If you're trying to turn off the electricity to an outlet, it's crucial to flip the right breaker switch on your circuit panel. Not picking the right one could result in some serious consequences. If you have nobody to help you figure out which outlet is attached to which circuit breaker switch, plug in something that makes noise (loud enough that you can hear the noise from wherever your breaker panel is). Turn the object on -- I recommend a loud fan, radio, iPod speakers, etc. -- and then start flipping switches on the breaker. Eventually, you will find out which breaker switch operates the outlet in question by turning the noise on and off.
