Handle lock?

[palmettoinspect]

Are these wire tabs around these breakers handle locks? I've never seen them before and they appear to lock the breaker in the "on" position. I can understand them for lockout protection when used in the "off" position, but this seem hazardous.

Or am I completely off and they're totally something else?

Thanks,

Kiel

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[inspector57]

The rectangular wire "box" goes around the breaker handle when it is in the off position and the personal lockout lock of the worker goes into the loops to keep someone from energizing the circuit being serviced.

[palmettoinspect]

That's what I thought. Should they be removed? Will they prevent the breaker from tripping when on? It looks like it will?

[Marc]

That's what I thought. Should they be removed? Will they prevent the breaker from tripping when on? It looks like it will?

I don't think so. The handle doesn't have to move to trip. You're just prevented from reseting it until you move it to the 'off' position.

Marc

[Jim Katen]

You can't prevent a breaker from tripping by holding the handle in the "on" position. Try it.

[Speedy Petey]

You can't prevent a breaker from tripping by holding the handle in the "on" position. Try it.

This!

They are used for critical circuits that should not be turned off for whatever reason, like alarms, smoke detectors, fire pumps, computers/servers, etc.

The breaker WILL definitely trip though.

[palmettoinspect]

Gotcha! Thanks! I'll definitely try that Jim!

[John Kogel]

Gotcha! Thanks! I'll definitely try that Jim!

Why try it if Mycroft said so? []

[Jim Port]

Required lockouts should not be removed. They are there for safety when the equipment is being worked on.

[palmettoinspect]

Gotcha! Thanks! I'll definitely try that Jim!

Why try it if Mycroft said so? []

Joke, not really going to try. []