[Chatbrat]

1) before we lose power leave one light on and find out which circuit controls that light

2)if the power goes out turn off every circuit breaker but the one that controls the light- the light will be your tell tale as when power returns, by turning off all your breakers it makes it easier for the utility when powering up and it also protects you sensitive electronics from damaging surges

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

1) before we lose power leave one light on and find out which circuit controls that light

2)if the power goes out turn off every circuit breaker but the one that controls the light- the light will be your tell tale as when power returns, by turning off all your breakers it makes it easier for the utility when powering up and it also protects you sensitive electronics from damaging surges

Thanks for that information, Chatbrat.

I have been getting a lot of useful information on TOTV about surviving through Irma. I use some of it after checking it from a few other sources like the news stations and elsewhere.

[retiredguy123]

I doubt that many people will follow this suggestion. But, if you do, make sure that you know how to turn a circuit breaker back on. A lot of people don't know that you need to move the switch in two directions to turn it on. You need to move it to the right (or left) and then back in the other direction to turn it on. If you are not comfortable or familiar with circuit breakers, I would recommend that you just leave them alone.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I doubt that many people will follow this suggestion. But, if you do, make sure that you know how to turn a circuit breaker back on. A lot of people don't know that you need to move the switch in two directions to turn it on. You need to move it to the right (or left) and then back in the other direction to turn it on. If you are not comfortable or familiar with circuit breakers, I would recommend that you just leave them alone.

Or know where the main breaker box is.

[Chatbrat]

OFF is to the outer edges of the panel, a breaker that has not tripped DOES NOT have to be reset, just push the breaker to the center-- a BIG NO NO, is do not touch the MAIN BREAKER, very hard to turn on, especially for people with arthritic hands

[jimbo2012]

use a piece of wood to trip any breaker if you have an issue

[tophcfa]

Or you can just unplug your sensitive devices until the power is fully restored.

[Chatbrat]

Do Not use any tool to move the handle on a breaker--I had a customer who tried to reset a main breaker with a tool and snapped the handle--he needed a new panel-because his old panel was not up to code and his panel was no longer UL approved--Federal Pacific\

Again you are not tripping a breaker by turning it off

A breaker trips from either one of the following: over load, short circuit,ground fault. and an arc fault

[jpvillager]

When you turn on a tripped breaker you should first turn it firmly to the off position then firmly to the on position. A tripped breaker sometimes will not trip all the way to the off position and when flipped to the on position will not be turned on. May be a good idea to to this twice. I am not an electrician, just a do it yourself-er.

[Chatbrat]

The most important breakers to turn off are the water heater, a/c and air handler-- they will put the biggest initial demand on the utility

[VILLAGERBB]

..Thanks for the tips!

[Dklink]

You may want to leave your refrigerator on unless it is empty.

[rubicon]

I hope some of you guys giving out advice have your union card.

[Chatbrat]

I was a contractor and I had as much as 200 union guys on some of my bigger jobs-I sold my business back in 95-when we had a winter from hell in NJ

[mixsonci]

What's an air handler? Is it separate from the AC