Not the smartest way

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broadgage

Senior Member
Location
London, England
byourdesky said:
To turn off a circuit.......i am guilty of this a few times early on, but not any longer


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz5SIAntYR0&feature=related
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I think that most people would agree that the procedure of short circuiting an outlet, in order to trip the breaker, is unwise.

But remember that for any danger to result, the breaker panel or other equipment must be defective or improperly installed, or unsuitable for the duty.
After all if the HO plugs in a defective extension cord or appliance, with a dead short, the only result SHOULD be the tripping of the breaker (and possibly the main)
Thats what the breaker panel etc is installed for, the use of a defective appliance etc should not result in arc flash danger, fire, explosion, or other hazard.
The breaker does not "know" if the dead short is introduced deliberatly as a careless means of isolating a circuit, or is the result of a damaged appliance cord etc.
 
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Ken9876

Senior Member
Location
Jersey Shore
When I look back at what was common practice at past employers, it makes me very thankful to be alive. We did this many times on 277 as well with FPE breakers, working hot, all very dumb.
 
steelersman

steelersman

Senior Member
Location
Lake Ridge, VA
Ken9876 said:
When I look back at what was common practice at past employers, it makes me very thankful to be alive. We did this many times on 277 as well with FPE breakers, working hot, all very dumb.
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I've done it plenty of times on 120, but I must say I don't have the gonads to do that on 277. I'm hesitant enough to do it on the 120.
 
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Karl H

Senior Member
Location
San Diego,CA
I haven't done that in over 10 years. Buy a circuit tracer. Your a electrician,
a Circuit Tracer is an Electrician's Tool. There is no "Sane" reason to short
out a circuit on purpose.
 
quogueelectric

quogueelectric

Senior Member
Location
new york
I used to do it on a regullar basis until one of my bosses asked me to stop doing it and I said why as I shorted out annother and caught the wallpaper in the Marriot hotel we were doing on fire in front of him. After that I stopped doing it. He said THATS WHY!!!!! YOU JERK!!!! This was in the early 90s. Fresh wet glue burns good!
 
R

RHJohnson

Senior Member
I find it hard to imagine an "electrician" doing that on purpose. But then I have known some clowns who passed themselves off as electricians.
Please remember.....sooner or later.....what can go wrong will go wrong.
Don't be on the other end.
 
B4T

B4T

Senior Member
Location
Long Island, N.Y.
Last time I shorted out a wire it cost me 2 days labor to get the circuit up and running again. There was a splice box in the attic and the strain on the circuit made the TAPE holding the wires together moved enough to make a loose connection. It was in the middle of July with blown in insulation that was over a foot thick. Now I use a radio to find the circuit instead of a short cut that was really dumb ;)
 
electricalperson

electricalperson

Senior Member
Location
massachusetts
steelersman said:
I've done it plenty of times on 120, but I must say I don't have the gonads to do that on 277. I'm hesitant enough to do it on the 120.
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i used to work with an electrician that used to short out wires all over the place instead of just turning the breaker off. a brand new house we were trimming he would cut the panel in and turn it all on before we were finished installing devices. never understood that concept but oh well. its not really a good idea and doesnt really look that professional if a customer is watching
 
electricalperson

electricalperson

Senior Member
Location
massachusetts
BLACK4TRUCK said:
Last time I shorted out a wire it cost me 2 days labor to get the circuit up and running again. There was a splice box in the attic and the strain on the circuit made the TAPE holding the wires together moved enough to make a loose connection. It was in the middle of July with blown in insulation that was over a foot thick. Now I use a radio to find the circuit instead of a short cut that was really dumb ;)
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good thing you found that then. thats a fire waiting to happen :D
 
K

Karl H

Senior Member
Location
San Diego,CA
I am going to say it again. There is no "Sane" reason to short out a circuit
on purpose. Buy a Circuit Tracer. On the other hand I really do enjoy hearing
about your stories of shorting out circuits. Catching the wallpaper on fire is a
really funny one!:D
 
tshea

tshea

Senior Member
Location
Wisconsin
I had a old brick circuit breaker westinghouse 30Amp, with screw terminals and some #10 wired to a 15Amp male plug. I would plug it in and turn the breaker on! BZZZZZ POP! Somewhere a breaker would trip. Seemed like a good idea!?! Loaned it to another sparkie. He used it but forgot to make sure the breaker was off! The sparks jumped when he plugged it in!
I thought about that and decided to put that "tool" away for good.
Thank for the memories!
 
stickboy1375

stickboy1375

Senior Member
Location
Litchfield, CT
fireryan said:
We use a greenlee tracer and the thing never works. Im not sure what a good brand would be to get. we have also used the gb and that is even worse
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I have had good luck with Amprobes circuit tracers...

QVTIMG20061028162716399.jpg
 
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