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	Subject - Novice looking for advice USWC24 I had a previous post on this site stating that I was going to add service to a 15amp breaker for my basement. This 15amp breaker was thought to be only carrying my security system. I have found out that the breaker is also carrying all basement outlets, lights, and smoke detectors. Needless to say the project has come to a halt. My problem is this: I still need to add service in my basement and I am trying to figure out how I should approach this, or how a electrician would approach this. And, Is this something that I can put in my self and then have an electrician tie it in to my main panel? Any info would be great. Best Regards, Andrew Cook Electricman Is your service panel in the basement where you want to add this circuit? If so, do you have any open spaces in the panel for another circuit? If you do not feel comfortable working in a live panel you could do 1 of two things, either hire an electrician to do the work, or you could shut off the main in the panel BUT KEEP IN MIND THE 2 LEGS COMING INTO THE MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER WILL STILL BE ENERGIZED AND COULD KILL OR HARM YOU IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE. So if you dont feel confident about working around live electricity do yourself and your family a great service and hire an electrician. Hope this helps. USWC24 In response to Electricman question. No my main panel is outside of the house. I beleive there is space in my main panel but it could only accomidate 2 15 amp breakers. Also I would like to add that this basement is not finished. Finishing it is something that I will do in the future. And perhaps now would be a good time to plan for that. David Hyatt I had a real good customer do the same thing you are planning. She ran wires to all the lights, rec and switches in her unfinished basement. She went ahead an sheetrocked so all the wires were covered. Then called me to tie it all in. It would have been cheaper for her to let me do the whole job after having to repair her mistakes. Call an electrician. If you are only adding a few rec and lights it won't cost to much. Electricman I dont know what your main panel is rated at 200amp? 100amp? but because you have a 2pole opening, maybe running a sub panel to the basement would be best? The reason I say that is cause you mentioned future wiring. You should probably consult a liscenced sparky to come check it out. WELLSEROUSKI ELECTRICMAN...It might be that the two openings left in the panel are on the same leg and then you would not have 220-volts. Typically in GE. breaker panels where 1/2 inch breakers can be installed ( two on same leg ). John A. Peters This forum is for electrical professionals. Please do not post Do-It-Yourself questions here.