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 3 hours ago
mh00h
1112
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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 3 hours ago
mh00h
1112
New contributor
mh00h is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
3 hours ago
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 3 hours ago
mh00h
1112
New contributor
mh00h is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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 3 hours ago
mh00h
1112
New contributor
mh00h is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
mh00h
1112
New contributor
mh00h is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
mh00h
1112
New contributor
mh00h is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 3 hours ago
mh00h
1112
asked 3 hours ago
mh00h
1112
1112
New contributor
mh00h is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
mh00h is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
mh00h is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
3 hours ago
add a comment |
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
3 hours ago
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
3 hours ago
you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
3 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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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 (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then stick the key in your pocket and be sure that no bozo is going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater.
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 2 hours ago
ThreePhaseEel
30.1k104590
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1 Answer
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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 (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then stick the key in your pocket and be sure that no bozo is going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater.
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 2 hours ago
ThreePhaseEel
30.1k104590
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 (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then stick the key in your pocket and be sure that no bozo is going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater.
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 2 hours ago
ThreePhaseEel
30.1k104590
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 (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then stick the key in your pocket and be sure that no bozo is going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater.
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 2 hours ago
ThreePhaseEel
30.1k104590
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 (or a lockout tag with padlock(s) on it), so that you can then stick the key in your pocket and be sure that no bozo is going to flip the breaker back on while you are servicing the water heater.
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 2 hours ago
ThreePhaseEel
30.1k104590
answered 2 hours ago
ThreePhaseEel
30.1k104590
answered 2 hours ago
ThreePhaseEel
30.1k104590
answered 2 hours ago
ThreePhaseEel
30.1k104590
30.1k104590
add a comment |
add a comment |
mh00h is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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you failed to notice another hardware component and you have not noticed the label .... look again
– jsotola
3 hours ago