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I was involved in an inspection of a very nice multi-story condo in Arlington, Va. In the Square-D Distribution Panel a 15 amp breaker serving a microwave was a brass colored devise that fit over the breaker switch handle and was held in place with a set screw. A “foot” on this metal device was down in the space between the handle and the breaker body, effectively locking the breaker so that it could not be opened (that is shut off), manually. All the units in the condo had this device but no one knew why. Does anyone know why a microwave branch circuit would have such a device to keep it from being manually shut off?
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All i can venture is that that circuit also supplies the smoke alarms. This lock prevents turning it off, but not tripping.
I always supply the smoke alarms with a circuit that if it is off or tripped is readily apparant (ie NOT a receptacle circuit, etc.)
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Smoke detectors are required on a separate branch circuit. I don't remember if that is NEC or SEC only.
Besides smoke detectors: refrigerators/freezers; sump pumps; well pups & septic systems are eligible for handle locks.
A microwave is not normally considered a vital circuit.
Cheers; JE
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I was involved in an inspection of a very nice multi-story condo in Arlington, Va. In the Square-D Distribution Panel a 15 amp breaker serving a microwave was a brass colored devise that fit over the breaker switch handle and was held in place with a set screw. A "foot" on this metal device was down in the space between the handle and the breaker body, effectively locking the breaker so that it could not be opened (that is shut off), manually. All the units in the condo had this device but no one knew why. Does anyone know why a microwave branch circuit would have such a device to keep it from being manually shut off?