ECN Forum Forums Safety Discussion and News Occupational Safety Discussion Large Breakers and Contactors

Guy's,
I didn't want to threadjack Drillman, so I have started a new, sort of similar topic here.
But, one trend that I don't like, that I see emerging with the Manufacturers of CB's and the larger sizes of 400V Contactors, is the lack of shielding on the terminals.
Especially where the wires enter the top and the bottom of the devices.
This wouldn't usually be a problem, but I have had more than 1 wire, fall into the terminals of these un-shielded beauties and if it is a Neutral, look out!.
Anyone else come across this?.
The old Westinghouse Breakers, used to be real nuisances for this, with the terminals fully bare.

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 11-28-2003).]

I was working on a new Distibution board last week at the local Meat works and the guy who installed the Board that supplies two 20kW air compressors never even bothered to sleeve(shield) the incoming feed wires to the Main Isolator.
Just 3 crimp lugs, within 1 1/2" of each other, carrying 400V each and they protruded above the Isolator by 3", fully bare!.
You wait 'til I see that guy next.
What really annoys me, is the fact that I had to get my hand in behind the Isolator to run a new cable past it, and isolating the Board would have meant shutting down most of the factory.