Can I add a breaker without turning off the power to the panal?

That's the only breaker box on the property? It seems more like a sub panel that would be turned off from a breaker on the main panel.

What country are you in?

I've done lot's of work in live panels, and I'd like to add one thing to the advice you've been given. Keep in mind that electricty needs to have a route to ground or elsewhere to complete the circuit, which means while you are working on it make sure your other hand (or any body part) isn't touching anything that could complete the circuit, such as the metal of the breaker box. If your hand on the screwdriver slips and touches something live, the electricity would go through one arm and out the other to complete the circuit - which means right through your chest and vital organs...

I had a family member who was a lineman working on a power pole that was supposed to have no power. His knee touched one piece of metal and a wrench on his tool belt touched another and most of the tissue between those points was cooked. Graphic I know, but I just want to be sure you take the danger seriously.

I was pretty baked on my last comment, what I should of been talking about was a disconnect. I'm working on a house right now that has no disconnect on the panel board, but one is provided outside the meter base. Still though shouldn't be an issue if you can't find it. Just be smart and watch your moves, don't just focus on the tip of the screw driver or wire because IMO experience that is when people don't notice themselves start to lean/move and get shocked. Also though the advice on completing the circuit is true, don't believe your safe because you not touching metal because even concrete conducts, as does air, and electricity will flow into your body whether you touch grounded metal or not.

Masswhole said:

If you need to ask, hire an electrician.

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best advice
and can we all see the photo

I can't see the image, I'm guessing from adblock plus or because I'm running firefox. Just read what others have said though about it being full, if thats the case you want to replace a current 1" breaker with two slim .5" breakers, that will fix the issue of the panel being full. Just be sure that the slot you choose to replace is rated for .5" breakers

i think its because he so new
only 9 posts

I would suggest shutting all the breakers off, and pulling the meter. Do what you need to do then reinstall the meter, then turn on your breakers, this is the only "safe" way to do it.

Tampering with the meter is a federal offense so unless your talking about the disconnect outside the meter then I wouldn't recommend going that route. Really it's perfectly safe to work on live, you just have to use common sense and watch your moves.

drunknhero said:

50amp single pull to a sub panal... getting rid of my garbage disposal breaker...

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I hope you mean a 2 pole or double pole 50 amp breaker. I can't think of any growing equipment that needs 50 amps at 120 volts.

Old thread but I just added a breaker to my box. My box wasn't full and had room for a breaker. I worked on it "Hot". I just tunred the breaker that i was installing to off. i put the breaker in. It just snaps in.

Hooked my ground and white wires to the bar that all the other grounds and white wire were connected. Then i screwed in the black wire. I was scared and my heart was pumping but I didn't get shocked.