It is currently Fri Apr 24, 2026 6:20 pm



Post new topic Reply to topic

How well would you trust the Arc Energy Reducing Maintenance Switch?
100% Complete Trust (a life may depend on it) 6%  6%  [ 2 ]
Moderate/Reasonable Trust (nothing is perfect) 82%  82%  [ 27 ]
Low Level of Trust 9%  9%  [ 3 ]
Not at all 3%  3%  [ 1 ]
Total votes : 33
Author Message
 Post subject: Arc Energy Reducing Maintenance Switch - Trust
PostPosted: Sun Jun 09, 2019 1:15 pm 
Plasma Level
User avatar

Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:00 pm
Posts: 1736
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
This week’s question is the beginning of a series of questions about the confidence in the ability of various devices. One such device is the Arc Energy Reducing Maintenance Switch. It is designed to provide fast fault clearing when it is enabled and reduce the incident energy to the electrical worker if an arc flash occurs.

Here is this week’s question:

How well would you trust the Arc Energy Reducing Maintenance Switch?
-100% Total Trust (a life may depend on it)
-Moderate/Reasonable Trust (nothing is perfect)
-Low Level of Trust
-Not at all


Top
 Profile Send private message  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Arc Energy Reducing Maintenance Switch - Trust
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 8:08 am 
User avatar

Joined: Mon May 25, 2015 1:17 pm
Posts: 18
Location: Northern California
As I see it a qualified person's life always depends on our calculations, and using a maintenance switch is no different for example from temporarily reducing the instantaneous setting to the minimum. I already use this by posting instructions on some older 4000A breakers so that when anyone works there they change the instantaneous from 12 to 3. I spoke to Square D about this out of concern for monthly maintenance frequent operation - perhaps the switches would fail prematurely. Fortunately they said it was not a problem.
So I do trust the maintenance switch as much as I trust our calculations = 100% and I am sure just like everyone else that I do them very carefully.


Top
 Profile Send private message  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Arc Energy Reducing Maintenance Switch - Trust
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 11:44 am 
Sparks Level

Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2019 11:42 am
Posts: 175
Definitely trust it if it is installed in switchgear. I've seen them installed in switchboards, where the main is housed in the same compartment as the feeder breakers. In that case...no trust at all.

Mike


Top
 Profile Send private message  
Reply with quote  
 Post subject: Re: Arc Energy Reducing Maintenance Switch - Trust
PostPosted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 4:15 pm 
Arc Level

Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:00 pm
Posts: 630
So what is your indication of maintenance mode, and where does it originate? If it is a toggle position, I'd say that's nearly worthless.


Top
 Profile Send private message  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
© 2022-2025 Arcflash Forum / Brainfiller, Inc. | P.O. Box 12024 | Scottsdale, AZ 85267 USA | 800-874-8883