Device tampering - Not kosher?

[cosmos]

When I saw a customer drilling a hole in a disconnect switch, so that he could lock the handle "on", I said that he was violating the switch's UL listing. Considering that this is an existing('01) installation, what Code article can I reference, and what recourse do I have?

 

[DaveTap]

I'm not sure what UL would say about it but the NEC never says anything about locking something on... just that the service disconnect must be capable of being locked in the off position.

It is becoming more common to have meter/main combos...nice safety feature but a little annoying when the neighborhood vandals can go down the street shutting off power to all the houses in the dead of winter.

 

[roger]

The reality is that a disconnect switch is not an "Emergency Off Switch"

A service person (or anyone) that needs access to the inside of the disconnect can take the time to locate the Lord of the Key.

If an EPO was needed it would be a seperate issue.

Some disconnects have options for lock mechanisms that require drilling into the enclosure for the installation.

Roger

 

[cosmos]

Dave, I have no problem with locking the switch on; it's the drilling that's worried me.

 

[jim dungar]

How do you know it is a problem?

From Square D:

On Series F devices, the lockplate on the side of the switch next to the handle has a very small indentation (a center punch) towards the top of the lockplate, which may be drilled out to accommodate a padlock. Note that drilling a hole in the steel of our painted devices will expose unpainted steel, which should be touched up with paint.

 

[cosmos]

Thanks guys! I'm glad to hear that unauthorized drilling is kosher; I guess we'll have to leave it to "a heigher authority" if we're wrong.

 

[George Stolz]

It is becoming more common to have meter/main combos...nice safety feature but a little annoying when the neighborhood vandals can go down the street shutting off power to all the houses in the dead of winter.

I have to ask: How many people have had problems with hoodlums shutting off mains? People seem to gripe about it all the time, but I've never encountered it myself.

 

[jim dungar]

Thanks guys! I'm glad to hear that unauthorized drilling is kosher; I guess we'll have to leave it to "a heigher authority" if we're wrong.

I am sorry that none of us could give the answer you wanted, but why the attitude? Who said unauthorized drilling was allowed? I quoted specific permission from a single manufacturer, others gave reasons why it might be desired.

Why do you see drilling as a problem?

 

[iwire]

I have to ask: How many people have had problems with hoodlums shutting off mains? People seem to gripe about it all the time, but I've never encountered it myself.

It is a real problem for our commercial customers with outside disconnects.

The customer placing locks on them is pretty much a standard.

This applies to equipment disconnects as well as service disconnects.

 

[tallgirl]

I am sorry that none of us could give the answer you wanted, but why the attitude? Who said unauthorized drilling was allowed? I quoted specific permission from a single manufacturer, others gave reasons why it might be desired.

Why do you see drilling as a problem?

I don't think he has an attitude. The slogan for Hebrew National hotdogs is "We answer to a higher authority". He seems to be playing on "kosher" a bit much.

(Personally, if someone says "kosher", the first book I'm going to grab is not the NEC. I'm going to walk out into the kitchen where I keep all my books on keeping kosher )

 

[George Stolz]

Jim, did you notice the smiley in Cosmo's subject line on that post?

Bob, thanks.

 

[Rockyd]

George,

I think things must be different out east. I've never had any service equipment "tampered with" by hoodlums. Then again, maybe we are just better shots out here in the west!

 

[jim dungar]

I don't think he has an attitude. The slogan for Hebrew National hotdogs is "We answer to a higher authority". He seems to be playing on "kosher" a bit much.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

 

[tony_psuee]

hooligans=college students+alcohol

hooligans=college students+alcohol

It seems to be standard practice at some colleges and universities to padlock all outdoor disconnects in the On position. Plus, place locking covers over push buttons, pilot lights, and selectors switches.

P.S.
Rockyd,
I don't think we are any worse shots in the east, only have more people who believe you can break the law, get hurt doing so, and then sue for pain and suffering.


Tony

 

[Rockyd]

I forgot to add sarcasm tags on my post.

Seriously though-

I did some work on one place with the Electrical service having to open to operate the main, and it has an alarm on it! This maybe something others may want to sell in doing rough in installations. Might even want o put he service on it's own zone, as it would be apparent to the alarm monitoring company as to what they are responding to.