Electrical Panel Safety

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1

Originally Posted By: justin watts
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Hello everybody…


I was curious, does anyone shut down the main, before removing the inside cover? I would think this would increase safety.... even though we shouldn't be turning off the power temporarily.

I know one inspector that wear special rubber gloves, with a full face shield when removing a panel, (afraid of sparks) and even steps on a rubber mat before opening any panel. I guess you can never be too safe!

It seems to me that the majority of NEC violations are double taps on breakers, what do you guys think?

If anyone else has any safety tips, let me know.... I don't want to get zapped!

Take Care,
Justin Watts
![icon_twisted.gif](upload://xjO326gspdTNE5QS3UTl0a0Rtvy.gif)

2

Originally Posted By: Bob Badger
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Proper Gloves are a good idea for removing covers.


If something major lets go, unlikely but it could happen, the resulting arc flash can burn you quickly.

Your fingers will be around the edges of the panel and would take a beating if something shorts out the service conductors.

Your face should be behind the panel cover as you remove it as it makes a decent shield.

While closing a large commercial panel as an apprentice I pinched a large wire with the panel cover.

I was fine with the panel cover between me and the flash, if some one had been beside the panel they would have been burned.

--
Bob (AKA iwire)
ECN Discussion Forums
Mike Holt Code Forum

3

Originally Posted By: Mike Parks
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Justin


A good point.

The "legs" are still hot and should you touch these they are "unfused", in most cases.

Keep both hands firmly on the cover.

I like others can tell you of times when the cover almost came in contact with live conductors.

We ALL get too comfortable when removing covers.

Joe

Got any pictures of a panel cover that has come in contact with power?

Mike P.

4

Originally Posted By: jedwards
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This is the main panel of a house I did recently. This house is a foreclosure that the client is buying as a fixer-upper/rental investment. To give you a basic idea about the condition of the house, it was 1400 square feet, and had been unoccupied for many months, so all utilities were disconnected at the time of inspection-- and still, the finished report had 28 pages and 73 pictures. This house would make a great final exam.(Recommended specialist evaluations for everything.)

Since the power was off, no problem throwing the main switch. Box is a basic safety-interlock fuse panel; it can't be opened unless the switch handle on the right side is thrown. However, two of the internal levers (the colored-in bits) that are supposed to disconnect the mains terminals from the fuses have come off the bar that operates them. So even with the main switch cut so the box can be opened, the fuse on the left leg is still connected. (Center one doesn't matter since it's single-phase, of course).

Danger lurks...

--
John Edwards
Assurance South, LLC home page
Pre-Paid Legal Services

5

Originally Posted By: roconnor
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justin watts wrote:
If anyone else has any safety tips, let me know.... I don't want to get zapped!

---> CLICK HERE FOR PANEL SAFETY TIPS <---

And as others have said, be EXTREMELY careful removing the cover ... especially with FPE panels ... ![icon_exclaim.gif](upload://kW92MliyHA8ygoXI0UsgtBSn4ZO.gif)

--
Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee

I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong