FAQs about the procedures for mapping building electrical circuits.

This article series gives procedures & tools for tracing or for labeling circuits and fuses in electrical panels. How to find remote, hidden electrical sub panels in a building.

Electrical Circuit Identification & Labeling FAQs

These questions & answers about how to trace, map or identify electrical circuits and wires in buildings were posted originally at ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ID, MAP & LABEL - be sure to review the advice given there.

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On 2019-03-09 by (mod) - where do they make the electrical connections to wire the two halves together, in a double wide

Typically underneath

Look for connectors / plugs between the trailer or doublewide halves - same as with modular home construction

On 2019-03-09 by charles

where do they make the electrical connections to wire the two halves together, in a double wide, bottom or top pf trailer , im trying to find a electrical short

On 2018-07-15 by (mod) - First try turning off the main circuit breaker.

First try turning off the main circuit breaker. If that turns off the stove as well then you know that it is wired Downstream from that panel

. It's possible that there's another sub panel in the building or that there's a defective circuit breaker that is not actually turning off even when you switch it to the off position. Tell me the brand and show me a photo of your electrical panel.

On 2018-07-14 by Linda

Recently moved into a new built home. I can't find the circuit breaker to this wonderful looking double oven I've tried all of the circuits in the garage and nothing turns it on or off. Any advice about how to find a circuit breaker...

On 2018-01-08 by (mod) -

No, Diane, unfortunately there is no standard assignment of numbers to circuits in buildings.

But you can, with help, easily find which breaker is involved by having a helper who can see into the attic shout down to you when the attic lights go off as you switch circuit breakers off one by one.

Or you can use my radio trick when working alone: plug in a radio and put on loud music you can hear in the basement, then start flipping off circuit breakers.

On 2018-01-03 by Diane

Does any one know what number would be for the attic in my breaker box ? I want to turn off the power for the attic!!

On 2017-03-29 by (mod) -

You would expect that each 30A breaker, if labelled as "Dryer" would be routed to a utility room or laundry room or basement area.

No one who does legal, safe electrical work would (nor would be permitted to) leave wires capped loose in a wall and buried. Wire ends might be capped with twist-on connectors, but must be in an electrical box, and the electrical box may not be buried in a wall - precisely because it would cause exactly the problem you face.

There are electrical circuit tracing devices that put a signal on a wire and also the Tic Tracer by Tif can sometimes follow a wire in walls or ceilings. But start by inspecting possible destination locations.

Actually, start by asking your electrician to open the panel to see if in fact wires are connected to the second 30A breaker at all. Meanwhile leave it OFF for safety.

On 2017-03-29 by steveblackthorne

Hi, I have just moved in to a new home and there are two panels. 200 amp main and a 100 amp panel for the suite.

Both panels have 30 am breakers for a dryer. but I only have one dryer plug in the laundry room. Both panels also have 40 amp breakers for kitchen ranges, and I have two ranges in the house.

The question is how do I trace the 30 amp wire from suite panel to where ever it goes? Panel wires are clearly marked with white tape and description matches panel label. I've checked for exposed junction boxes in closets, garage and everywhere in the house.

My thought is the wire is capped with marrets and terminates in a wall?

On 2016-09-14 by (mod) -

Alex,

Perhaps the circuit that you tripped was being protected by a GFCI. If so you may be able to find the GFCI in a nearby bathroom basement or similar location. Look for a GFCI that has a trip button and press the reset.

On 2016-09-08 by alex

I changed an emergency light in the building i work at, and doing so i tripped the breaker. now i can't find the breaker switch for it. i checked all the panels and they are all on! What do I do?

On 2016-08-27 20:50:51.763894 by (mod) -

Good point, NH Fire Bear

Also see TEST EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL GUIDE - at https://inspectapedia.com/electric/Electrical_Test_Equipment.php where we discuss the Tif Tic Tracer.

On 2016-08-26 by NHFireBear - expert commentary on circuit mapping from NH Firebear

Another user-friendly tool I sometimes find useful for mapping circuits has two parts: one that you plug into a receptacle outlet and the other a hand-held "wand" sensor that you take to the fuse/breaker panel.

The plug-in has an indicator light, showing it's "on" and generating a signal that can be traced.

The wand sensor is then placed near the fuses or breakers and adjusted until only one of them causes the device to beep. You then pull/switch that fuse/breaker, the beeping stops, and you confirm that the light on the plug-in has also gone off.

For tracing lighting outlets (sockets) you can temporarily unscrew a lightbulb and screw in a receptacle adapter, then plug the "outlet tester" into that, using the sensor want to find the branch at the panel.

Similarly, some "appliances" have a service receptacle outlet (e.g., on an electric stove or a furnace controller) that might be used to trace a branch serving that appliance.

This can sometimes also be used to find which cable or junction box serves the outlet currently being tested, using the wand sensor as a "non-contact" tester for detecting where the wires have the signal. I have several of these that have been purchased at the hardware store or electrical suppliers over the years.

On 2015-05-18 by (mod) -

GL

In addition to the suggestions in the article above, there are circuit mapping tools that connect at the panel and produce a traceable signal.

Typically a 15A 240V circuit might be wiring two lighting circuits that share a neutral wire or it might be powering a 15A 240V appliance circuit. Look for a 240V electrical outlet below a window in older homes.

On 2015-04-29 by GL

I just found your site and it is very informative. My son and I were completing a "circuit map" of the house.

There is one "double switch" (two breakers connected) that are 15 A each that we can't figure out what it is for. We tried all the appliances, etc.

Do you have any tricks about how to track where that goes?

Also, possibly unrelated, with all the switching and such, the little green lights on the smoke detectors won't come back on. Hmmm... fortunately they have batteries.

Anyway, I appreciate your site and wondered if you have any thoughts.

...

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