ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Taping Circuit Breakers "ON"

Federal Pacific? Well known not to trip...

This is anecdotal, because I don't rememeber who made the equipment: But I've run into a couple panels in a junior high-school where holding the breaker handles in the "on" position would keep them closed even during a severe OL.

Found this out one of the teachers demonstated how they tried to get a tripping breaker to "hold". It was a circuit to a fan with a locked-rotor, the guy held the breaker handle closed and looked at me going "See? It just won't stay for some reason." while the breaker hummed and crackled and started spitting sparks.

-John

That's a prime example of a Darwin Award candidate. Try that cute stunt with the fact that POCO's have updated transformers and feeders to meet the higher demand, which makes the available short circuit current a lot higher (probably higher than the older equipment was designed for) and you're more likely to have that breaker explode in your face!! Followed by the entire panel going up.

That's why I always stand to one side and don't look at the panel when actuating breakers, fault or no fault.

The first actual NEC requirement that circuit breakers be "trip free", that is trip regardless of handle position, was in the 1975 Edition.

All the breakers I remember were that way anyhow.

That reminds me of the way I was taught old-timers located faults... burning them out by inserting a way larger or even blank fuse (take 50 amps instead of 10 or a solid aluminum fuse blank)...