A homeowner's critique forced me to redo my panel labeling system

Last month in San Diego a client pointed out that my zone labels were written in pencil and could smudge off. I switched to a label maker with thermal transfer tape and it took me maybe 20 minutes to redo the whole panel. Has anyone else had a customer call them out on something that seemed minor but actually mattered?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_claire1d ago

My old boss had this thing about labeling breaker panels too. He'd always use a fine-tip Sharpie on the metal plate, said it was the only way that lasted.

grantw4110h ago

Did he ever have issues with the Sharpie fading over time from heat or sun exposure?

kimw579h agoRising Star

I've read where some folks who do electrical work prefer using a paint marker or a label maker for breaker panels instead of a Sharpie. The issue with Sharpies is they can fade if the panel gets a lot of direct sunlight or heat from nearby equipment. A friend of mine who's an electrician told me he's had good luck using a fine-tip permanent marker, but he always puts a strip of clear packing tape over his writing to keep it from rubbing off.