Submitted by DonHester on Sun, 02/16/2014 - 17:52.
When is a circuit breaker not a circuit breaker? Wenatchee Home Inspection Services
Odd question you think? Well there is such a case and it is very common with exterior HVAC equipment.
It is a called a disconnect switch (yeah I know it technically not a breaker, but it looks like one).
With a disconnect switch it is intended to be opened manually but it is not intended to be opened or interrupted by a fault (so not a circuit breaker). What it does have is a "withstand rating" which is its ability to hold together when subjected to fault current.
These molded case switches are identical to breakers in that they use the same plastic casing except inside the y are only a switching device, so no overcurrent protection.
When you encounter one of these you must look in the breaker or fuse panel for the overcurrent protection for that circuit to ensure that they are properly protected per the rating of the HVAC equipment. (Here is a link to an article- Air Condition and Heat Pump over current protection and wire sizes ).
Knowing what you are looking at will help you with making proper observations.
“The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant.”
Plato
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