Do you mean the breakers in the main panel? Do you mean how they're numbered in the sequence or the number on the switch of the breakers themselves? Your question is not clear at all.

Yes, the breaker box.Hmmm.. How to say this. I was told, if I remember correctly that you are counting left to right, and that each 'switch' does not count as '1'. The double switches are counted as '1' number.... I wish I could put it into better words.

For example, if the rooms/appliances are listed this way:

1. South bathroom 5. Upstairs bath
2. South bedroom 6. upstairs bedroom
3. East living room 7. East bedroom
4. Kitchen

Do you count each breaker across, or down, 'double' breakers count as one or two?

Make sense?

You can number the panel any way you want. Numbers are pretty much meaningless on residential panels unless the circuits are numbered on the other end - which isn't common.

Convention is to number the spaces on the left as odd numbered and those on the right as even numbered. If tandem or 1/2 wide breakers are used they are labeled "A" for the top and "B" for the bottom. A double breaker such as the type used on a dryer or range would get 2 numbers but only a single function

Much more important than being numbered is the correct circuit information next to the breaker - who cares what number it is as long as you know what it does.

"Much more important than being numbered is the correct circuit information next to the breaker - who cares what number it is as long as you know what it does."

EXACTLY

There is no "reading a panel". No logic or pattern. NO numbers (for the most part).

You label each breaker (single or double) for what it serves. Simple as that.

Many panels have circuit numbers stamped in the cover. They can be hard to read unless you have good light and/or fill the stamping with a contrasting paint.

Even so, there is often confusion because they stamp the odd numbers on one side and the even on the other, and then supply a sticker for the lid that has the low numbers in one column and the high numbers in the other column. So the physical mapping of numbers is a mess. The industry and/or NEC should do something about this.

Another option is to get some small stick-on labels to put beside each breaker and use a Sharpie permanent marker to write on them.

I got some Avery-type peel-off-then-stick-on labels that are really just one huge sheet-size label. Create a template in Word consisting of table rows 3/4" high, write your labels in there, print, cut, peel, and stick.

Even more possibilities with a color printer.

Gosh darn I'm a geek.

I just write "lights" with a bunch of repeat symbols. Just Kidding

Residential job I was just on had custom engraved plastic tags identifying breakers. Maybe I'm not working in the right neighborhoods, but I've never seen that before.

"Create a template in Word consisting of table rows 3/4" high, write your labels in there, print, cut, peel, and stick. "

Or just create a table in Word and type in the description, print out the sheet and tape it to the inside of the panel door. (or outside, or next to it, or wherever)

Same thing, heimert, I just like having the entire back surface of the label adhered - with tape, the edges are stuck and there's a big loose area in the middle. Easier to tear off as one little nick in it will quickly grow to a huge hole.

The 3/4" rows make it so that the descriptions will usually line up with the breakers (QO anyway) if you put the sticker directly next to them.

OK- so it doesn't matter which way you count- hmmm- the person that told me it was wrong was a repairman :((

No wonder we can't trust anybody!

Thanks

Residential job I was just on had custom engraved plastic tags identifying breakers.

Dunno if we're talking about the same kind of tags, but years ago (mid-70s through early 80s?) I used to use a tool that'd produce a plastic stick-on strip with raised letters and numbers. It took a while to make the labels by dialing a letter at a time, but it worked pretty well, actually.

The tool was mostly plastic and it eventually gave up the ghost. I never replaced it.

"...tool that'd produce a plastic stick-on strip with raised letters and numbers..."

Dymo label maker.

There are any number of 'office label makers' available now.
They have a small qwerty keyboard and a display.
Various width labels tape cartridges are available, and lettering can be oriented along the length of the tap or perpendicular.

I use one when needed, but mostly for labeling panel boards in commercial work.

Thanks, Brick'!

The next time I'm in an office supply store, I oughta check out the new generation of label makers and consider updating/upgrading.

In addition to labeling electrical panels, they're handy around the workshop and those plastic labels stand up a lot better than paper stick-ons around wet or oily conditions.

I only wish they were more effective in getting my son to put stuff back where it belongs.

Brother P-touch is the one that gets used the most.
About $50 on sale.
The cartridges are a little pricey, but make a plastic film label that is easy to apply and sticks well.

ilmbg-
Maybe all the repairman meant was that the breaker labels did not correspond with what they were actually connected to. This is very common: breakers get moved, rewiring gets done, and labels don't always get changed to reflect that. Solution? You can go around the house with a lamp; turn it on and plug it into various receptacles; throw breakers to see which ones turn off what; then relabel your breakers accordingly.

kudzu9- yes, this is what he meant, I'm sure. I can't figure out why someone would change electrical equipment, and not update the panel, though.
Guess it shows not to depend on the labels- something might still be hot after you trip a breaker that is supposed to go to something, and you find out it doesn't.
I like everything

plainly (readable writing) labeled
easy to understand

Still one question though- when counting the 'double breakers'- are each one counted as 1/2, or 1?

