath and laundry. What a large expense.

[XzTS-Roostro]

I've seen some of the wiring in our house as a kid when it was built less than two decades ago. It wasn't as neat, but it was well enough to not cause issues.
The labeling, however, was a different story. I had to re-label all of the switches in the panel itself, and the stuff that was written on the panel's included label sheet was illegible. So I had to turn almost everything on and switched on/off each breaker to see what it went to.

[cryptowatch]

Thank you guys, ya'll been teaching me since a child. 🤠

[striker]

What screwdriver is used in this video with a torque click? The Amazon link in the description is definitely not the same driver used in the video.

[maples]

I love ❤️ how this in no way reflects 99.9% of real world House 🏠 situations ! 😂

[MANVIRSINGH]

Very informative video. Can you please share the purchase link for Torque Screwdriver?
Thanks

[erastuserazade]

Excellent, straight on, instructions.

[georgek.]

Great video. I have installed an arc. breakers in a new renovated room. it's only on 2 outlets and I've only used it to charge my phone.. recently I plugged my vacuum and it tripped.. I tested on both outlets and same issue. Any idea what could be causing it? bad breaker?

[lakemarine]

I don't understand the combination breaker you installed requires the hot and neutral to the breaker (almost looks like a double pole) then the coiled neutral to the neutral bus bar. I then looked for a combination breaker for my Homeline Panel and cannot find one with the neutral to the breaker. I'm very confused on why the breaker you installed is like that but all of the ones I find for my panel are not.
Beautiful panel BTW!

[pbean]

I did not understand how to identify the correct white neutral wire That is screwed into the breaker. Also would like to see up close how wire is connected to the screw. Also how exactly did the white coil wire get connected?

[gpdewitt]

An electrician with a torque screwdriver! Kudos! Doesn't hurt to exercise all the breakers as you did too. NASA does that on a regular schedule.

[ottoroth]

I used to take a lot of time doing art work wiring a panel, but wound up putting in more time with impressing nobody but me and an inspector than making money on the job...besides some inspectors don't like wires being exposed like this when they can be hidden behind drywall.

Just my your segments Heath on TOH!

[ModernMountainLiving]

I just finished trimming my New Shop. There are ZERO appliances or lights on the ACFI circuits and ZERO LOAD. Several Branch Circuits trip immediately. I am in a Very Remote area where there is No Cell or cable to interfere with RF. Homeline pigtails are used. QUESTION: is there a certain OHM load that will trip the breakers? On affected circuits of outlets there are single receptacles(Dead Ends) that branch off in the circuit, can this be the cause?

[justinballard]

Grounds and neutrals get bonded at first means of disconnect which is his outside disconnect. His inside breaker panel is now considered a sub panel and the grounds and neutrals should be separated

[jonpoirier]

So what was the purpose of the pigtail wire as opposed to the initial setup?