Electric Panel

A house detective discovered a problem in the main electrical panel. What's inside this panel and how can you spot trouble before it becomes a safety hazard?

This metal box is located somewhere in your house and contains the main electric panel for your home. Inside the panel are fuses or circuit breakers that are linked to circuits that supply electricity to all the areas in your home. The main breaker may also be in your electric panel. In an emergency, this breaker will turn off all of the electricity to your house.

It's important to make sure that all the breakers or fuses in the electric panel are labeled so you know which circuits they control. A blown fuse or a tripped breaker is a signal that something is wrong. And remember, circuit breakers and fuses are designed to protect your home's electrical system--not to protect you from electrical injury. Problems with an electrical panel are definitely not do-it-yourself fixes. Always call a certified electrician at the first sign of trouble.

Also in this Episode

House Detective : Episode HDT-109
•	Loose Toilet
•	Electric Panel