Safety hook on double pole circuit breakers
My home was built two years ago, so I would expect everything to have been done up to code. The problem is that I don't know what the metal ring in this photo is. It loops over the double pole circuit breakers, but only if in the off position. When hooked over the circuit breakers, the metal ring appears to prevent them from being pushed into the on position. The problem is, if the circuit breakers are turned on, and the metal ring were to flip over (it's fairly free to rotate), then the circuit breakers are prevented from flipping into the off position. Isn't this a valid safety concern? Yet I am confused because the hooks on these circuit breakers appear to be made to do this as seen by the hooks I have pointed out via green arrows (green speckles follow the loop I am talking about).
I am seeking to learn:
- What is this gizmo named?
- Is my safety concern valid?
electrical electrical-panel circuit-breaker
asked Dec 30 '18 at 3:36
mh00hmh00h
1736
add a comment |
My home was built two years ago, so I would expect everything to have been done up to code. The problem is that I don't know what the metal ring in this photo is. It loops over the double pole circuit breakers, but only if in the off position. When hooked over the circuit breakers, the metal ring appears to prevent them from being pushed into the on position. The problem is, if the circuit breakers are turned on, and the metal ring were to flip over (it's fairly free to rotate), then the circuit breakers are prevented from flipping into the off position. Isn't this a valid safety concern? Yet I am confused because the hooks on these circuit breakers appear to be made to do this as seen by the hooks I have pointed out via green arrows (green speckles follow the loop I am talking about).
I am seeking to learn:
- What is this gizmo named?
- Is my safety concern valid?
electrical electrical-panel circuit-breaker
asked Dec 30 '18 at 3:36
mh00hmh00h
1736
1
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
Dec 30 '18 at 3:39
'expect everything to have been done up to code' I've now several several cases where new buildings are not up to code. Never assume and have an expert check if required.
– Underverse
Dec 30 '18 at 10:16
add a comment |
My home was built two years ago, so I would expect everything to have been done up to code. The problem is that I don't know what the metal ring in this photo is. It loops over the double pole circuit breakers, but only if in the off position. When hooked over the circuit breakers, the metal ring appears to prevent them from being pushed into the on position. The problem is, if the circuit breakers are turned on, and the metal ring were to flip over (it's fairly free to rotate), then the circuit breakers are prevented from flipping into the off position. Isn't this a valid safety concern? Yet I am confused because the hooks on these circuit breakers appear to be made to do this as seen by the hooks I have pointed out via green arrows (green speckles follow the loop I am talking about).
I am seeking to learn:
- What is this gizmo named?
- Is my safety concern valid?
electrical electrical-panel circuit-breaker
asked Dec 30 '18 at 3:36
mh00hmh00h
1736
My home was built two years ago, so I would expect everything to have been done up to code. The problem is that I don't know what the metal ring in this photo is. It loops over the double pole circuit breakers, but only if in the off position. When hooked over the circuit breakers, the metal ring appears to prevent them from being pushed into the on position. The problem is, if the circuit breakers are turned on, and the metal ring were to flip over (it's fairly free to rotate), then the circuit breakers are prevented from flipping into the off position. Isn't this a valid safety concern? Yet I am confused because the hooks on these circuit breakers appear to be made to do this as seen by the hooks I have pointed out via green arrows (green speckles follow the loop I am talking about).
I am seeking to learn:
- What is this gizmo named?
- Is my safety concern valid?
electrical electrical-panel circuit-breaker
electrical electrical-panel circuit-breaker
asked Dec 30 '18 at 3:36
mh00hmh00h
1736
asked Dec 30 '18 at 3:36
mh00hmh00h
1736
asked Dec 30 '18 at 3:36
mh00hmh00h
1736
asked Dec 30 '18 at 3:36
mh00hmh00h
1736
asked Dec 30 '18 at 3:36
mh00hmh00h
1736
1736
1
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
Dec 30 '18 at 3:39
'expect everything to have been done up to code' I've now several several cases where new buildings are not up to code. Never assume and have an expert check if required.
– Underverse
Dec 30 '18 at 10:16
add a comment |
1
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
Dec 30 '18 at 3:39
'expect everything to have been done up to code' I've now several several cases where new buildings are not up to code. Never assume and have an expert check if required.
– Underverse
Dec 30 '18 at 10:16
1
1
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
Dec 30 '18 at 3:39
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
Dec 30 '18 at 3:39
'expect everything to have been done up to code' I've now several several cases where new buildings are not up to code. Never assume and have an expert check if required.
