Interlock

[1stwave]

Currently have conveyor when control panel door is opened drops out incoming power. Would like to disable this feature so testing or reseting is possible without killing the whole Line. I know I would still have to have Arc Flash protection to do this. Most panels you can get into to do this without killing power. Any code issues here.

 

[StephenSDH]

It is a safety issue. You, your company, and the customer have to agree that it is safe to do. If someone gets hurt you, your company, and the customer are liable. It isn't uncommon to defeat interlocks, it also isn't uncommon for panels to not have interlocks in the first place. From my experience alot of interlocks become permanently defeated because people don't undefeat them after the work is over.

 

[pfalcon]

There is no NEC code issue here per se.

Disabling interlocks designed into equipment is considered an unsafe practice therefore there is jeopardy from OSHA general duty clause and possibly articles under NFPA70E that OSHA loves.

If you are an industrial site then you should adopt NFPA79 "Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery" circa 2007. Standards for designing enclosure access are under 6.2.3 for serving your purpose. You can preview this standard on the NFPA website.

http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/list_of_codes_and_standards.asp?cookie_test=1

 

[petersonra]

Currently have conveyor when control panel door is opened drops out incoming power. Would like to disable this feature so testing or reseting is possible without killing the whole Line. I know I would still have to have Arc Flash protection to do this. Most panels you can get into to do this without killing power. Any code issues here.

And there are good reasons for being able to do this.

Did someone put a limit switch on the door or something? I have seen that a fair number of times, often with a key operated switch provided to defeat the limit switch.

http://www.hoffmanonline.com/produc...=2389&catID=2387&itemID=3422&searchFor=switch