mapping (on paper) circuit-breakers to wall-sockets?

The standard two-person team method would be to have one guy on the
switchboard, turning them all off, then turning them on one at a time,
and the 2nd person goes and tests each socket in the house.

Having done that, he turns that breaker back off, and turn on the next one, guy #2
again walks the house, testing each wall-socket.

Which is, of course, insanely inefficient.

---

I recall from some decades ago a device that aided doing this.

The ideal device would be one where you first turned off the house power, then
the device would have 20 or 30 leads with alligator clips or whatever, that you'd
somehow connect to the breaker panel, one lead per breaker, and the signal on
each lead would have the audio signal I AM ONE, I AM TWO, I AM THREE, I AM FOUR, ...,
and then one pass around the house (with a pair of headphones) and you'd have it.

---

So, how do YOU figure out which wall socket is controlled by which breaker?

Thanks!

David

I did it myself with a radio- turned a breaker off then walked around to see which outlets didn't work (they were near each other, unlike in my parents' house where it seemed totally random). I then posted a sheet on the breaker box cover listing which breakers covered which outlets and lights.

Next time I do this I'll also write the breaker # on the back (inside) of the cover plates.

On Jan 28, 1:44*pm, (David Combs) wrote:
mapping (on paper) circuit-breakers to wall-sockets?

The standard two-person team method would be to have one guy on the
switchboard, turning them all off, then turning them on one at a time,
and the 2nd person goes and tests each socket in the house.

Having done that, he turns that breaker back off, and turn on the next one, guy #2
again walks the house, testing each wall-socket.

Which is, of course, insanely inefficient.

---

I recall from some decades ago a device that aided doing this.

The ideal device would be one where you first turned off the house power, then
the device would have 20 or 30 leads with alligator clips or whatever, that you'd
somehow connect to the breaker panel, one lead per breaker, and the signal on
each lead would have the audio signal I AM ONE, I AM TWO, I AM THREE, I AM FOUR, ...,
and then one pass around the house (with a pair of headphones) and you'd have it.

---

So, how do YOU figure out which wall socket is controlled by which breaker?

Thanks!

David

People have been known to use a wall-powered radio turned up very loud
so that it can be heard everywhere the breaker controls. You still
have to go and move the radio to every socket. And, it doesn't work
for ceiling lights.

wrote:

Next time I do this I'll also write the breaker # on the back
(inside) of the cover plates.

That's a really swell idea!

David Combs wrote:
mapping (on paper) circuit-breakers to wall-sockets?

The standard two-person team method would be to have one guy on the
switchboard, turning them all off, then turning them on one at a time,
and the 2nd person goes and tests each socket in the house.

Having done that, he turns that breaker back off, and turn on the
next one, guy #2 again walks the house, testing each wall-socket.

Which is, of course, insanely inefficient.

---

It still takes, for efficiency, two people to use the Circuit Breaker
Detective (and a pair of walkie-talkies or cell phones)
http://www.harborfreight.com/circuit...ive-96934.html

On 1/28/2012 5:17 PM, HeyBub wrote:
wrote:

Next time I do this I'll also write the breaker # on the back
(inside) of the cover plates.

That's a really swell idea!


Better yet, label the front of the wall plates with a black on clear
P-Touch label.

"hr(bob) " wrote in message
...
stuff snipped

So, how do YOU figure out which wall socket is controlled by which
breaker?

Thanks!

David

People have been known to use a wall-powered radio turned up very loud
so that it can be heard everywhere the breaker controls. You still
have to go and move the radio to every socket. And, it doesn't work
for ceiling lights.

You just need a screw in socket adapter. I traced out all my overhead
fixtures that way. Has a lamp socket base and a 110VAC socket on the face.
Actually got it to use my X-10 analyzer on the light circuits to diagnose a
problem.

--
Bobby G.

On 1/28/2012 1:53 PM, wrote:
I did it myself with a radio- turned a breaker off then walked around to see which outlets didn't work (they were near each other, unlike in my parents' house where it seemed totally random). I then posted a sheet on the breaker box cover listing which breakers covered which outlets and lights.

Next time I do this I'll also write the breaker # on the back (inside) of the cover plates.

