House Question?

Question

in the outside breaker box, if they arent labeled, how do you tell which switches control the outside eletric sources, such as outside outlets. I have just moved into my house and my box is not labeled except for water heater and kitchen lights

Answer 1

Can you use a plug-in nightlight, and plug it into the source in question. Then pull the switches in the breaker box individually until the nightlight goes off. Make sure you label the switch in the box immediately.
It helps if you have another person standing at the nightlight to tell you when it goes off.

Answer 2

Hi, your lucky even that much is labelled! None of ours is . You will need either a loud Radio,or another person. Then with the labels you can purchase for just that, start one by one outlet at a time. Use the Radio to ,lets say,to plug into all outlets starting in the bedroom. When you hear it stop,then you know that is the breaker to that line.Then you can label it. I know it's a slow process, but make sure to test every outlet in every room. Some switches or outlets can be pig tailed from one room to another,and that you can count on. Don't ever assume when you are working on an electrical switch or outlet,that the power is off.Even if you turned it off at the breaker. Buy a electrical tester from the Hardware Store,and test every thing after you have turned the breaker off,before working on it. I learn-ed that the hard way! I got a nasty burn because I assumed that the light switch and the wall outlet in the bath room where on the same line,because they were on the same wall and so close together. Was I ever Wrong! So do your labelling test for each room ,and test everything with a tester to see if there is still electric running BEFORE you attempt working on it. Byee from, I'll never do that stupid thing again! Byee

Answer 3

In the breaker box there are a number of switches. You need to label them. Or mark them with an initial that tells you which lights or rooms they control. You will need a friend or helper.
Turn on all lights in all rooms. While one is in the house, the other is outside flipping switches one at a time. Have partner go around looking for lights that are out, then the partner tells you which room or area went dark. When lights go out in a room, mark that switch with a letter like B for bedroom, or BT for Bath room or K for kitchen, G for garage, etc. Keep working until all switches are marked. You can buy permanent ink markers in white ink or black, use them to mark your switches. You will never have to guess what breaker switch affects which part of your house again. You will know. It will be marked. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

If you have a plug-in radio, plug it into the outlet. Turn it up enough so you can hear it at the breaker box. Flip the breakers. When the radio stops, that is the one that controls that outlet.

Suggestion: Label your box when you figure out which breakers control what.

Answer 5

use a portable light, and plug it into the outlet you have a question about. Turn off each breaker switch until the light goes out. Be sure to label the appropriate switch.

Answer 6

turn all your breakers off. then turn one on at a time and test plugs to find which breaker turns what on. do'nt think its for a certain room. i have an older house and there are plugs in a couple rooms that go to one then same room are in other. so aftr testing turn that one youve marked off and go through the others. you could code by putting a red small dot on the inside of the outlets. then the next a different color for each breaker

Answer 7

You turn on lights or plug something in and then run back and forth. Helps if there are two of you and your can call back and forth, then label each on the breaker door. Do it initially in pencil until you know it's right, then go back with ink. Of course now adays you don't need to yell, you could talk via cell phone or text, LOL!

Answer 8

One breaker at a time turn them off. then turn one on and check which lights and plug ins work and write them down, Then do the next until you have them all accounted for.

Answer 9

Call an electircian, how am i supposed to know I am an 11 yr old grL