--- title: "Electrical panel inspection checklist: free printable template" description: "A free monthly electrical panel checklist to print or use on a phone: condition and indicators, signs of overheating, the earth-leakage breaker test, and notes." url: "https://mintcheck.today/en/templates/electrical-panel-inspection-checklist/" language: "en" updated: "2026-11-05" --- # Electrical panel inspection checklist This is a monthly check of one electrical panel from the outside: does it look normal, are there signs of overheating, and does the earth-leakage breaker trip when tested? Print the checklist below, or use the same template on a phone in MintCheck. ## Electrical panel check (Monthly) Condition, heat and breakers | Item | Result | | --- | --- | | Condition & indicators | ☐ | | Heat / overheating signs | ☐ Normal ☐ Slight heat ☐ Overheating suspected | | Earth-leakage breaker trips | ☐ | | Notes | | | Overall result | ☐ Normal ☐ Abnormal | ## How to do each check Do everything here with the covers on. Work inside a panel is for qualified electricians. ### Condition and indicators The door closes properly, nothing is stored in front of the panel, and there is no damage, damp or heavy dust. Indicator lights and meters show what they normally show. ### Heat and overheating signs Look, listen and smell. - **Normal:** there is no unusual warmth, smell or sound. - **Slight heat:** the outside of the panel feels warmer than usual, with no smell or marks. - **Overheating suspected:** there is a burning smell, scorch marks, discoloration, or a buzzing or crackling sound. ### Earth-leakage breaker An earth-leakage breaker is also called an RCD or a GFCI breaker. Press its test button. It should trip at once, and you can then switch it back on. The test cuts power to everything on that circuit. Do it only if you have been shown how, and agree a time and warn people first, especially if the circuit feeds equipment that shouldn't lose power. ### Notes Write down anything else, such as a breaker that trips by itself, a missing circuit label, or the panel number. ## How often to check This template is set to monthly. Advice on how often to press the test button differs by country and maker, from monthly to every six months. If yours gives a longer interval, move that item to a separate checklist with its own schedule. How often an electrician must inspect a panel also depends on the rules that apply to you, so check them. Inspection and work inside a panel are for qualified electricians. ## If something is wrong 1. Mark it on the checklist and describe the problem. A photo taken from outside the panel helps. 2. If you smell burning, see smoke or hear crackling, keep people away and call an electrician or the emergency services. Don't open the panel. 3. If a breaker doesn't trip when tested, tell the person responsible and call an electrician. Don't keep resetting a breaker that trips by itself. 4. Check it again after the fix and record the result. ## Use this checklist in MintCheck 1. In **Checklists**, click **Add checklist** and pick the electrical panel template. Its items and monthly schedule are filled in, and you can change them before you save. 2. In **Assets**, click **Add asset**, pick the electrical panel template and link the checklist. One checklist can serve every panel in the building. 3. Click **Print QR** and put a label next to each panel, where you can scan it with the door closed. 4. Workers scan the label, answer the items and mark the result **Normal** or **Abnormal**. They can attach photos. An **Abnormal** result stays **Unresolved** until a re-inspection confirms the fix, and the site dashboard shows completed inspections against the planned number. A building can have many panels that look alike, so give each one its own details. Add the **Model** and **Serial number**, and use **Custom attributes** for things such as the electrical contractor's phone number. Workers see these on the **Asset info** screen, and each panel's page keeps its own **Inspection history**. ![The asset detail page with asset info, QR codes, custom attributes, and floor plans.](https://cdn.mintcheck.today/manual/v5/en/asset-detail.webp) MintCheck is free for up to 5 assets with no credit card, so you can try this with a few panels. ## Common questions ### How often should an electrical panel be inspected? This template uses a monthly check by site staff as a starting point. How often an electrician must inspect it depends on your country and the type of building, so check the rules that apply to you. ### What are the signs of an overheating electrical panel? Common signs are a burning smell, scorch marks, discoloration, unusual warmth, and a buzzing or crackling sound. Treat them as urgent and call an electrician. ### How do I test an earth-leakage breaker? Press its test button. It should trip at once and cut power to that circuit, and you can then switch it back on. Warn people first, and call an electrician if it doesn't trip. ### Do I need an electrician for this check? Someone on site can usually do it from the outside once they have been shown how. Anything inside the panel is for a qualified electrician, and your local rules may say who can do what. ### Does this checklist replace a legal electrical inspection? No. It is a routine check and a starting point, not a statement of compliance. Inspection by a qualified electrician is separate. ## Related features - [Checklists](https://mintcheck.today/en/features/checklists/): Build inspection checklists from ready-made templates, with check, multiple choice, text and photo items, and schedule them daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. - [QR inspections](https://mintcheck.today/en/features/qr-inspections/): Put a QR code on each asset. Workers scan it with the MintCheck app to run the checklist due today, with the time, name and photos saved automatically. ## Step-by-step help - [Checklists](https://mintcheck.today/en/help/checklists/): Create checklists from templates, add items, set schedules, link them to assets, and manage them. - [Assets](https://mintcheck.today/en/help/assets/): Add assets from templates, link checklists, review each asset's history, and manage plan limits. - [QR codes](https://mintcheck.today/en/help/qr-codes/): Learn each kind of QR code, then download, print, and put up labels for your assets.