– Underverse
Dec 30 '18 at 10:16
'expect everything to have been done up to code' I've now several several cases where new buildings are not up to code. Never assume and have an expert check if required.
– Underverse
Dec 30 '18 at 10:16
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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votes
This is a breaker lockoff device
The gizmo on your water heater breaker is a lockoff that's designed to let you turn the breaker off, then attach a padlock with a 1/4" shackle (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then lock the padlock, stick the key in your pocket, and be sure that some bozo isn't going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater. Code often requires this when the breaker is the only disconnecting means for the load in question and the breaker box is not visible from where the load is located.
And no, it won't screw up the breaker's ability to trip
Modern circuit breakers are universally trip free (I believe UL489 and related standards require this behavior, even), which means that they will trip properly, no matter what position the handle is held in. As a result, it is possible (and even required, for breakers feeding fire alarm control panels in larger buildings) to safely lock a breaker on with the appropriate hardware, even, and you do not have to worry about mechanical blockages outside the breaker itself keeping the breaker from tripping.
answered Dec 30 '18 at 5:10
ThreePhaseEelThreePhaseEel
32.5k115097
Would it be useful to flip the loop hard to the right and tape it down to the grey-painted metal of the enclosure? Or just as a sop to OP's conscience to know that nothing short of an earthquake could flip the loop to the left ?
– Criggie
Dec 30 '18 at 11:43
1
@Criggie -- not really, I'm not sure what the range of motion on said loop is even (and you wouldn't want to break it, that'd make for a rather annoying repair callout, considering lockoffs are required by Code in several different sections)
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 30 '18 at 17:40
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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active
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
This is a breaker lockoff device
The gizmo on your water heater breaker is a lockoff that's designed to let you turn the breaker off, then attach a padlock with a 1/4" shackle (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then lock the padlock, stick the key in your pocket, and be sure that some bozo isn't going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater. Code often requires this when the breaker is the only disconnecting means for the load in question and the breaker box is not visible from where the load is located.
And no, it won't screw up the breaker's ability to trip
Modern circuit breakers are universally trip free (I believe UL489 and related standards require this behavior, even), which means that they will trip properly, no matter what position the handle is held in. As a result, it is possible (and even required, for breakers feeding fire alarm control panels in larger buildings) to safely lock a breaker on with the appropriate hardware, even, and you do not have to worry about mechanical blockages outside the breaker itself keeping the breaker from tripping.
answered Dec 30 '18 at 5:10
ThreePhaseEelThreePhaseEel
32.5k115097
Would it be useful to flip the loop hard to the right and tape it down to the grey-painted metal of the enclosure? Or just as a sop to OP's conscience to know that nothing short of an earthquake could flip the loop to the left ?
– Criggie
Dec 30 '18 at 11:43
1
@Criggie -- not really, I'm not sure what the range of motion on said loop is even (and you wouldn't want to break it, that'd make for a rather annoying repair callout, considering lockoffs are required by Code in several different sections)
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 30 '18 at 17:40
add a comment |
This is a breaker lockoff device
The gizmo on your water heater breaker is a lockoff that's designed to let you turn the breaker off, then attach a padlock with a 1/4" shackle (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then lock the padlock, stick the key in your pocket, and be sure that some bozo isn't going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater. Code often requires this when the breaker is the only disconnecting means for the load in question and the breaker box is not visible from where the load is located.
And no, it won't screw up the breaker's ability to trip
Modern circuit breakers are universally trip free (I believe UL489 and related standards require this behavior, even), which means that they will trip properly, no matter what position the handle is held in. As a result, it is possible (and even required, for breakers feeding fire alarm control panels in larger buildings) to safely lock a breaker on with the appropriate hardware, even, and you do not have to worry about mechanical blockages outside the breaker itself keeping the breaker from tripping.
answered Dec 30 '18 at 5:10
ThreePhaseEelThreePhaseEel
32.5k115097
Would it be useful to flip the loop hard to the right and tape it down to the grey-painted metal of the enclosure? Or just as a sop to OP's conscience to know that nothing short of an earthquake could flip the loop to the left ?
