It’s usually a dedicated circuit breaker in an Electrical Power Distribution Panel or Motor Control Center. Wire Cutters, Strippers, Connectors, Electrical Tape to repair wiringįind the dedicated power source feeding the control panel before you start doing anything.Screwdrivers to loosen and tighten wire terminal connections.An Electrical multi-meter to test for Voltage and Resistance.If you’re new you’ll need to start accumulating tools. At a minimum you’ll need TOOLS – Experienced troubleshooters accumulate tools. If you can’t find the documentation call the manufacturer to get a copy. Electrical schematic drawings are helpful. Control panels generally include installation and operating instructions. 2 ĭOCUMENTATION – Find the documentation that was originally included with the control panel as shipped. Investigate the simplest potential problem first, next simplest, repeat.

If there’s no one to help you, keep going. See if they know when the problem started like after someone did something, or after something happened. If you get real lucky, you find someone who knows the panel and how it works. If you get lucky, you’ll find someone who’s seen the problem before. See if they know how to fix it, how it was fixed last, or who fixed it last.

You’re looking for anyone who knows how the control panel is supposed to work.

Sometimes you get lucky. Talk with anyone who knows anything about the control panel or the equipment it’s controlling.

Ask for helpīefore you start doing anything see if someone can help you.

This sounds wrong because when you’re troubleshooting a control panel you’re usually in a production environment and need to fix the problem quickly. Control panel troubleshooting can be done efficiently if you take your time.

Industrial electrical troubleshooting