This project is continued from Part 2.
Ground Fault Circuit Breaker
I bought an Eaton Cutler-Hammer Type BR 20 AMP Ground Fault Circuit Breaker, Part # GFCB120CS, that is approved for my Cutler-Hammer BR3040L200 panel for the new under kitchen sink branch circuit. The Ground Fault Circuit Breaker (GFCB) sells for about $38 at my local home improvement store. It is important to use only circuit breakers that are approved for your panel; check the manufacturer’s label inside the panel door for the types of breakers that match your particular panel.
Eaton Cutler Hammer Type BR Circuit Breaker with Ground Fault Protection
The ground fault circuit breaker (GFCB) is wired differently compare to a standard single pole circuit breaker:
- The branch circuit hot and neutral wires connect to the load terminals on the breaker. Note the white dot painted on the circuit breaker indicating the circuit neutral (white) wire terminal on the right.
- A white pigtail is built into the GFCB. The pigtail connects to the neutral bus bar of the breaker panel.
Eaton Cutler-Hammer Type BR Ground Fault Circuit Breaker
15 versus 20 AMP Branch Circuit
The Waste King Quick & Hot Elite Series Hot Water Dispenser that I’ll be installing pulls 10.8 AMPs. I could have used a 15 AMP ground fault circuit breaker because 10.8 AMPs is a 72% load factor on a 15 AMP circuit, well below the recommended 80% circuit loading in the National Electrical Code (NEC).
So why install a 20 AMP circuit breaker instead of a 15 AMP breaker? Mainly for personal preference, because I wanted a dedicated 20 AMP outlet in the kitchen. Might be convenient if I wanted to run a heavy power tool in the future, just unplug the hot water dispenser and run an extension cord to whatever I’m doing.
Comparing the 15- versus 20 AMP branch circuits:
- The price of the 15 AMP and 20 AMP ground fault circuit breakers are the same.
- A 50 foot roll of NM-B 14/2 wire costs about $19 and can be used with a 15 AMP breaker.
- A 50 foot roll of heavier gauge NM-B 12/2 wire costs about $32.50 and is required with a 20 AMP breaker.
- NM-B 12/2 cable is stiffer and heavier compared to 14/2 and a bit more difficult to work with.
- The 20 AMP rated Leviton single receptacle is only 50 cents more expensive than the 15 AMP rated model.
The 20 AMP circuit is about $13.50 more expensive in materials compared to a 15 AMP outlet, and mostly due to the cost of the copper wiring.
As a homeowner, I don’t mind the extra $13.50. A home builder or electrical contractor sees it quite differently because $13.50 equals a 33% increase in material cost for something most people won’t care about.
Ground Fault Circuit Breaker Installation
Reminder – the service disconnect switch at the electric meter box is in the OFF position to kill the power to the entire house and circuit breaker panel. Do not attempt to install a circuit breaker in a panel when the electricity is on because this can result in arcing or electrocution! I am working by the light of a battery powered lantern in the following photos.
Circuit breakers have a hold-down notch that engages the outside rail of the metal backpan. This notch or “toe” of the breaker is inserted at an angle to engage the rail and the breaker is pressed down on the hot bus stab to secure it in place.
Ground Fault Circuit Breaker Installation
This diagram illustrates how the circuit breaker is installed in the panel:
Circuit Breaker Installation Diagram
Slide the circuit breaker in the panel so the toe engages the outside rail:
Insert the Circuit Breaker
Press it down firmly to secure it on the hot bus stab:
Press the Circuit Breaker Down on the Hot Bus Stab
The neutral (white) pigtail of the GFCB is inserted in the empty position where the neutral wire from the old circuit was removed and the hold-down screw tightened to secure the wire. The manufacturer’s label on my panel says to torque the “wire pressure screws” for 14 to 10 gauge wire to 20 lb-in. This is tighter than you may think such that the wire and screw doesn’t become loose over time should the wire get hot under load – metal expands and contracts with heat and cold. Use a torque wrench if you’re uncertain.
Connect the Ground Fault Circuit Breaker Pigtail to the Neutral Bus Bar
There’s nothing more to do in the circuit breaker panel until I’ve pulled out the old NM-B 14/2 cable and fished new 12/2 cable to the panel. I therefore:
- Reattached the circuit breaker panel cover & door.
Don’t work around an energized open panel! Protect yourself and the family – put the panel cover back on. - Turned the power back ON at the service disconnect switch.
Having the lights on again is nice!
I double checked the old NM-B 14/2 cable with my non-contact voltage detector to ensure the cable was dead, as there could be a slight possibly that it was wired strangely or shorted with another wire and still energized. The cable was indeed dead and safe to work on.
Old Branch Circuit NM-B 14/2 Cable to be Taken Out
This project is continued in Part 4.
Thanks for reading,
Bob Jackson
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