identifying a electical circuit

[james]

The nice electricians that replace the knob and tube in my house removed all the labels I had on the panel.

What can I use to identify the circuits for the baseboard heaters and plugs and light?

[RBM]

Test light and marker pen works for me

[John Grabowski]

*A helper comes in handy. Some pros and homeowners use a radio plugged into the outlets. A floorplan could be useful.

[Stormin Mormon]

I like to use a new Sharpie (r) marker.

[HeyBub]

HF has a circuit breaker detective:

I've got one and it works as expected.

[Bob F]

Someone else to tell you when the device goes off while you turn individual breakers off. Make a list for all the outlets, lights, heaters, and other devices, then label the breakers appropriately.

[DerbyDad03]

Do not enlist your significant other for this project. Things will not go well.

Get a friend/neighbor/total stranger - someone who will not hold a grudge after the yelling and screaming starts.

Trust me.

[DerbyDad03]

I built an Excel spreadsheet detailing the inner workings of my breaker box since I have rooms/areas that are controlled by more than one breaker. Putting all the correct info on a little label next a breaker would be impossible. I have entries such as:

Breaker 9 - Garage receptacles except for Breaker 10. Not garage lights. Breaker 10 - Dedicated freezer receptacle in Garage Breaker 11 - Garage lights, exterior lights for front door and garage door Breaker 15 - NW bedroom plus upper landing light

I put the sheet in a plastic document holder and taped it to the breaker box. Updating the sheet is a breeze when I make a change, add a receptacle, etc.

[Metspitzer]

North lighting N Lite West power W Pwr Makes it easy enough to find without getting too detailed.

[Bob F]

A pair of cheap walkie-talkies can help.

[willshak]

Great idea! My 200 amp box is a mess with new circuits being installed, and single breakers being replaced with dual breakers.

[willshak]

There is also a tool that can help. Circuit Detective

One part plugged into a outlet, and the other part passed over the circuit box.. It will beep when the outlet part is discovered. It can be used for a light fixture if a light socket to outlet adapter is installed in the light socket. Usual disclaimers apply.

[David Nebenzahl]

On 8/3/2009 5:31 AM HeyBub spake thus:

Same here. Works fine.

I made one modification to correct a design defect, though. If you use the receiver (the detector part) as-is, the battery (9 volt) will go dead in no time flat. So I added a small slide switch on the front cover to turn it off when not in use.

[Stormin Mormon]

A pair of good walkie talkies can allow you to communicate.

[HeyBub]

Or, these days, a couple of cell phones.

[Mark]

Make it more challenging! Start at 10pm (after dark). Turn off all the lights in the house, then turn off all breakers. Turn them back on one at a time and have the helper run around the house with the tester trying to find the outlets that are energized! (might want to move any breakables out of the way!)

[Stormin Mormon]

Oh, that's a pussy thing to do. Have the helper turn the breakers on and off, one at a time. Half second on, half second off. You run around the house in the dark (no flashlight allowed) with the walkie talkie. Report to the helper what's turning on and off. Then, he can turn on and off the next breaker, while you run around.

[The Daring Dufas]

You can always use the tried and true "Jesus Method". A pair of jumper wires with a plug on one end and a bit of insulation stripped from each wire. You plug it in to an outlet, turn your face away to avoid the bright flash and touch the bare wires together whilst shouting JESUS! Then go find the tripped breaker. As a plus, it also tests the breakers.

TDD

[DerbyDad03]

...except when W Pwr is controlled by 2 or more breakers and/or some W Pwr is inside the house, some is external.

For example, I've got dedicated circuits that I ran for computers in bedrooms so the curling iron//lamp/stereo doesn't crash the system. If I've got 4 outlets on 1 breaker and 1 on another, I have to be detailed.

Breaker 9 - West Bedroom Power just won't cut it, but

Breaker 9 - West Bedroom Power except Breaker 10 Breaker 10 - West Bedroom Power, South East corner only

tells me what I need to know about that room.

[Stormin Mormon]

In the case of FPE breakers, it does other things.