The Importance of Labeling an Electrical Panel

Have you ever been called to work on an electrical panel that wasn’t labeled, or that had faded labels that couldn’t be read? When you’re trying to do work on a panel that is entirely unfamiliar to you, a lack of labeling can be a big challenge. When you’re performing your own work on panels, whether they are new or old, make sure you label them appropriately. Here are a few reasons why labeling an electrical panel is so important.

Help Organization and Ease

Having an electrical panel that is sufficiently labeled can help in the organization and ease of any tasks that you perform. Depending on your work, you might need to be working with a few specific breakers, and messing with the wrong breakers can waste your time and lead to bigger problems. Different parts of the electrical system control different rooms and areas of the house, so labeling them correctly will help you to stay organized so you work more effectively.

Provide Safety

Having an electrical panel that is clearly and specifically labeled also provides greater safety both for you as the electrician and the homeowner or renter. Messing with the wrong parts of the electrical panel can be risky and put you in harm’s way. For example, if you’re trying to replace some outlets and lightbulbs in one room of the house and you don’t turn off the right breaker, you could get badly shocked from messing with those electrical elements. If you leave every electrical panel that you work on clearly labeled, you’ll provide greater safety for anyone that has to use it in the future.

How to Label an Electrical Panel

Now that you know a few of the reasons why all electrical panels should be kept consistently and clearly labeled, it is important to learn how to label one yourself. You can securely tape or glue an electrical panel directory to the outside or inside of the door. This directory will have corresponding numbers and positions with the different breakers on the electrical panel. You should use permanent ink to label each breaker with their corresponding titles, such as Washing Machine, Stove, or Master Bedroom. This will prevent the ink from fading or becoming illegible over time. This process could require some testing as you go around the different parts of the house to see which breakers match up with which parts of the house. Make sure that you write down the numbers as you go so your electrical panel directory can be updated and accurate.

So, next time you run into an electrical panel that is mislabeled, faded, or without a directory entirely, don’t leave that problem for the next electrician to stress over. Instead, take the time to label the electrical panel with a directory, and you’ll help with organization, ease, and safety when it comes to using the electrical panel. This will solve a lot of future problems for any renter or homeowner that needs to use the panel to turn off a breaker.

Are you looking for supplies to install, fix, or label an electrical panel? Check out these products from Big Electric Supply.