– Criggie
Dec 30 '18 at 11:43
1
@Criggie -- not really, I'm not sure what the range of motion on said loop is even (and you wouldn't want to break it, that'd make for a rather annoying repair callout, considering lockoffs are required by Code in several different sections)
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 30 '18 at 17:40
add a comment |
This is a breaker lockoff device
The gizmo on your water heater breaker is a lockoff that's designed to let you turn the breaker off, then attach a padlock with a 1/4" shackle (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then lock the padlock, stick the key in your pocket, and be sure that some bozo isn't going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater. Code often requires this when the breaker is the only disconnecting means for the load in question and the breaker box is not visible from where the load is located.
And no, it won't screw up the breaker's ability to trip
Modern circuit breakers are universally trip free (I believe UL489 and related standards require this behavior, even), which means that they will trip properly, no matter what position the handle is held in. As a result, it is possible (and even required, for breakers feeding fire alarm control panels in larger buildings) to safely lock a breaker on with the appropriate hardware, even, and you do not have to worry about mechanical blockages outside the breaker itself keeping the breaker from tripping.
answered Dec 30 '18 at 5:10
ThreePhaseEelThreePhaseEel
32.5k115097
This is a breaker lockoff device
The gizmo on your water heater breaker is a lockoff that's designed to let you turn the breaker off, then attach a padlock with a 1/4" shackle (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then lock the padlock, stick the key in your pocket, and be sure that some bozo isn't going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater. Code often requires this when the breaker is the only disconnecting means for the load in question and the breaker box is not visible from where the load is located.
And no, it won't screw up the breaker's ability to trip
Modern circuit breakers are universally trip free (I believe UL489 and related standards require this behavior, even), which means that they will trip properly, no matter what position the handle is held in. As a result, it is possible (and even required, for breakers feeding fire alarm control panels in larger buildings) to safely lock a breaker on with the appropriate hardware, even, and you do not have to worry about mechanical blockages outside the breaker itself keeping the breaker from tripping.
answered Dec 30 '18 at 5:10
ThreePhaseEelThreePhaseEel
32.5k115097
edited Jan 3 at 3:35
answered Dec 30 '18 at 5:10
ThreePhaseEelThreePhaseEel
32.5k115097
answered Dec 30 '18 at 5:10
ThreePhaseEelThreePhaseEel
32.5k115097
answered Dec 30 '18 at 5:10
ThreePhaseEelThreePhaseEel
32.5k115097
32.5k115097
Would it be useful to flip the loop hard to the right and tape it down to the grey-painted metal of the enclosure? Or just as a sop to OP's conscience to know that nothing short of an earthquake could flip the loop to the left ?
– Criggie
Dec 30 '18 at 11:43
1
@Criggie -- not really, I'm not sure what the range of motion on said loop is even (and you wouldn't want to break it, that'd make for a rather annoying repair callout, considering lockoffs are required by Code in several different sections)
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 30 '18 at 17:40
add a comment |
Would it be useful to flip the loop hard to the right and tape it down to the grey-painted metal of the enclosure? Or just as a sop to OP's conscience to know that nothing short of an earthquake could flip the loop to the left ?
– Criggie
Dec 30 '18 at 11:43
1
@Criggie -- not really, I'm not sure what the range of motion on said loop is even (and you wouldn't want to break it, that'd make for a rather annoying repair callout, considering lockoffs are required by Code in several different sections)
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 30 '18 at 17:40
Would it be useful to flip the loop hard to the right and tape it down to the grey-painted metal of the enclosure? Or just as a sop to OP's conscience to know that nothing short of an earthquake could flip the loop to the left ?
– Criggie
Dec 30 '18 at 11:43
Would it be useful to flip the loop hard to the right and tape it down to the grey-painted metal of the enclosure? Or just as a sop to OP's conscience to know that nothing short of an earthquake could flip the loop to the left ?
– Criggie
Dec 30 '18 at 11:43
1
1
@Criggie -- not really, I'm not sure what the range of motion on said loop is even (and you wouldn't want to break it, that'd make for a rather annoying repair callout, considering lockoffs are required by Code in several different sections)
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 30 '18 at 17:40
@Criggie -- not really, I'm not sure what the range of motion on said loop is even (and you wouldn't want to break it, that'd make for a rather annoying repair callout, considering lockoffs are required by Code in several different sections)
– ThreePhaseEel
Dec 30 '18 at 17:40
add a comment |
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1
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
Dec 30 '18 at 3:39
'expect everything to have been done up to code' I've now several several cases where new buildings are not up to code. Never assume and have an expert check if required.
– Underverse
Dec 30 '18 at 10:16