How to Read the Electrical Panel

The electric system in your home should not be taken for granted, and taking time to understand basics like reading the electrical panel goes a long way in protecting your loved ones and property. Most people usually assume that the gray metal box is only left to the electricians, but it is also meant for homeowners to assess their electrical system. During regular maintenance, the expert electricians at HomeOps Electric can help you familiarize yourself with your electrical panel. It is important to understand how an electrical panel works to use it at the right time. Let us look into the areas you should start with when reading your electrical panel.

Find the Breaker Box

The first and most obvious step is to identify where the electrical panel is located in or around your home. Usually, a gray box is fixed on the wall. If it is not inside the house, then it is probably outside. Some of the common areas where these boxes are found include the garage, utility room, basement, laundry room, or a hall closet.

Read the Labels

Once you have located the breaker box inside, you'll find two switches in separate columns. Each of these switches sends power to different circuits in your home. The switches are usually labeled by the electricians who installed the initial wiring to avoid confusion. The labels can be inside the breaker panel or next to each switch. The electricians at HomeOps ensure that the labels refer to specific rooms or appliances on each circuit for easy maintenance.

What to Do if the Switches Aren't Labeled

There are times when the switches inside the electrical panel aren't labeled; it could lead to frustration and confusion in the future. It is advisable to test each circuit, label them for future reference, and avoid electrical-related issues. Labeled switches make it easy to tell which switch you need to turn off and on if a circuit trips. It also makes it easy during electrical repairs since you can easily identify which switch needs to be shut off. If you prefer a hands-off approach, then HomeOps Electric has got you covered. We have a team of expert electricians who can help you identify and label your switches correctly.

Resetting a Tripped Circuit Breaker

When there's too much power coming into your home, it might overwhelm the circuit it's traveling through, resulting in a circuit breaker trip. Resetting it requires identifying the circuit in your electrical panel that is not lined up with the others. Once you have identified the tripped, switch it off down before switching it back on. The lights and connected electrical appliances should start functioning again. However, if the breaker trips regularly, you should consider consulting the experts at HomeOps Electric to determine the root cause of the problem.

After an in-depth assessment, our team will recommend the most suitable solution for your electrical system. If the electrical panel has a problem, we provide electrical panel replacement and other maintenance recommended to mitigate future electrical hazards. Contact us today at HomeOps Electric for top-notch electrical services at pocket-friendly prices.