HOW TO
Please
go to the Legal
and Privacy Information
page before attempting this How-To. |
Skill
Level
One hammer: Novice
Five hammers: Experienced |
 |
Plot Your Electric Switches and Outlets
By Lou Granata
You're in a hurry. You need to make coffee and defrost a
bagel and your breaker pops. Chances are there are more outlets and lights
hooked up to a breaker that can't handle the load. So how do you know what goes
where?
WARNING: Do not attempt to fix any problem yourself.
Hire a licensed electrical contractor to do the work. Safety first should be
your highest priority. All you need to do is locate the switches and outlets to
the breaker box.
First draw a rough floor plan of your house - all levels -
main floor, basement, second story, garage, and so on. In each room locate the
outlets and switches (figure 1). Use the symbols shown in the key below.
Find the breaker box(s) and copy on your floor plan what the
box looks like and breaker position (figure 2). In older homes chances are the
switches won't be labeled or if they are, a past homeowner might have added
more outlets or switches to that line. The main on/off, electric water heater,
dryer, and range have two switches that work together. These are 220 amperage
lines. The rest should be 110 amperage to the switches and outlets.
Mapping the system works best with two people: one person to
work the breakers, the other to check the outlets and switches. If you have to
do it alone shut off the breakers one at a time. Next turn on all the overhead
lights in the house/garage. You can use a small light or portable radio to
check the outlets. Check both outlets. Don't assume that if one works so should
the other.
You can either use numbers or letters to associate the
switches/outlets to the breaker switch at the box. Label the breaker box as you
check the switches. Go to each room to check the power, chances are one line
might be used on multiple levels or rooms (figure 3). This example shows that
more than one homeowner could have added switches/outlets over the years.
Again, be safe. Do not try to fix any problem yourself. By
mapping the switches and breakers yourself could save money when you do hire an
electrician.
Figure 3 |
Light
Switch
Outlet
