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Trippin’- Locked on Circuit Breakers

By
Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Trippin’- Locked on Circuit Breakers                      Wenatchee Home Inspections

Sometimes you have a conversation and you go… DUH!

In a recent conversation with the infamous Mr. Buell the question of can you lock a breaker in the “ON” position by locking the handle?  Meaning can you interfere with the trip mechanism.

I had to think… (really I was not thinking).  Well I should have known the answer without thinking… but such are those brain farts.

                                                                      

Breaker Lock out Wenatchee Home Inspection

 

There are many applications that you would want a locking mechanism for the breaker to be either locked on or locked off.  This is mainly in a commercial setting known as lock out, tag out (LOTO).

 You want to lock “OFF” when you have to work on a particular circuit. You want to lock “ON” if you do not want a particular circuit to be de-energized by accident- such as emergency lighting or security circuits etc…

You will often see these LOTO devices in residential homes for water heaters and dishwashers that are hardwired and not in line of sight of the means of disconnect.

So the next question is what if something happens and the breaker is locked on?


Breakers are designed to trip internally even if the handle is in the locked “ON” position.


From the National Electrical Code (NEC) for circuit breakers-


240.80 Method of Operation.  
“Circuit breakers shall be trip free and capable of being closed and opened by manual operation. Their normal method of operation by other than manual means, such as electrical or pneumatic, shall be permitted if means for manual operation are also provided.”



The term “trip free” means that a circuit breaker is required to open under overcurrent conditions even when the handle is held or locked in the on position.

Ancora Imparo


NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service


www.ncwhomeinspections.com          509-670-9572


Comments (10)

Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Donald,

I was "trippin'" when reading this post. LOL

No matter if it's locked or not, the breaker will still trip.

I wonder if this was designed to keep the kids or Uncle Bob from setting the breaker diuring work being done?

Have a great day in the Northeast my friend.

Best, Clint Mckie

Nov 15, 2012 10:01 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Clint, I pobably should of put some Grateful Dead music to the post ; )

Nov 15, 2012 10:06 PM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

Always interesting to read about stuff like this, one never knows when you may need it.

Nov 15, 2012 10:21 PM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Yeah Greatful Dead would be good. Breakers set to 'off' will stay there untill moved by human hand. Locked 'on' breakers will still trip off.

Effective commercial lockout covers keep that human hand from having access.

Nov 15, 2012 10:23 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Charles, Thank you.

Robert, I was having a brain fart because I knew this and why I even questioned it in my mind for a second made me think, Do people think that locking the handle will keeping it from trippin'.

Nov 15, 2012 10:43 PM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

The question should probably be " Do people think?', but first we have to assume they understand what they are dealing with. That assumtion is probably our error.

Nov 16, 2012 10:04 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Robert, That is very true. Most do not understand. 

Nov 16, 2012 10:41 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

So, no matter what your breaker will have a nice trip and see you next fall?  And, pray tell, where was the duct tape?  That'll keep it on!

Nov 17, 2012 07:25 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Very familar with LOTO. The lock is to prevent energizing the circuit while some poor unsuspecting soul is inside a machine. 

Nov 18, 2012 06:04 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jay, Evn duct tape can not save the poor soul ; 0

Jim, I am sure you are. We had one engineer/maint. guy that was walking disaster, we should just locked him up before he killed someone.

Nov 18, 2012 06:36 AM