How To Map Out, Label Your Electrical/Fuse Panel. Today we show you How To Map Out And Label Your Electrical Panel, also called the Fuse Panel, or fuse box. Here are a couple of other solutions you can try, Circuit Breaker Decals – 105 Tough vinyl labels for Breaker Panel Boxes:
“Circuit Guides” Kit. You Get 149 Identifier Labels:
How to electrical tips
When you perform your electrical panel inspection, open the door to your electric box, you’ll see a confusing fuse label that maps out an index of all your fuses or circuit breaker switches. Usually the old yellowed label on the fuse box has non-readable hand scrawled writing scribbled over the years and you can’t tell what each of the electric panel switches are for. Many houses are in bad need of labeling electrical panels.
Before you label the fuse box with your electric panel diagram, you have to figure out systematically what the electrical panel circuit numbering is. Usually they are numbered odd on the left, and even on the right, but some electric panels are not numbered at all. Start writing up your electrical panel diagram on a sheet of paper, and use an electrical outlet box tester to see which electrical circuits go dark when you flip the electrical panel circuit breakers in the fuse box to the off position.
Once you have finished writing down the list of which circuit breakers control which circuits, it is time to create the fuse panel diagram. Map out the electrical panel onto your fuse panel diagram on your computer.
In this how to electrical video, we will show you how to go throughout your house and systematically test each electrical outlet and light switch to verify which electrical panel switch controls which circuit. Then we use Microsoft Excel to help us build a new paraprofessional easy to read color coded electrical panel label template.
SUBSCRIBE:
For useful DIY home remodeling tips, tricks, solutions to engineering disasters subscribe here:
WATCH: How To Remove Cigarette Smoke Smell Coming From Neighbor’s Apartment:
WATCH: How to Move an Electrical Outlet/Light Switch Up A Wall and Patch the Drywall
WATCH: How To Install Garbage Disposal Electrical Outlet Box
WATCH: How To Convert 3 Wire Oven/Electric Range Electrical Outlet to 4 Wire
WATCH: How Not To Ground an Electrical Outlet – Correct Way to Wire Outlets
Labeling electrical panels is easy and works better with one or 2 other people helping you out otherwise it takes forever to see which circuit breaker in he fuse box controls which circuit. Your buddies will be letting you know which lights or electric outlets turn off when you shut off each circuit breaker switch one at a time in the electric panel. One you map out the electric panel diagram, you can then proceed to make the fuse panel diagram on the computer.
The benefit of labeling electric panels in this manner is you will never wonder when it really matters what the switches in your electric panel are for, and if certain lights or electric outlet foxes shut off, you can tell by instantly looking at your electrical panel circuit breakers, which are now labelled. Your electrical panel circuit directory template will be a life saver when you need it.
The labeling electrical panel template
Also by having the Excel file of this fuse box label, you can edit it at any time if you find mistakes on your fuse panel diagram, or change a circuit later on, or add additional circuit breaker switches to your electric panel, you can then update the fuse panel diagram.
Lastly, attach your new fuse panel label onto the electrical panel door. Then perform an electric panel inspection of your fuse panel diagram, and make sure everything tests out perfectly according to your new electrical panel diagram.
Now when you try to sell your property and your buyer and their home inspector perform an electrical panel inspection, they see your fuse panel diagram and will be impressed with how well your electrical panel circuit directory looks.
We hope you enjoyed this how to electrical fuse panel video that shows you how to create an electrical panel diagram for your fuse box, with a clear circuit breaker layout. Using our tips or using the electrical panel diagram labels we mentioned above, your electrical panel will pass the toughest electrical panel inspection.
Congratulations, now you are skilled in the fine art of labeling electrical panels. You can also buy circuit breaker labels to put in your electrical panel, but it’s still easier to design it on the computer.
Here are a couple of other solutions you can try, Circuit Breaker Decals – 105 Tough vinyl labels for Breaker Panel Boxes: https://amzn.to/2RhGdir
“Circuit Guides” Kit. You Get 149 Identifier Labels: https://amzn.to/2BOfb8o
Thank you. This video was very helpful and educational
hOW DO OU FIND OUT THE CELING MOUNTED SMOKE DETERCTORS
Thank you. I appreciate your attention to detail and the use of the color highlights to aid the process. AND, no annoying background soundtrack. Blessings and safe wiring.
Good stuff. Like the color idea. Thanks
Is it normal to number them horizontally rather than vertically? For example, the left side is odds and the right evens. I numbered mine vertically, with 1-20 going down the left side and 21-40 going down the right. Does it matter which direction the numbers run?
I took a picture of the switch panel- nice and square- with my I-phone ,printed it in gray scale so I can print right over each breaker on the print-out. That way you have an actual photo of your breakers with labels on them.
