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Amateur question

6K views 69 replies 11 participants last post by  Rob1975 
#1 ·
Hey guys!! I have a question which most of you will probably feel like it's a dum question but I don't know the answer, so I'm gonna ask. I was changing a temp receptical at work and I was doing it "live". My boss was walking by and saw me so he stopped and said "I know your not working live"(that's a big no-no in my company). So being that the panel was about 50 feet from where I was, and I was feeling to lazy to walk all the way over there, i tried to trip the breaker by striking the hot across the grounding conductor but the breaker didn't trip. I was just wondering how is that possible. A coworker told me that the circuit wasn't grounded properly which I disagree with. If anyone knows, please post. Thank you!
 
#3 ·
That has got to be one of the stupidest stunts on the planet.

Never work live, being a rookie that goes double!!!!
Never try to short out the circuit.

If you got sparks, then the circuit was grounded.

I think your boss needs to give you a few days off to think about how stupid you were!!!!!!!!!


Did I point out how stupid that was?????

Your coworker a real jem also!
 
#5 ·
Hope your co-workers and friends aren't that lazy. If they are they might not carry your casket.

There are very few reasons to work live, even if you are experienced and have the proper PPE. Changing a receptacle is not one.
 
#7 ·
Even shorted to the neutral it would not matter. Where do the neutral and grounds connect to in service equipment? What is the purpose of the ground in the event of a fault?
 
#11 ·
You have heard it already so I won't harp on it, but the previous posts although abrasive are correct.

The question I have is, when you shorted the line did you indeed get any sparks? You haven't said whether you did or not.

If you did then I would be looking at replacing the breaker.

If you did not get sparks then you didn't ground the circuit (a foolish thing to do intentionally)

Any time line comes in contact with neutral or ground without a load (a dead short) the breaker must trip, if it doesn't then the breaker is faulty.

Mark
 
#13 ·
A momentary short might not trip the breaker.
 
#14 ·
Given the human reaction time of 1/10 of second and a breaker reaction time of 1.5 cycles, (trip timing of a typical breaker) I am truly doubtfull of your statement.

If the OP shorted the circuit the breaker should have tripped period.

Mark
 
#16 ·
Jackofall1 said:
You have heard it already so I won't harp on it, but the previous posts although abrasive are correct.

The question I have is, when you shorted the line did you indeed get any sparks? You haven't said whether you did or not.

If you did then I would be looking at replacing the breaker.

If you did not get sparks then you didn't ground the circuit (a foolish thing to do intentionally)

Any time line comes in contact with neutral or ground without a load (a dead short) the breaker must trip, if it doesn't then the breaker is faulty.

Mark
Yea I did ground the circuit and yes I did get sparks
 
#20 ·
The significant bonding in this discussion is where the ground wire (equipment grounding conductor; EGC) from the receptacle in question connects to the fat service entrance neutral. Most likely this is through the ground bus bar of the breaker panel then through the back of the panel to the neutral bus bar.
 
#21 ·
AllanJ said:
The significant bonding in this discussion is where the ground wire (equipment grounding conductor; EGC) from the receptacle in question connects to the fat service entrance neutral. Most likely this is through the ground bus bar of the breaker panel then through the back of the panel to the neutral bus bar.
The jumper
 
#26 ·
Code05 said:
I think you need to go to school/classes. You lack basic training.

I sound harsh, but it is true.
I hate it when someone insults my intelligence! I just asked if I was completing the circuit by touching the hot and GEC together and "YOU SAID NO". Then you come back with your last post. Your contradicting yourself here dude.
 
#31 ·
You do not complete a circuit by touching a hot to a GEC.

The GEC is connected to the service neutral, so it will " complete the circuit" in a round about way. Not the dirt!!!!. The bond at the panel.

I am not insulting you, I am explaining gaps in your knowledge base.
 
#27 ·
I'm wondering what the boss was thinking in having someone with no training, a self proclaimed "amateur", doing electrical work at a place of business.

Is this in the USA?
 
#30 ·
fabrk8r said:
I'm wondering what the boss was thinking in having someone with no training, a self proclaimed "amateur", doing electrical work at a place of business.

Is this in the USA?
I never said that i was a amature, go back and read it again. And i do have training sir. I'm in my third year. And my boss likes me alot. I do great work. That's why I have gotten a raise every time I was evaluated
 
#35 ·
Rob1975 said:
Am I missing something, isn't the thread title "Amateur Question". Sunny, if you are going to ask a question on a forum, be prepared for the answers. If you think they are insulting, look back at the question and ask yourself was that a dumb question.
Well at times you guys are a really rough crowd but very informative. Despite the yelling and insults, I learn alot from this forum. That's why I'm gonna continue asking question dispite the beatings I may take
 
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