GFCI for "Anti-Restart" on machine tool

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Mike Furlan

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Is it allowed by code to use a GFCI in the power cord of a machine tool as an "anti-restart" device?

The intention is to prevent the device from restarting after power is restored after an outage.
 
Marc,
The older portable GFCIs did that. It was part of the open neutral protection. You had to reset them every time you plugged them in or lost power. They have changed the design of the open neutral protection on the newer ones and they do not require resetting after they lose power.
 
You could make a simple device with a relay and a pushbutton, making a simple latching circuit. Need a diagram?
 
This is the ultimate one place I would stick with the tried and true standard manual restart setup. Especially if this machine is capable of cutting somebody up or some other sort of mangle dangle. Why cut costs on something that might end up in a clear cut negligence case?
 
macmikeman said:
This is the ultimate one place I would stick with the tried and true standard manual restart setup. Especially if this machine is capable of cutting somebody up or some other sort of mangle dangle. Why cut costs on something that might end up in a clear cut negligence case?
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Well said and the cost can still be fairly low to set up a standard 3 wire stop start circuit.
 
LarryFine said:
You could make a simple device with a relay and a pushbutton, making a simple latching circuit. Need a diagram?
Click to expand...

No but thanks!

I'm just trying to explain to somebody why he can't do this.

I'm hoping for a better reasoned arguement than me just telling him he can't.
 
macmikeman said:
This is the ultimate one place I would stick with the tried and true standard manual restart setup. Especially if this machine is capable of cutting somebody up or some other sort of mangle dangle. Why cut costs on something that might end up in a clear cut negligence case?
Click to expand...

Agreed.

A possible scenario is:

Power goes out, machine stops.

Powere comes on, operator 1 resets the GFCI while operator 2 is in harms way at the cutting end of the machine tool.

What I am hoping for it that somebody has already published a clear prohibition against using a manual resetable GFCI as an "anti-restart" device.
 
The type of protection that you are looking for is not required by the NEC so the NEC will not tell you that one device or another is suitable for protection that is not NEC required.
One place in which I worked was required to do this (I believe by OSHA) and the portable GFCI devices were accepted for any device that plugged in. It actually worked well. Power goes off - machine stops. Power comes on - machine does not start until GFCI is reset.
Find out who is requiring the protection and what THEY will accept as meeting the requirement.
 
Mike,
I don't see the use of the GFCI reset as being any different than any other reset button that would be used to restore power after an outage.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
Mike,
I don't see the use of the GFCI reset as being any different than any other reset button that would be used to restore power after an outage.
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Some reset devices require that the on/off switch for the tool be turned off before they can be reset.
 
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