I hate these switches

[Tainted]

Does anybody know how to properly open these Siemens Vacu-Break type switches without cutting off the power? I know it's possible because I've seen it done before.

I think we have to stick a screw driver below the lever, we tried it however the electrician and I were having trouble with this so we gave up and said we would worry about it later...

I am now coming back to the building to do the survey for a design... I need to access the compartment to see the fuse type and size...

 

[infinity]

You insert a screwdriver in the slot above the two rivets on the bottom left.

 

[Tainted]

You insert a screwdriver in the slot above the two rivets on the bottom left.

We tried that but failed, maybe we didn't do it the right way? Maybe we didn't put enough muscle to it

 

[infinity]

You have to insert a thin blade in on an angle and then try using a prying action to move the internal interlock tab against the spring. While doing so you can jiggle the handle and pull. You'll also need to depress the door lock on the upper left.

 

[Tainted]

You have to insert a thin blade in on an angle and then try using a prying action to move the internal interlock tab against the spring. While doing so you can jiggle the handle and pull. You'll also need to depress the door lock on the upper left.

I'll try again on Tuesday I think my screw driver was too thick that it may not have went all the way through

 

[infinity]

I'll try again on Tuesday I think my screw driver was too thick that it may not have went all the way through

It's possible. It needs to push the interior tab in pretty far to release,

 

[mtnelect]

Shouldn't you be wearing arc fault protection ?

 

[MyCleveland]

I'll try again on Tuesday I think my screw driver was too thick that it may not have went all the way through

WHY!….are you opening up anything?
You state to your customers that if they do not have an accurate one-line they can have an electrician selected and paid by them to provide field investigation to address all your questions.

If something happens AFTER you open that door…what will be your defense?

 

[Tainted]

WHY!….are you opening up anything?
You state to your customers that if they do not have an accurate one-line they can have an electrician selected and paid by them to provide field investigation to address all your questions.

If something happens AFTER you open that door…what will be your defense?

As an engineer, I admit I open up panels and boxes sometimes when I shouldn't.

When I need to do a massive survey of the electrical room, I usually tell the owner to have an electrician meet me in the building to open stuff for me so that I can generate an existing oneline diagram

Shouldn't you be wearing arc fault protection ?

I should, but I don't

 

[jim dungar]

If something happens AFTER you open that door…what will be your defense?

Several years ago, the firm I was, the majority of 'near misses' during data collection involved bypassing doors like this. I think the legal group felt the risk of outages was too high. I recall we wore 40 Cal/cm² arc flash PPE when we had to do this activity in reasonable conditions.

 

[MyCleveland]

As an engineer, I admit I open up panels and boxes sometimes when I shouldn't.

When I need to do a massive survey of the electrical room, I usually tell the owner to have an electrician meet me in the building to open stuff for me so that I can generate an existing oneline diagram

I should, but I don't

I cannot type what I would like to. You are not my son, but your someone’s.

At least look into whether you would have any workers comp benefits if you become injured…I doubt you employer will stand behind you.

 

[Tainted]

I cannot type what I would like to. You are not my son, but your someone’s.

At least look into whether you would have any workers comp benefits if you become injured…I doubt you employer will stand behind you.

I think I know exactly what you would say if I was your son...

I do have workers comp, but maybe it wouldn't work because they could argue that I am not a licensed electrician opening up the panels and that injuring was my fault.

The craziest thing I opened up was a old 3000A bus duct but I wouldn't open anything that is MV or HV. I am comfortable with only LV. The bus duct wasn't even protected, it was just straight up bus bars in a metal box

 

[TwoBlocked]

This looks similar to the bus duct switches. Something I remember helping is to move the operating handle more to the ON position when using the "defeat" to open the cover. And for Pete's sake, mark the size fuse on the cover once you know what it is.

 

[jim dungar]

I do have workers comp, but maybe it wouldn't work because they could argue that I am not a licensed electrician opening up the panels....

The issue is not if you are an "electrician", it is if you are a "qualified person". What Electrical Safe Work Practices do you follow, what training certificates do you hold?
What will your client do if you cause an unplanned outage.

I know of one instance, where the worker's screw driver slipped past the interlock and entered the enclosure causing a minor, but visible, arcing event. Glad I was not involved with that paperwork.

 

[Tainted]

The issue is not if you are an "electrician", it is if you are a "qualified person". What Electrical Safe Work Practices do you follow, what training certificates do you hold?
What will your client do if you cause an unplanned outage.

I know of one instance, where the worker's screw driver slipped past the interlock and entered the enclosure causing a minor, but visible, arcing event. Glad I was not involved with that paperwork.

I have no training certificate for safety, but theory helps me. However there is no way that a PE license with a concentration in electrical systems would ever make someone qualified opening up anything. I am simply just a risk taker and make stupid but careful decisions.

If I cause any unplanned outages, I will admit fault and it's on me.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I think I know exactly what you would say if I was your son...

I do have workers comp, but maybe it wouldn't work because they could argue that I am not a licensed electrician opening up the panels and that injuring was my fault.

The craziest thing I opened up was a old 3000A bus duct but I wouldn't open anything that is MV or HV. I am comfortable with only LV. The bus duct wasn't even protected, it was just straight up bus bars in a metal box

Yet the arc flash/blast hazard is typically much greater on the LV side than on the MV or HV side.

 

[Tainted]

Yet the arc flash/blast hazard is typically much greater on the LV side than on the MV or HV side.

yea, however MV and HV is more "sneaky" I was talking about about electrocution than the blast.

 

[farmantenna]

You have to insert a thin blade in on an angle and then try using a prying action to move the internal interlock tab against the spring. While doing so you can jiggle the handle and pull. You'll also need to depress the door lock on the upper left.

and while hopping on one foot? Gee

 

[infinity]

and while hopping on one foot? Gee

Yeah at times you actually need three hands.

 

[Tainted]

Yeah at times you actually need three hands.

How do I do it without hopping on 1 foot :-(