Where does the breaker touch on the bus bar?

[rmascio (Robert Mascio)]

Hello, friends. I’m still in the learning phases here, can someone please tell me where the breaker in an electrical panel actually touches on the bus bar? There are two metal parts in the picture. One connects to the bus bar and the other is just to hold it? And what it’s being held to is metal? If so, would it need to be kept from touching other metal parts of the panel?
Thank you

[ruecker (Ryan Uecker)]

@rmascio

can someone please tell me where the breaker in an electrical panel actually touches on the bus bar?..

The top “clamp” on the breaker in your picture.

@rmascio

There are two metal parts in the picture. One connects to the bus bar and the other is just to hold it?..

Correct, the bottom “clamp” in your picture just holds it, unless it is a “plug on neutral” panel.

@rmascio

If so, would it need to be kept from touching other metal parts of the panel?..

It needs to be kept from touching any “hot” (energized) metal parts in the panel.

[jmilby (Jim Milby)]

Other styles may have a recessed slot for the buss connection and a plastic mounting foot, but they remain in the same locations.

[rmascio (Robert Mascio)]

Thank you very much! That is exactly the information I was looking for!

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

Scroll for various diagrams…

Circuit breakers

[ddixon10 (David Dixon)]

the rear fork is normally connected to the energized buss, and the front fork connects to a normally nonconducting metal bar or depending on manufacture and/or application can be part of the grounded conductor system.

[lkage (Larry Kage, CMI)]

@ddixon10

the rear fork is normally connected to the energized buss, and the front fork connects to a normally nonconducting metal bar or depending on manufacture and/or application can be part of the grounded conductor system

What is “front” and “rear” to you?

[ddixon10 (David Dixon)]

Rear is the narrow end at wich the throw indicates “on” and the Front is the narrow end in which the throw indicates “off”. Throw being the correct terminology for the "handle/Swicth " on the overcurrent device. (i was sparkilly for 15 years )

[rmeier2 (Robert Meier)]

@ddixon10

Rear is the narrow end at wich the throw indicates “on” and the Front is the narrow end in which the throw indicates “off”.

Not sure what Larry was getting at but I would think the complete opposite. The bus connection is at the front and the conductor connection is at the rear. I guess either one is correct.

[lkage (Larry Kage, CMI)]

@ddixon10

Rear is the narrow end at wich the throw indicates “on” and the Front is the narrow end in which the throw indicates “off”

Sounds backwards to me.

[jjonas (Jeffrey Jonas)]

@rmeier2

The bus connection is at the front and the conductor connection is at the rear.

That is my opinion also.

[ddixon10 (David Dixon)]

Think of the direction in which the current is flowing, looking at just the overcurrent device is looking at the middle of a stream, with the utilization equipment being the “end” and the Transformer being a “beginning” thus form our prespective the rear of the device is the entrence for the current “on” and the front is the downstream end and thus the "off’ position.

[gwells (George Wells, CMI)]

@ddixon10

Think of the direction in which the current is flowing,

The current alternates the direction it travels.