[aprssig] Shack backup power service disconnect..

[Rick Green]

On Sun, 5 Jun 2011, Kriss A Kliegle wrote:

> For VERY litle money, there's a mechanical interlock available for 
> 'modern' CB panels. I have one on my Siemons panel. It allows only the 
> main breaker to power the panel or the double ganged one immediately 
> below (first two slots), but not both. Way cheaper than the DPDT switch, 
> and the meter doesn't have to be pulled off the building!
   They're available from the manufacturer for current-production models, 
but they deliberately remove them from the catalog for discontinued lines. 
So to retrofit an existing panel, you have to go to a third-party vendor, 
such as interlockkit.com.
   I've installed several, and am a firm believer.  Before you apply power, 
however, be sure to verify that you indeed cannot turn on both breakers at 
once.  I once installed a kit from a large name-brand manufacturer, on 
their own brand-new panel, and found it possible to put the lock slide in 
a mid-position which allowed me to turn on both breakers.  Needless to 
say, that panel assembly got shipped immediately to the company's 
engineering team, and I exchanged it for another panel and kit from 
another of that company's lines.

-- 
Rick Green  N8BJX

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
                                   -Benjamin Franklin

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our
safety and our ideals."
                                -President Barack Obama 20 Jan 2009