How to keep a breaker on

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tom baker

tom baker

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Here is a picture where someone tried to keep a breaker from tripping, but due to the breaker design, this won't work.
 

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Locking breakers in the ON position is required by some sections of the NEC although I don't think that this is how they intended for it to be done. :)
 
infinity said:
Locking breakers in the ON position is required by some sections of the NEC although I don't think that this is how they intended for it to be done. :)
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A perhaps unintended consequence of locking a breaker in the on position is that it cannot be reset after a trip without the key or tool required to unlock it.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
 
GE THQB breaker lock on most other companies are the same design. Yes I know it is being used backwards in the photo. :)

thl103.jpg



Square D QO breaker breaker lock on


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iwire said:
You have just won the kwired award for stating the obvious. :D
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Thank you, I will be sending the award, along with a plaque and medal out soon.

I believe it says right in the Square D catalog that the model you posted a picture of is for locking a breaker in on or off position.

Picture in OP has been spreading around on Facebook, I first saw it there.
 
kwired said:
Thank you, I will be sending the award, along with a plaque and medal out soon.
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:cool:



I believe it says right in the Square D catalog that the model you posted a picture of is for locking a breaker in on or off position.
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Yes it does, but that model will not meet the NEC or OSHA for locking things off so I do not really see the usefulness of it.:?

It is barely useful as a lock on. Its more like a visual hint that the breaker should not be shut off.
 
iwire said:
:cool:





Yes it does, but that model will not meet the NEC or OSHA for locking things off so I do not really see the usefulness of it.:?

It is barely useful as a lock on. Its more like a visual hint that the breaker should not be shut off.
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I agree with your first sentence. Usefulness for lock off is very limited if you factor in NEC or OSHA lock off requirements.

Only somewhat agree with the rest, it is a visual hint I guess, but also is a mechanical inhibit - you are not turning that breaker off without damaging something or removing the locking device, but overload, short circuits, ground faults will still trip the breaker, you will need to remove the lock device to reset the breaker.

They come in handy in panels that breakers are also used as lighting switches, or any other place where people seem to frequently be in the panel to prevent accidental turn off of selected circuits you want to make harder to turn off.
 
kwired said:
Only somewhat agree with the rest, it is a visual hint I guess, but also is a mechanical inhibit - you are not turning that breaker off without damaging something or removing the locking device, but overload, short circuits, ground faults will still trip the breaker, you will need to remove the lock device to reset the breaker.

They come in handy in panels that breakers are also used as lighting switches, or any other place where people seem to frequently be in the panel to prevent accidental turn off of selected circuits you want to make harder to turn off.
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:slaphead::slaphead::D




The reason I question the usefulness of the stamped spring steel design is that they fall right off.
 
iwire said:
:slaphead::slaphead::D




The reason I question the usefulness of the stamped spring steel design is that they fall right off.
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I suppose the GE model will, I never been around one.

The QO model has a set screw and does not come off very easily without loosening that screw, I have seen many of those.
 
kwired said:
I suppose the GE model will, I never been around one.

The QO model has a set screw and does not come off very easily without loosening that screw, I have seen many of those.
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We use them all the time to lock the CB feeding the fire alarm panel.
 
I saw that on FB a day or two ago. I'll say here what I wrote there:

Looks like a fisherman installed that. No EC here would have gone thru the trouble, not when they have electrical tape on them.

Welcome to VA.
 
I don't know how to keep a breaker on, but I do know how to trip one,,,,, you stick your foot out in front of it while it's walking by,,,,,, :p


JAP>
 
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