Know what you're getting into We believe in safe DIY. That's why
we've always been reluctant to show readers how to open a
breaker box and connect a new circuit. Even with the power shut
off, there's a chance you could touch the wrong parts and kill
yourself. But then we figured if we didn't show you, you'd just
go search the Internet. And that scared us even more. So we're
going to walk you through the process, showing you the safest
way to open the breaker box, wire a new breaker and test your
work. Opening the main breaker box and installing a new circuit
is actually pretty easy. You only have to connect three wires,
and each is color-coded. But there are some safety precautions,
and if you ignore them, you could kill yourself. Really. If you
follow our safety steps in order and to the letter, you'll be
fine. But if at any point you're unsure how to proceed or feel
uncomfortable with the project, call an electrician. Stay away
from the large wires and lugs. They're always live, even with
the main breaker (