Having your circuits (or fuses) identified in your electrical panel will help you cut power to certain areas of your home. It is especially helpful when you have some minor electrical work to do and you must shut off the power to a plug or a light. In most homes, if you look inside the door of your panel. there will be a circuit identifying sheet attached. Hopefully it is filled out and all your circuits are identified, but that is most likely not the case. And even if it is filled out, it may not contain all plugs and lights that are on that circuit.
A good idea is to create a small notebook of all your plugs and lights and which circuit they are on. This is fairly easy to do, but a little time-consuming. Having a friend help you will.cut the time down considerably.

Tools & Materials

• notebook
• small plug-in light

STEPS

1. Locate electrical panel and make sure all circuits are on.
2. Turn on all lights in home.
3. Turn off one circuit and identify what has been shut-off. Using the plug-in light, check all plugs to see if the still have power. If they don’t, that at is the circuit it is wired to.
4. Mark in your notebook the number of the circuit you have shut off, and all associated lights and plugs on that circuit.
5. Repeat for each circuit.
6. Large 30 and 40 amp breakers power electric ranges, air conditioning units and electric dryers. That is usually a 220 volt dedicated line, meaning that is the only item on that circuit.
7. Do not forget to check all exterior plugs and any out- buildings (sheds, garages, poolhouses, pools)

Once this is completed, you will have if for the lifetime of the house. it will be invaluable anytime you have electrical work to do. It may take a little time to do, but it is well worth the effort.

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