Mark Bibby Electric

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𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐒Every electrical panel is required to have clear and legible labeling, which many do not. But for the panels...
05/17/2026

𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐋 𝐋𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐒

Every electrical panel is required to have clear and legible labeling, which many do not. But for the panels that do have clear labeling, the corresponding circuit number must also be clear and easy to find.

Some brands of electrical panels come with stick-on number strips to idenitify each breaker. But most manufacturers are now just stamping the numbers into the panel cover and painting over them with the same color paint as the cover.

These stamped numbers do not stand out very well and are difficult for most people to see. A simple remedy for this is to trace the imprint of the number with a black fine tip permanent marker. Amazingly a lot of people comment on how much they like this. Sometimes it is the simple things that impress people the most!

I print all my panel labels out on the computer so that they are legible, and laminate them as well.

If you can't read your electrical panel label or corresponding circuit numbers, and are not into labeling it yourself. Then 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 πŒπ€π‘πŠ 𝐁𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐓 πŸπŸ“πŸŽ-πŸ’πŸπŸ–-πŸ’πŸ”πŸ’πŸ–

πˆπ’ 𝐌𝐘 ππ‘π„π€πŠπ„π‘ 𝐎𝐍.......πŽπ‘ πŽπ…π…?The answer to this question may seem quite straight forward for many people, but for other...
05/15/2026

πˆπ’ 𝐌𝐘 ππ‘π„π€πŠπ„π‘ 𝐎𝐍.......πŽπ‘ πŽπ…π…?

The answer to this question may seem quite straight forward for many people, but for others it is not. Especially for those with poor vision, or in low lighting conditions.

For many years now I have printed ON / OFF labels for every electrical panel I install, and some that I didn't install, in order to prevent a service call to turn breakers back on.

What usually happens is a breaker trips in a home owners panel, and because the breaker has only tripped internally the handle of it does not shift, or only partially shifts, but not enough to be noticeable to most people. Then because the panel label is illegable or non-existant, the home owner will turn every breaker in the panel on and off in an attempt to restore power to the circuit. But even though it is stamped on every breaker which direction to flip the handle, it is not always clear, especially if your vision is weak or the room lighting is not great. Because they don't usually turn the breakers on and off one at a time, but instead a whole row of breakers at a time, they then forget which direction the breaker handles were originally facing.

I then recieve a call to troubleshoot why multiple circuits in the home are now not functioning, and I will always go over the situation on the phone first to try and avoid charging a call-out fee. Even though the home owner will swear that all the breakers have been turned back on, I will arrive to find 9 out of 10 times that the breaker handles on each side of the panel have all been flipped in the same direction. Depending on the brand of panel the breaker handles on each side are always flipped in the opposite direction to each other, but never in the same direction, as in all to the left, or all to the right.

Or sometimes the main breaker has been accidentally turned off. But I usually label that as well.

This scenario is far more common than one would think. So if this should happen to you, and you 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 πŒπ€π‘πŠ 𝐁𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐓 πŸπŸ“πŸŽ-πŸ’πŸπŸ–-πŸ’πŸ”πŸ’πŸ– to solve the problem, then I will print ON / OFF labels for you while I am there.

π„π‹π„π‚π“π‘πˆπ‚π€π‹ 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐏A customer of mine purchased a house with a messy electrical panel and some unclear labelling. ...
05/15/2026

π„π‹π„π‚π“π‘πˆπ‚π€π‹ 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐏

A customer of mine purchased a house with a messy electrical panel and some unclear labelling. He asked if I could do anything to clean it up for him. So I did the best I could with what I had to work with. I think it improved it a lot, and it was also an opportunity to

- Replace any weak or overheated breakers
- Repair any melted insulation on wires
- Tighten any loose screws
- Check for any overheating or damage to the panel busbar

Yes, this is a Federal Pioneer panel (FPE), and many electricians will tell you that it should just be replaced due to safety concerns, which is true. But the customer did not have the funds to replace it at the time. So even though replacing the panel would have been ideal, the fact is that there are still millions of them in homes across Canada that have not yet caused any problems.

But if you do have a Federal Pioneer panel (FPE) in your house and are concerned, then at least be proactive and make sure that your smoke detectors are working properly and are not past the expiry date. (See my post on smoke detectors on this page)

If you need your electrical panel cleaned up and labelled properly,
𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 πŒπ€π‘πŠ 𝐁𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐓 πŸπŸ“πŸŽ-πŸ’πŸπŸ–-πŸ’πŸ”πŸ’πŸ–

π„π‹π„π‚π“π‘πˆπ‚π€π‹ 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇 π–π€π‘ππˆππ† 𝐓𝐀𝐏𝐄I always use a minimum of 3 runs of 6 inch wide electrical line warning tape in a standard...
05/15/2026

π„π‹π„π‚π“π‘πˆπ‚π€π‹ 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇 π–π€π‘ππˆππ† 𝐓𝐀𝐏𝐄

I always use a minimum of 3 runs of 6 inch wide electrical line warning tape in a standard 2 foot wide trench, even if there is only one conductor or conduit buried in the trench. I see so many trenches that are filled in with just a single run of warning tape. An excavator digging in the area in the future is probably not going to dig straight down with their bucket and could completely miss the warning tape. They may miss the tape anyway, but at least this gives them a better chance.

