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Posted by Jay Stootzmann on June 17, 2006, 2:13 pm
While I see your point -- I would consider it irresponsible to suggest to a
NEWBIE that it would normal for them to replace a bkr in a panel without
throwing the mains off.
I've worked bare-handed on 345kv lines but I sure as h wouldn't recommend it
to the in-experienced.
BTW, I tend to believe in Murphy's law and when I've done work on panels I
shut the main off.
>
>>
>> Toller wrote:
>>> >
>>> > Toller wrote:
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Toller wrote:
>>> >> >> > Hi,
>>> >> >> >
>>> >> >> > I bought a book plus spent a number of hours on the computer to
>>> >> >> > research and I hope someone can help me with just a few very
>>> >> >> > basic
>>> >> >> > questions I still have:
>>> >> >> >
>>> >> >> > 1. I have a 100 amp service. If I turn off the main circuit
>>> >> >> > breaker
>>> >> >> > can I change for instance a 20 amp breaker without worry of
>>> >> >> > shock if
>>> >> >> > I
>>> >> >> > don't touch anything else other than the breaker and the wire
>>> >> >> > that
>>> >> >> > needs to be unscrewed? (I have a few that don't match my GE
>>> >> >> > panel
>>> >> >> > and
>>> >> >> > I heard that they should)
>>> >> >> >
>>> >> >> Most people don't even bother to do that, but yes; the box should
>>> >> >> be
>>> >> >> dead
>>> >> >> if
>>> >> >> the main breaker is open. Never touch a potentially live wire
>>> >> >> without
>>> >> >> testing it first!
>>> >> >
>>> >> > You're suggesting that most people replace breakers without turning
>>> >> > off
>>> >> > the main breaker? Not only is that irresponsible to suggest to
>>> >> > the
>>> >> > OP, who clearly identified himself as a novice, but on what basis
>>> >> > do
>>> >> > you even make the claim that most people do it?
>>> >> >
>>> >> English must be a second language for one of us; I don't see where I
>>> >> recommended that.
>>> >> I have no hard statistics, but I haven't spoken to anyone who turns
>>> >> off
>>> >> the
>>> >> main breaker so I expect it is the common practice.
>>> >
>>> > Well, now you have. IMO, anyone who fiddles around with circuit
>>> > breakers without turning off the main breaker is an idiot. I always
>>> > turn it off. And I seriously doubt that most people don't turn off
>>> > the main breaker.
>>> >
>>> That's like opening the breaker before unplugging your iron. But if you
>>> need to do it, there is certainly no harm, other than having to reset
>>> every
>>> electronic device in the house.
>>
>> It only gets worse. First, you claimed to a newbie concerned about
>> safety that most people would not turn off the main breaker when
>> replacing a breaker. I believe that is bogus, as most people, myself
>> included would. And now you suggesting that replacing breakers
>> without turning off the power is comparable to unplugging an iron?
>>
> Geez, have you ever changed a breaker?
> You switch it off, confirm there is no power to the wire, pull it out,
> disconnect the wire, connect the wire to the new breaker, make sure the
> new breaker is open, shove the new breaker in.
> It is a hair more complicated than unplugging an iron, but neither more
> dangerous nor more difficult. Even if you forget to switch it off, it
> still should be perfectly safe since you don't touch the wire until the
> breaker is out of the box; even then it is with a presumably insulated
> screwdriver.
>
> You should not come within 3" of a live wire, so where do you have a
> problem?
> And even if by some bizarre accident, worst came to worst, unless you are
> working barefoot standing in salt water...
> Do you wear rubber gloves when you do it, just to be sure? Stand on glass
> jars? Have one hand behind your back? Maybe pull the meter? Geez.
>
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