It doesn't matter what you call it, fuse box, breaker box, circuit breaker box, all that matters is that it's labeled. It doesn't matter if you rent or own, when the power goes out, or diy projects are in progress, it's best to be prepared.
We've spent many an hour yelling back and forth across the house while trying to find the right breaker to turn off, "How about now?" ...."No!"
Does that sound familiar? Try installing a light without knowing which power grid to take down, or finding out which fuse is blown in the bathroom, or bringing things back up one switch at a time if adverse weather takes your power out — it's not easy if it isn't labeled!
One of the first things we do upon moving into a new place is making sure the fuse box is labeled. It's easier to know what's what ahead of time, than guessing as we take down each switch one at a time (which usually results in having to reset every clock in the house) to find the right one!
It might seem like something super-far at the bottom of your to-do list, but once it's done, you don't have to worry about it ever again. If you keep a flashlight (with charged batteries) near your fusebox, you'll be set for any adventure in electrical land! You can go all out with a label maker or use a marker on masking tape, but either way your efforts will eventually be rewarded.
(Image: Flickr member Neil Horman, licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Comments (9)
I put a press-on/press-off light over top of the fuse box. But I still need a flashlight to get to it. I labeled my fuses the hard way, as I live alone and had to run up and down the steps to see what was switched off. (Get a friend to help you!) I've labeled with a labeler, but even if you don't have a labeler, I recommend typing up labels on the computer, printing them out, cutting them apart and then taping the label next to the appropriate circuit. Way easier than trying to figure out what that marker written on masking tape says!
My husband and I did this for our entire house. Drew a floorplan map with all the outlets and switches, and then labeled everything according to the fuse box number and also by color (so it's really easy to look at the drawing and see what is linked to what.) We wanted to make sure we weren't putting the a/c on the same line as the microwave or the computer with the fridge. It sounds like a lot of work, but once it's done, you know where everything is and what circuits not to overload.
Other tip: instead of yelling across the house, we used our cell phones like walky-talkies.
Good post. I am insensed that etched into the frame of my fuse box next to the swiches are, down the left side, 1,3,5,7,9, ect. But on the legend on the inside panel of the door, the corresponding left side switches are numbered 1,2,3,4,5, etc. Set up for failure.
wow, I've never seen so many fuses in one box before. we only have four (front of the house, back of the house, kitchen an d washinmachine). even my parents who have a big, big house have only 8 groups. what do you need all those groups for?
I grew up with two circuits, front and back, but these days most appliances have their own circuits, most rooms are broken out into lighting and power (for receptacles, etc) and heating/cooling systems need separate circuits, in addition to stuff like central vacuums, washer & dryer, etc etc...
Most newer houses have this many circuits. This is the same number I have for my 1700 square foot house plus I have empty spaces for more circuits if ever needed in the future. My parents recently had to upgrade their fuse box (a major undertaking by a certified electrician) due to having put in more lighting in most rooms and in-floor heating in the bathrooms. It was expensive and they wouldn't have done it except they had to.
One of the meaner things a guy I knew did, when selling his house to someone who was being a real jerk about the situation, was go downstairs, and sharpie over all the fuse box labels. It doesn't help that it seemed like the house had originally been wired by a schizophrenic - I bet it took years to sort it back out.
That really was mean. Probably justified, but mean nonetheless. :) I say that as someone who lives in a schizophrenically-wired house.
When the previous owners did some electrical "upgrades" they switched the box around, but didn't bother to update the labels. My house is small, but my dad and I still spent over an hour of:
"now?" "no."
"now?" "no"
"how about now?" "no."
"NOW??" "NO!"
As we turned lights on and breakers off. It didn't help that the inside of the box is a hot mess - no pun intended.
I have a box with 12 breakers, and I'll be putting in a sub-panel with more when I do kitchen rennovations. To others' points - it's best to have high-power-drawing items on their own circuit. If something happens or you need to work on it, you aren't cutting power to other parts of your house. (Like when I forget and try to run the microwave and toaster oven at the same time. :| )
1050908 - I've read that a radio is helpful if you're by yourself - turn it up loud so you can hear if it goes off with the breaker.