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If you’ve ever opened your electrical panel and stared at all those little switches and scribbled notes, wondering what they mean — you’re not alone.
We see it all the time around Fort Myers. A homeowner will point to their panel and say, “I think that one’s the kitchen… maybe?” Sometimes, the labels are half rubbed off. Sometimes, they’re written in pencil from 30 years ago. And sometimes, there’s nothing labeled at all.
The truth is, your electrical panel is basically the brain of your house. It decides how power gets to each room and protects your wiring when something goes wrong. But it can only help you if you actually know what’s what.
Let’s break this down the same way we do for customers during a home inspection or service call — no jargon, no guessing.
Your panel (or “breaker box,” as most people call it) is where the electricity from the utility company splits up into smaller circuits that feed your home.
Each circuit handles a section — your kitchen, your lights, your AC, and so on. The breakers act like safety switches. If there’s too much power flowing through one, it trips off to prevent overheating or damage.
Older homes around Fort Myers — especially anything built before the ’80s — might still have fuses instead of breakers. They work about the same way, but they’re not as safe or convenient.
When something goes wrong, your panel is where you’ll go first.
If there’s smoke from an outlet, a tripped breaker, or even storm damage, you need to know which switch controls what — and you need to find it fast.
Accurate labels also make life easier for electricians and homeowners alike. Whether you’re remodeling your kitchen, adding a new appliance, or just flipping the right breaker to hang a light fixture, clear labeling keeps you safe.
We’ve seen panels with beautiful handwriting and perfectly typed labels… and we’ve seen ones with “???” written in Sharpie. Guess which one’s safer in an emergency?
Reading your panel is step one—knowing who to call is step two. Get answers on licensing, pricing, and SWFL coverage in our Residential Services FAQ.
Here’s the simple breakdown:
1. The Main Breaker
This one’s the big switch, usually at the top. It shuts off power to your entire house. If you flip that, everything goes dark. It’s often labeled “Main,” and that’s your master control.
Your main breaker controls everything—branch circuits power rooms. Want to know amp ratings or upgrade paths? Check our Panels FAQ.
2. Individual Breakers
Under the main are all the branch circuits. They’re usually in two vertical rows. Each one controls a different part of your house.
The number printed on the switch — 15, 20, 30, 50 — tells you how many amps that circuit can handle.
15 or 20 amps = lights, outlets, small appliances
30 amps or more = big stuff like your dryer, range, or air conditioner
3. The Label Chart
Most panels have a chart inside the door. That’s where each breaker should be labeled.
Ideally, it’ll say things like:
Kitchen outlets
Master bedroom lights
Air conditioner
Water heater
But let’s be real — in a lot of Fort Myers homes, it’s more like:
“Room 1”
“Other plugs”
“??? (don’t touch)”
If that sounds familiar, it’s probably time to fix it.
Here’s what we run into almost daily:
No labels at all — blank chart, mystery panel
Wrong labels — breaker says “bedroom,” but it actually shuts off the fridge
Faded or unreadable writing
Scribbled labels in marker? That’s a red flag in Fort Myers humidity. Learn other warning signs in our Spot Unsafe Panels guide.
Vague notes — “lights” or “misc.”
Multiple rooms on one circuit — hard to isolate
All of those make it confusing — and sometimes dangerous — when something goes wrong.
You can do some of this yourself if you’re careful and patient.
Step 1: Test Each Breaker
Grab a helper and a small lamp or outlet tester. Plug it into an outlet, then flip breakers one by one to see what turns off. Write down what you find.
Step 2: Be Specific
Instead of “bedroom,” write “master bedroom – east wall” or “kitchen counter outlets.” The more detail, the better.
Step 3: Make It Neat and Permanent
Use a printed list or a label maker. Tape it to the inside of the door so it’s easy to read later.
Step 4: Get Help if It’s a Mess
If your panel looks old, confusing, or rusted, stop there. Let a licensed electrician check it out. We can map the circuits safely and verify everything’s wired correctly.
You should have an electrician take a look if:
The panel makes buzzing or crackling sounds
Breakers trip often or won’t reset
The labels don’t match what’s turning off
You still have fuses instead of breakers
You just don’t feel safe poking around
At Coharbor Electric, we do full panel mapping, labeling, and upgrades. We can test every circuit, confirm amperage, and relabel the entire panel neatly — so the next time something trips, you know exactly what you’re turning off.
Trips keep happening? Time to stop guessing. Diagnose fast and safely with our Troubleshooting Tripping Breakers steps.
Your electrical panel isn’t something you need to be afraid of, but it’s definitely something you should understand.
A clearly labeled, well-maintained panel can make all the difference when it comes to safety — especially here in Fort Myers, where storms, humidity, and salt air take a toll on everything electrical.
If you haven’t looked at your panel in a while, now’s the time.
Contact Coharbor Electric for a quick inspection or labeling service. We’ll help you make sense of what’s behind that panel door — and make sure your home’s power system is safe, reliable, and ready for anything.
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At Coharbor Electric, this is what to expect when entrusting us with fixing your electrical issues.
The first step is to get all the information we will need so that we can correctly assess the problem or situation. The photos or videos you send will be sent directly to the electrician.
Once our electrician has the info he needs, we will dispatch one in the next available spot–armed with expertise, equipment, and the parts he’ll most likely need.
Our Promise is to to You is to perform the job completely, efficiently, and to the Florida electrical code standards. We are committed to fair and honest pricing.
We offer flat rate pricing for service calls, so you always know the price up front. Simple to understand. Flat-rate fixed price so you can be confident you’ll get what paid for.
As a Florida homeowner, you have an endless list of choices for electrical contractors to hire…some great, some good, some bad.
At Coharbor Electric, our benchmark is to be “great”. If you decide to hire us for your electrical service, here’s what you can expect from our electricians: