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Mapping and Wiring House Electrical Circuits

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By hometips


Electricity travels 360 degrees in a circle. It travels towards the load (Lights, receptacles, appliances) via the “Hot” Wire and then returns back to the source via the "neutral" wire. This complete path is called circuit.

Wiring in homes is basically a circuit. Each of these circuits can be traced starting from the entrance into the main panel or subpanel through various receptacles, fixtures, or appliances and back to the panel.

In some cases, people keep list that tell which circuit breakers or fuses control particular circuits. In case there is no such list, you can still map the circuits. This is important when you need to find the right circuit breaker or fuse to shut off or reset.

Here are instructions to map your home wiring / circuit. Remember to do all such mapping in daylight:



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Mapping wiring house electrical circuits
Mapping wiring house electrical circuits

Home Improvements : Types of Electrical Wiring in Houses

How to Map Wiring and House Electrical Circuits

1) Turn OFF al the circuit breakers at the electrical panel.

2) Start by identifying higher wattage (240V) equipments such as the furnace, air conditioner etc. Flip ON one such breaker and check which electrical appliance it supplies by turning on each electric appliance. SwitchON each of such appliances until you find the ones that work. Repeat this process with other large circuit breakers and major appliances.

3) Plug in a lamp or any other small electrical device into any standard room receptacle. Turn breakers ON and OFF until you find the one that turns on the lamp. Leave that breaker ON and plug the lamp into other receptacles. Make a note all the receptacles controlled by that breaker.

4) Similarly make notes of each breaker controlling lights, fans and other home appliances / kitchen appliances.

5) Once you have noted all the breakers and the appliances / devices it supplies power to, you are done with the mapping.


Understanding the wiring in an electrical receptacle

Comments

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Faiz  says:
4 months ago

Good and simple to understand.

hometips profile image

hometips  says:
4 months ago

Thanks.

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