Daughter called me today for some telephone troubleshooting of an oven. Being reasonably intelligent (Of course – she’s my daughter) she went to the service panel to turn off power to the oven. It has a metal bar that is fastened to the ckt brkr handle that appears to keep it from opening it up.
CAn anyone explain?
Don
Replies
Is she looking at twin breakers ?
Some have a metal bar connecting two "handles". Maybe she is thinking that she should just throw one of the two, and can't do so ?
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
It is easy to be friends with someone you always agree with.
There are lock out tabs tht can be installed on breakers. The idea is that AFTER you turn off the breaker it can be locked out so that somebody does not turn the breaker on while the oven is being worked on.
CAP has a video on the FHB web site show there use.
Possibly that is what is was, but damage or miss installed.
There is also an interlock device that you can use with two set up back to back breaker so that only one can be on at a time. The purose is for backfeeding generators legaly.
But that should have have been used here, but somebody might have used the wrong thing.
Is she at the main circuit breaker box or at the service disconnect box for the oven? Some of the disconnect boxes won't open unless you open the switch, it's like a safety to help prevent a flash.
Matt
Think it was GE that had a main breaker that had a metal fold-down handle. These breakers are sometimes pretty stiff by breaker standards.
The tab it was attached to was pretty stubby. Electricians are known for strong fingers, has to do with working pliers and bending thick cables to make them lay right in a panel, and it is only on a good day that I can work some of these without extending the metal handle.
I suspect she might be talking about this.