Electricity moves in one direction. Starting from the source, it travels along a wire toward the device, then returns to the source via a second wire. The path that electricity completes is called a circuit. There are many crucial things you should learn about the circuits in your home.
There are many connections along a circuit that can fail or be disrupted. As such, before an electrical system is installed, an electrician first creates a floor plan that identifies all the wires, breakers, lights, and receptacles throughout the house. This floor plan is called a wire map
If you don’t have a wire map of your home, then it’s time you created one. A basic form of wire mapping that a homeowner can do is to identify which circuit breaker powers which part of the home, and labeling it.
Mapping your circuits is something you should do during the day for better visibility since wire mapping involves turning off the power at certain points. One thing you must remember when looking at circuit breakers: major appliances such as heaters, microwaves, and air conditioners often have dedicated circuits, and receptacles usually have separate circuits from lighting.
To speed up the wire mapping process, you may want to involve the aid of a family member. His job will be to turn breakers on and off until you find the one that turns on the circuit you’re looking at. In fact, it is always advisable to seek someone’s assistance when doing installation or repair work that involves electricity to ensure safety.
Mapping makes it easier to identify circuits that are problematic. It can also help make electrical repairs easier. If you need to have an extensive wire mapping done along with a few repairs and upgrades to your electrical system, you may want to obtain the services of a certified and licensed electrician.
Source:
How to Map Electrical Circuits in a Building, inspectapedia.com