Isolated bolt-on circuit breaker system for an energized panelboard

Abstract

Methods and systems for minimizing exposure to live parts in a panelboard allow safe insulation and removal of a circuit breaker or other electrical devices from the panelboard. The methods and systems provide an isolation assembly for the panelboard that isolates and prevents contact with energized portions of the circuit breaker as well as the conductors in the panelboard. The isolation assembly covers up the energized part of the circuit breaker, including the line terminal extending from the circuit breaker, and any accessible portion of the conductors in the panelboard. Additionally, for bolt-on type circuit breakers, the isolation assembly replaces the bolts or screws typically used to fasten the line terminals to the conductors in the panelboard with standoff screws that insulate metal screwdrivers and similar tools from the energized part of the circuit breaker.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for installing and removing a circuit breaker from an electrical panel or panelboard, and more particularly to a method and system for reducing the chances of exposure to live parts in the panelboard.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]An electrical panel or panelboard has a main bus and individual connection points on the bus that are connectable to electrical devices, such as circuit breakers for branch conductors and any other electrical devices designed to be installed for a branch circuit. Because the circuit breakers and other branch electrical devices are typically mounted directly to the panelboard, an operator and / or tools may come in contact with exposed conductors in the panelboard when installing or removing the circuit breakers from the panelboard. Bolt-on type circuit breakers are particularly problematic because their line terminals are fastened to the conductors by a bolt or screw and cont...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods and systems for reducing the possibility of exposure to live parts in a panelboard and safely installing and removing a circuit breaker or other branch electrical devices from the panelboard. The disclosed embodiments provide an isolation assembly for the panelboard that prevents contact with energized portions of the circuit breaker as well as the conductors in the panelboard. Specifically, the isolation assembly covers up the energized parts of the circuit breaker, including the line terminal extending from the circuit breaker, and any accessible portion of the conductors in the panelboard. Additionally, for bolt-on type circuit breakers, conventional bolts or screws typically used to fasten the line terminals to the conductors are replaced with standoff screws that have extended lengths and that also insulate metal screwdrivers and similar tools from the energized part of the circuit breaker. Use of such an isolation assembly allows operators to safely install and remove bolt-on and other types of circuit breakers from the panelboard while also minimizing exposure to energized parts on the panelboard.

Problems solved by technology

Bolt-on type circuit breakers are particularly problematic because their line terminals are fastened to the conductors by a bolt or screw and contact with a potentially energized bolt is needed to screw and unscrew the bolt.

Moreover, shutting off power to the panelboard can be a major inconvenience, particularly for data centers, hospitals, and other critical applications that require a high availability power source.

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