I hate these switches

[Tainted]

Just came back from a long day surveying the electrical system. I managed to open all the switches safe and sound.

The reason I was having difficult last time I realized that I didn't rotate the handle beyond the "on" position.
I didn't even have to worry about using 3 hands.

All I did was push the screw driver in the slot below the lever with my left hand,
then rotate the handle beyond the "on" position with my left right hand,
then I let go the screw driver on my left hand and use the left hand to open the latch while pulling on the lever with my right hand.

Simple.

I take back everything I said about these switches, I love them now because it was so easy lol.

And I couldn't have done it without people here giving me tips, thank you.

 

[LarryFine]

And I couldn't have done it without people here giving me tips, thank you.

That really is why we're here.

 

[mtnelect]

Just turn the power off ... Inconvenience to others is on the bottom of the list !

I lost the feeling in my right arm for 24 hours when I was changing out a 277-volt lighting switch in a junction box with another leg of a 277-volt circuit in an office building.

 

[timsdl72]

Having far more experience with that type of switch than I care to repeat, they're not always smooth. Worse, there's a bit of cringe in "relocking" the switch once your inspection is complete. The move from past ON toward OFF sufficient enough to clear the lip of that defeat latch can require a good deal of force but controlled so that there's no follow-through. I find many are left latched into defeat position as I walk our facilities.

 

[mayanees]

NFPA 70E Table 130.5(C) Estimate of the Likelihood of Occurrence of an Arc Flash Incident for ac and dc Systems says that for the task of Opening hinged doors or covers to expose bare energized electrical conductors, in "ANY" Operating Condition, that there is a Likelihood of an Arc Flash Incident so PPE must be worn commensurate with the available incident energy (IE). The IE is determined by either the Categories method, or by doing an arc flash calculation in accordance with IEEE 1584 (for most systems). This all to say the Arc Flash PPE is necessary to open that panel. Rubber gloves are necessary if you cross the restricted approach boundary per table 130.4(E)(a).