Purchase a Circuit Tracer!!!
The time, trouble and embarassment compiled when you take out a Main Fuse, trip a GFPE protected Main, shut down an entire Panelboard, or blow sparks all over the place will cost you at least 10 times the amount of a good circuit tracer.
If a Circuit Tracer is not available at the time (can't figure why, but for the sake of discussion), then have someone plug in a Drill - like a Hole Hawg for example, and turn it on / off repeatedly.
Using a Clamp-Type Ammeter, find which Feeder the load is on (to eliminate 50% to 66% of the possible Breakers), then find the individual Branch Circuit.
Verify the find by throwing the Breaker to the "Off" position, then go to the Drill _YOURSELF_ with a _KNOWN OPERATIONAL_ Wiggy type Voltmeter to verify the outlet is indeed de-energized.
Prior to any Circuit Tracing activity, inform the Personnel of the possibility for power loss - both short time period (1-5 minutes) and long term time period (>5 minutes), so that any volitale data may be saved, and no one gets mad for data loss.
Also, double, no TRIPLE protect yourself, by applying extreme levels of LOTO, locking Panelboard doors - and rooms if possible, maybe going as far as placing "Decoys" and "Barriers" on and around the Panelboard to discourage someone from the infamous "My Calculator Doesn't Work" trick!
"Decoys" may be wires which appear to be "Live" and coming from the Panelboard - but are dead. Leave them dangling with their _Stripped and Sharpened Ends_ all around any possible place someone would put their hands to open the Panelboard.
"Barriers" may be similar to "Decoys", or may involve "Masking" the Panelboard, by hiding it with cardboard; or by placing things in the way, as to make it discouragable to the unqualified to go near it.
Included in these measures is to remove the Branch Circuit Conductor from the Breaker(s) while working on the Circuit(s), and replacing the deadfront + cover.
I wonder if trained Aligators, tied to Panelboards, would discourage the unqualified?
Scott35