Love your outlet checker. Where can I get it, pls?
Thanks now I can turn off the power to my computer room so my brother can't play
I like the idea of Panel patterns @1:44.
You misspelled refrigerator.
Thanks for the time and effort put into this well-made video. But spell refrigerator – 7:30 – correctly!
I am an electrical engineer who worked his way through college as an electrician. Now I sit in the Sun in the Philippines with a cool glass of pineapple juice and an entire bunch of bananas (LOVE bananas!) with my wrist watch long lost. At least i think its lost, I just have not looked for it for about 18 months.
So I am sitting here bored out of my mind, and it occurred to me. There are many very capable homeowners out there who could very effectively do their own work, if they just had a qualified person looking over their shoulder! So BING! a light went off in my head. (If I were a plumber it would have been a sprinkler head going 'SPLASH'!) Would you like to have a live electrician in your pocket to ask questions whenever you needed answers as you were working? (Residential only please!) I am here! And we can communicate directly live via Skype with your phone! Plus I will donate the first hour to help you replace that light socket, panel breaker, or whatever.
Problem solving is one of the most difficult issues with electrical, and having an experienced trouble shooter can save you hundreds of dollars and lots of time! After that, I will ask for a $20 per hour advice charge so I can buy more bananas and coconuts and Off bug repellent! No credit cards please. This will be a 100% trust you to fire me off any money using Western Union, or even a DHS letter with a money order. If you feel I did not help you, don't send me anything. Better then a work warranty. Zero gamble on your part.
I am very passionate about safety though. If I get the impression you are doing things that are not safe, I will drop you like a hot potato! (Notice my strong American food reference?)
email me and lets get you in motion! [email protected]gmail.com
Pro tip… Laminate the breaker map and attach to back or underside of panel door with Velcro.
Would have been helpful to include the Excel file you used. Or did I miss something?
Love this video thanks. Moved into a new rental and nothing on the breaker panel was labeled. The color code I also love. Thanks … I had already started using google sheets to start mapping my breaker box.
If you can get help, two people with mobile phones will make the job much faster. One person testing while the other is at the box. Everywhere I have lived my boxes have a diagram of the circuits. Sometimes I write info in, sometimes I print avery 5160 labels, cut them down to size, and place them on the diagram. I never label a circuit according to appliance unless it's permanent like a furnace, or generator. I label according to room then north, south, east, west, side of the room if more than one circuit is used for a room or hall.
I label panels with a brother label maker. Labels are right next to the breaker. Your idea is great for your own panel but when it’s not next to the breaker some people may accidentally turn off the wrong breaker. Totally their fault of course.
Hi Jeff 🙂 Great video and thanks for sharing 🙂
I have questions about the electric panel in my house. It is taller than it is wide, has 16 (horizontal) slots in the middle to lower section (2 columns of 8), where only 9 are filled w/ breakers. So I have 7 empty slots where new breakers can be added.
In the space near the top my box has 4 slots in a vertical configuration w/ breakers installed and a horizontal bar connecting them all together. I mean, if you flip the bar down , I suppose the whole rack of 4 breakers turn off. THEY ARE LABELED : 'MAIN' !!
Questions :
a.) would you suspect the 'MAIN' (4 at top) power the whole box ?
b.) if they do , could I shut it off , test and confirm no power is feeding the lower breakers and add new breakers to the lower empty slots ?
c.) is there a maximum distance I can run a wire from a 15 or 20 amp breaker to a run of 4 or 5 outlets and a light switch ?
I'd like to replace a yellow 12/2 residential wire w/ a grey UG (direct bury) wire that feeds a shed / shop in my yard.
Thanks for your generous consideration,
sincerely ………………………….
Any ideas for labeling my panel, I have a 30 panel that is a single row from 1-30?
Any reason to mix "20 A" "20 Amp" and "20 Amps" in one diagram?
I use a long extension cord and a drop light plus a fluke meter with a plug type meter lead to plug into the outlets .You can 't always depend on one outlet shutting off when turn off a breaker. I have run into a bedroom for example that is on two separate circuits. Once I do a bedroom for example ,when I turn the breaker off and the light goes off on my drop light, I go to the bedroom and check the other outlets and the light. If everything is off ,I know as far as the bedroom is concerned that the breaker I turned off controls that bedroom, however that same breaker may controls other areas in the house. The key is to move from area to area in the house. This takes patience and a lot of breaker flipping!I create my map in Word .I list the circuit # as it corresponds with the breaker # my list has more details ,plus when i print it out,I tape an envelope to the panel door and put the map in the envelope .
Learn how to draw a 5.
Another helpful video. I will have to create this for my home once we close. Thanks!
What ideas do you have on labeling your electrical panel?
Let us know in the comments below and post your questions as well, we will answer them for you.