Household wiring: how to trace wiring to switch and circuit breakers?

Enchanter

Enchanter

Ghost in The Machine
Staff member
Recently purchased a home and have a question or two regarding tracing wires.

I want to determine what circuit breaker controls what outlets / appliances. Is there a way to trace the outlet to the breaker without having to flip the breaker off and then walk around in the house plugging something into each outlet?

I also have a ceiling mounted light fixture that is always on / hot. No wall mounted switch to control it. How do I trace those wires?
 
S

Sharxfan

Well-known member
You can get a circuit tracer at a home improvement store of your choice. usually, they have a signal generator you plug into the outlet and you have a sensor that detects it at the panel. not sure how accurate they are though.

For the ceiling light, they probably tapped it somewhere in the ceiling to a live circuit and you will have to turn breakers on and off for that one. Didn't your home inspection catch that I would think that is against the electrical code.
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
You can get a plug in signal generator and read it at the panel, as mentioned.

Ceiling light might have been pull chain in older home.
 
Enchanter

Enchanter

Ghost in The Machine
Staff member
I’ll look into purchasing a circuit tracer. The light fixture does not have a pull-chain.
 
mean dad

mean dad

Well-known member
I have one of the circuit tracers, it's been a sweet tool in the new house.
Also have a ceiling fan with no separate switch in the master bedroom, and a switch that appears to have no corresponding outlet. :laughing




Epoxy that garage floor if you haven't already. I feel glorious every time I go out there. :cool
 
mikev

mikev

»»───knee───►
1000% epoxy garage.


also what circut tracer? I need to get one and map out my house.
 
Enchanter

Enchanter

Ghost in The Machine
Staff member
The garage floor is already painted. It’s in Better than average shape, and I want to redo it, but it’s lower on the priority list for now. I’m just hoping that I don’t have to strip it to redo it.
 
Mike95060

Mike95060

Work In Progress
Enchanter said:
The garage floor is already painted. It’s in Better than average shape, and I want to redo it, but it’s lower on the priority list for now. I’m just hoping that I don’t have to strip it to redo it.
Click to expand...

I hope you don't turn to stripping too.
 
auntiebling

auntiebling

megalomaniacal troglodyte
Staff member
Easiest way to find a breaker is to trip it... not that any elechicken will admit to doing that.

I will admit doing it, and furthermore I suggest you power down all your expensive electronics before doing so.

Any simple lamp.makes a great "is this on" outlet checker.
 
PaleHorse

PaleHorse

Well-known member
auntiebling said:
Easiest way to find a breaker is to trip it... not that any elechicken will admit to doing that.

I will admit doing it, and furthermore I suggest you power down all your expensive electronics before doing so.

Any simple lamp.makes a great "is this on" outlet checker.
Click to expand...

Don't fucking do this!! You can create an arc flash / blast and kill yourself. You want some interesting videos? look up arc flash on youtube. I've been an electricain for over 20 years and no, this is not a common trade practice. Yes, it is fucking dangerous.
 
afm199

afm199

Well-known member
auntiebling said:
Easiest way to find a breaker is to trip it... not that any elechicken will admit to doing that.

I will admit doing it, and furthermore I suggest you power down all your expensive electronics before doing so.

Any simple lamp.makes a great "is this on" outlet checker.
Click to expand...

I can tell you the story of my friend Steve starting a fire doing that.
 
bikeama

bikeama

Super Moderator
Staff member
afm199 said:
I can tell you the story of my friend Steve starting a fire doing that.
Click to expand...

What afm199 says :afm199

I took 2 semesters of electrics and electronics at the JC to work on my own stuff. Had to move a plug and did the plug the light in to find the breaker. Turned off and on each 110v breaker and the light stayed on WTF. Turned off the main to move the plug. Talked to our head electrician at work about the plug staying hot. He told me what to check and he was right. The do it yourself previous owner had added a light and tied two circuits on the same phase together. The head electrician told me to turn off all the 110v breakers, turn them on and off one at a time. See if the plug was hot on two breakers, it was. Had to check the connections in every switch and outlet box on each circuit. Took all day but I found it.

Moral of the story. Get some one to help who knows what they are doing.
 
auntiebling

auntiebling

megalomaniacal troglodyte
Staff member
PaleHorse said:
Don't fucking do this!! You can create an arc flash / blast and kill yourself. You want some interesting videos? look up arc flash on youtube. I've been an electricain for over 20 years and no, this is not a common trade practice. Yes, it is fucking dangerous.
Click to expand...

afm199 said:
I can tell you the story of my friend Steve starting a fire doing that.
Click to expand...

definitely listen to these guys before me.
 
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