I used the radio method, but I didn't carry the radio around after
turning off the breaker. I plugged the radio in and turned it
up loud, then went to the panel and turned them off one at
a time. When the radio went off I marked that one, then went
and moved the radio to the next outlet. That is a lot quicker
than using the radio to find dead outlets.

Bill

Numb3rs wrote:
On 1/28/2012 5:17 PM, HeyBub wrote:
wrote:

Next time I do this I'll also write the breaker # on the back
(inside) of the cover plates.

That's a really swell idea!


Better yet, label the front of the wall plates with a black on clear
P-Touch label.

But what if a visitor SEES the label? What will they think?

Numb3rs wrote:
On 1/28/2012 5:17 PM, HeyBub wrote:
wrote:

Next time I do this I'll also write the breaker # on the back
(inside) of the cover plates.

That's a really swell idea!


Better yet, label the front of the wall plates with a black on clear P-Touch label.

That's something you always think of but never do.

That's also something I have requested to the electricians installing
industrial outlets in remodeled rooms but they rarely do.

Greg

On 1/29/2012 1:27 PM, gregz wrote:
wrote:
On 1/28/2012 5:17 PM, HeyBub wrote:
wrote:

Next time I do this I'll also write the breaker # on the back
(inside) of the cover plates.

That's a really swell idea!


Better yet, label the front of the wall plates with a black on clear P-Touch label.

That's something you always think of but never do.

That's also something I have requested to the electricians installing
industrial outlets in remodeled rooms but they rarely do.

Greg

If you have outlets that you know are going to be used a lot, lots of
insertions and unpluggings, get the hospital grade receptacles which
are designed to survive the plug from a floor polisher being yanked out
sideways. The receptacles are made of nylon and you can beat on one with
a hammer and not break it. The darn things can cost anywhere from 5 to
30 dollars or more but are worth it when you really need something like it.

TDD

On Jan 28, 12:44*pm, (David Combs) wrote:
mapping (on paper) circuit-breakers to wall-sockets?

The standard two-person team method would be to have one guy on the
switchboard, turning them all off, then turning them on one at a time,
and the 2nd person goes and tests each socket in the house.

Having done that, he turns that breaker back off, and turn on the next one, guy #2
again walks the house, testing each wall-socket.

Which is, of course, insanely inefficient.

---

I recall from some decades ago a device that aided doing this.

The ideal device would be one where you first turned off the house power, then
the device would have 20 or 30 leads with alligator clips or whatever, that you'd
somehow connect to the breaker panel, one lead per breaker, and the signal on
each lead would have the audio signal I AM ONE, I AM TWO, I AM THREE, I AM FOUR, ...,
and then one pass around the house (with a pair of headphones) and you'd have it.

---

So, how do YOU figure out which wall socket is controlled by which breaker?

Thanks!

David

Home Depot carries a 'beeper' type tracer which CANNOT be connected
toa powered line. approx $25

Two parts one attaches and sends and the other is a pen like probe
that when you touch a wire connected, it's loud!

Power OFF breakers, attach DRIVER to one AC distribution from a
breaker, then go out to the outlets. Getting near an outlet connected
to the specific line will make the RECIVER beep. Works on outlets,
light fixtures, even found routing inside a wall and the buried wires
this way!

On Jan 28, 2:44*pm, (David Combs) wrote:
Having done that, he turns that breaker back off, and turn on the next one, guy #2
again walks the house, testing each wall-socket.

Not if he marks the sockets that have been identified with a colored
sticker, piece of painter's tape, or any of a number of other methods.

Then, he only needs to test the outlets that are not marked.

In article ,
wrote:
On Jan 28, 2:44*pm, (David Combs) wrote:
Having done that, he turns that breaker back off, and turn on the next one, guy #2
again walks the house, testing each wall-socket.

Not if he marks the sockets that have been identified with a colored
sticker, piece of painter's tape, or any of a number of other methods.

Then, he only needs to test the outlets that are not marked.

Fine, as long as it's been done correctly, and no changes since thin.

Looks like no easy way!

I still like my idea of a box with 20 or 40 leads, each with
audio signal ONE, TWO, THREE, ..., FORTY, one attached to each
breaker.

If anyone personally knows someone at a manufacturer of the home-depot-sold
device, or the one from Harbor Freight, please send my suggestion to them.


Anyway, thanks. Looks like an entire day task!

David