New breaker panels come with label strips that go down both sides of the panel next to the breakers. Using cell phones, one of us labels the breakers switching breakers on and off while the other tells what the breakers cover. You can follow the same procedure once you have determined how you want to label the breakers.

I always label them as 2, (or even 3 for 3 phase panels).

draw a bracket showing that both numbers are a single breaker and label.

The numbers are intended to match the slots in the panel.

The AHJ is supposed to check that the panel marking has been updated when work is done, but few seem to bother.

Hey texas how do you continue to do that talkin on them there cell phones without em goin dead when you get that cell phone breaker?

I am just kidding.. that is a pretty good plan for when I re-label all of mine with the p-touch or dymo new style labels because the builder was such a moron that he went down the list and guessed because I called him on it. I later realized looking at the breaker box I have one bathroom I still for the life of me haven't found yet according to my panel. I learned my lesson.. before you close make SURE everything discussed earlier was done and done right.

I started looking at doing some rewiring, and besides turning things on and off, the only way for me to find out what they controlled was to start tracking the wires from the main panel. Fortunately, they run through the crawl space so it's relatively easy to do that. I'm starting to find that my electrical system has an interesting history.

If my circuits had truthful labels, some of them would be:

1. Random outlet inside old fuse box
2. Random outlet on back deck wired with NM (no conduit)
3. Dedicated garbage disposal circuit (because an inspector's going to look at it)
4. Dedicated circuit for tankless (gas) water heater, later stolen (by same installer) for new gas furnace because there are no more free breakers and it's hard to get this kind of breaker anywhere and the water heater will just have to find someone else to share with...
5. Magic circuit that shuts off half the house because it hooks up to all the old knob and tube

It was common in the old days to run circuits through a house in such a way as to minimize the amount of cable used. The result was mixed-use circuits that defy description. You might have receptacles and lights from four or more rooms on a single circuit, and a single room might be fed from two or three circuits.

Shortly after moving into my house, I mapped out every circuit using an inexpensive tool (Sperry Circuit Breaker Finder). As a previous poster says, two people with cell phones can do the same thing. I typed up the result and printed it out (one letter-sized sheet front and back) and tacked it to the front of the panel. For each circuit, I list the location of each receptacle, fixture, or appliance. Now, if I need to kill power to a switch or something, I don't have to play the, "Is it off yet?" game with my wife. I don't know if this sheet satisfies the NEC requirement for labeling a panel, but it sure beats a bunch of sticky labels marked "mixed lights/receps".

Here is a link that might be useful: Sperry Circuit Breaker Finder

So in the interest of clarity and safety, why in my 3 year old house did the electrician write "lights and plugs" about 14 times? Thanks buddy. Really helps.....:( So now I only have to flip 14 breakers not 40 to figure out which one I need.

Does any electrician ever label in useful detail, or is everything just cheaper/cheaper/faster/faster?

Most all Electrical Panels are numbered with odd #'s on the lefthand side & even #'s on the right hand side. I think it is important to keep them that way, especially on the Directory,as to not get things confused. The single breakers are numbered as one, and a double breaker as two, as it takes up two slots. For example, if there is a double breaker on the top left side, it will be on #'s one & Three. Say it's a pump, you mark pump in both 1 & 3 in the directory or/ and on the labels next to the breaker. If a breaker isn't being used make sure to write "spare" on the label. If you don;t know what is what, & want to mark it correctly, make up a blank Directory, & use some walkie talkies with your wife or buddy & wring them out, shutting each breaker off & checking where they go. Hope this Helps.....

Most all Electrical Panels are numbered with odd #'s on the lefthand side & even #'s on the right hand side. I think it is important to keep them that way, especially on the Directory,as to not get things confused. The single breakers are numbered as one, and a double breaker as two, as it takes up two slots. For example, if there is a double breaker on the top left side, it will be on #'s one & Three. Say it's a pump, you mark pump in both 1 & 3 in the directory or/ and on the labels next to the breaker. If a breaker isn't being used make sure to write "spare" on the label. If you don;t know what is what, & want to mark it correctly, make up a blank Directory, & use some walkie talkies with your wife or buddy & wring them out, shutting each breaker off & checking where they go. Hope this Helps.....

If you have an old house with a mess of circuits invest in a circuit tracer.

It has a sender that plugs in and powers up from the 120 V and puts a kHz electrical signal on the circuit.
You can then go to the panel and sweep the receiver over the breakers till you find the correct on.

Map all the receptacles, then get a screw in adapter for any lights and locate their breakers.

It is a real PITA the first time, but if you draw a simple floor plan and spend some time you can figure out what is on each circuit.

If you turn the correct circuit off you will not get any tone from the receiver.
Turn it on to check again, then go move the sender to the next outlet.

Geez- fast and sloppy- The American Way
Glad to hear I am not the only one- doesn't anybody have pride in their work- precise, legible ??
I see some of you are-....

{{!gwi}}