How to Install a New Circuit Breaker Panel and Meter Base

Installing a new circuit breaker panel and meter base is not a difficult task. If you have any carpentry or electrical knowledge then it should go fairly quickly. This do it yourself task can save you a good bit of money as well.

Items Needed:

• Meter base


• Circuit breaker


• Installation kit with screws, nipples and LBs


• Screwdriver


• Drill bit measuring 1 1/2 inches


• Drill


• Caulking

1. Verify that self installation of a circuit breaker panel and meter base is legal with your local code enforcements or your electricity service provider.


2. Determine the best place to install the circuit breaker panel and meter base. The two items need to be on a shared wall. The circuit breaker panel will go inside the wall while the meter base will stay on the outside.


3. Take the buss bar and knockout out of the panel box.


4. Cut the drywall, if there is any, to the size of the box.


5. Mount the panel box to the wall.


6. Place the buss bar back on the circuit breaker panel.


7. Make a wire access hole by drilling into the wall with a 1 1/2-inch drill bit to the breaker panel box.


8. Hook a 1 1/2 inch hub to the top of the meter base with screws.


9. Attach a 1 1/2 by 6-inch rigid nipple to the hub.


10. Screw a rigid LB onto the nipple.


11. Place a 4-inch nipple into the drilled hole. This will make the base sit against the back wall. Attach this with screws.


12. Use caulking to seal any openings.


13. Attach a 1 1/2-inch insulator brush onto the 4-inch nipple.


14. Connect the circuit breaker panel and the meter base with the appropriate amount of wire. Be sure to connect to the correct lug.