Warning tape is inexpensive, but underground electrical repairs are not. Also, nobody wants to be electrocuted.

Note that these are older photos as Fortis BC now requires red warning tape to be used. But yellow tape can still be used on anything that is not a Fortis BC underground line.

If you need any underground electrical lines installed, 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 πŒπ€π‘πŠ 𝐁𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐓 πŸπŸ“πŸŽ-πŸ’πŸπŸ–-πŸ’πŸ”πŸ’πŸ–.

𝐀𝐑𝐄 π˜πŽπ”π‘ π’πŒπŽπŠπ„ πƒπ„π‚π“π„π‚π“πŽπ‘π’ πŒπŽπ‘π„ 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝟏𝟎 π˜π„π€π‘π’ πŽπ‹πƒ ?Smoke detectors expire after 10 years due to a variety of factors that...
05/15/2026

𝐀𝐑𝐄 π˜πŽπ”π‘ π’πŒπŽπŠπ„ πƒπ„π‚π“π„π‚π“πŽπ‘π’ πŒπŽπ‘π„ 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝟏𝟎 π˜π„π€π‘π’ πŽπ‹πƒ ?

Smoke detectors expire after 10 years due to a variety of factors that degrade the sensing chambers over time. They may still function after this point but should not be relied on for safety, and could possibly void your home insurance, especially if there is a fire and an investigation follows.

There is a "Replace By Date" located on the side of most detectors manufactured within the last ten years. Older detectors usually have the replacement date, or a manufactured date, located on the back. If it is on the back then it is most likely already past the expiry date.

The detectors that I install have a 10 year battery life, and use photo electric sensors instead of ionization sensors. They cost slightly more, but have the following benefits.

- No batteries to replace as the unit expires at the same time the 10 year battery does.

- No annoying low battery chirp every couple of years, that usually starts in the middle of the night.

- No forgetting to replace your detector every 10 years since these detectors have an end of life notifier built in.

- Photo electric sensing, instead of ionization, which is more reliable, with less false alarms.

If your home was built after 1979 it should have hardwired / battery back up smoke detectors that are interconnected with each other. If you have an attached garage, woodstove, or any natural gas or propane appliance (furnace, fireplace, stove, dryer, or hot water tank) then one of the detectors on each floor is required to be a smoke / carbon monoxide combination detectors.

If you need your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors replacing, 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 πŒπ€π‘πŠ 𝐁𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐘 π„π‹π„π‚π“π‘πˆπ‚ 𝐀𝐓 πŸπŸ“πŸŽ-πŸ’πŸπŸ–-πŸ’πŸ”πŸ’πŸ–

πŒπŽπ“πˆπŽπ π‹πˆπ†π‡π“ 𝐔𝐏𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄If you have a motion floodlight that needs replacing, I have been installing this new LED version (t...
04/17/2026

πŒπŽπ“πˆπŽπ π‹πˆπ†π‡π“ 𝐔𝐏𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄

If you have a motion floodlight that needs replacing, I have been installing this new LED version (top photo) for the past couple of years. It is so much easier to install and set up than the old style ones (bottom photo). It also has some additional features which makes it simple for anyone to set and adjust.

ππ‘πŽπ’

Easily accessable and readable control settings on the front of the fixture

Colour selectable twin head lights (3000k, 4000k, or 5000K)

Twin head lights can be set to 2200 lumens or 3300 lumens

Dusk to dawn accent light for added security (can be set to off)

180 degree wide motion senseing up to 45 feet away (adjustable) at a 8' to 10' mounting height

Fixture comes in two colours (white or black)

Heads can easily be aimed directionally by anyone without the use of pliers and lock ring pliers (like the one in the lower photo needed)

Built and designed to last many years (should easily outlast the old style ones)

Much faster to install and set up

Compact size

Energy efficient LED

π‚πŽππ’

The dials can be hard to turn if you have big fingers, but a pair of needle nose pliers solves that problem.

If the accent light is not needed then there is only the option for the twin heads to turn on with motion at the highest setting of 3300 lumens, instead of 2200 lumens. Not a big deal though.

Wall mount only, not for soffit mounting

Costs more (but I think it is definitely worth it)

If you are in need of a new motion light, 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 πŒπ€π‘πŠ 𝐁𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐓 πŸπŸ“πŸŽ-πŸ’πŸπŸ–-πŸ’πŸ”πŸ’πŸ–.

Here are some examples of my work from various projects I have done since starting my electrical business in Creston in ...
04/15/2026

Here are some examples of my work from various projects I have done since starting my electrical business in Creston in 2012. If you like what you see and you have a project you are thinking of doing, 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 πŒπ€π‘πŠ 𝐁𝐈𝐁𝐁𝐘 𝐀𝐓 πŸπŸ“πŸŽ-πŸ’πŸπŸ–-πŸ’πŸ”πŸ’πŸ–.

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