When a wire is connected to a circuit breaker in an electric panel, the insulation should only be stripped back enough so that, when it is fully inserted in the breaker, no insulation is under the setscrew terminal and no bare wire extends past the side of the breaker.  it’s called “overstripped” when bare wire is left exposed outside of the breaker, as in the photo above. 

    Overstripped wires are both a shock hazard and can cause a short circuit if they contact any bare ground wires nearby or the panel box. In the photo below, there is also the potential for the overstripped wire to come in contact with the neutral/ground bus bar below it to short out.

    Usually just one or two wires are stripped too far back from the breaker connection, but not in the example shown below.

    Also, see our blog post What is a double tap at a circuit breaker?

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about ELECTRIC PANELS:

• What causes copper wires to turn green or black in an electric panel?  

• What is the maximum number of circuit breakers allowed in an electric panel?

• When should a corroded or damaged electric panel cabinet or disconnect box be replaced? 

• What is a tandem circuit breaker? 

• When did arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breakers first become required?

• Can an electric panel be located in a closet? 

• Can an electric panel be located in a bathroom? 

• Can you add circuit breakers by different manufacturers to an electric panel if they fit?

• My circuit breaker won't reset. What's wrong?  

• What is a split bus electric panel?

• How do I identify a combination AFCI (CAFCI) circuit breaker? 

• What does a circuit breaker with a yellow or white test button indicate? 

• What is the maximum gap allowed between the front of a recessed electric panel box and the wall surface surrounding it? 

• What are the requirements for NM-cables entering an electric panel box?

• Why is a fuse box/panel an insurance problem for homebuyers? 

• Why is bundled wiring in an electric panel a defect?

• What is the difference between GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers? 

• Why are old electrical components not always "grandfathered" as acceptable by home inspectors?

   Visit our ELECTRIC PANELS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.