Why are the breakers unusually heavy and why are some of them locked on?
Asked by Maximiliano Holguín 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 30, 2024
Huh, I’ve never come across this before. Hey, why do the breakers feel so heavy? And why are some of them locked on?
No content
The lock is in place to ensure the breaker is securely turned off. Unfortunately, there is no disconnect switch visible near the equipment.
20 items are most likely for the kitchen and laundry.
These are Homeline Quads, with two single poles in the center and one on each side. They only take up two spaces in the load center to control two single pole 120V loads and one two-pole 240V load.
The term “locked on” can be a bit misleading. While it does prevent the circuit breaker from being turned off, these locks do not stop the breaker from tripping. Instead, they prevent the breaker from being reset and power restored until the lock is removed. I haven’t seen them used in residential settings, but they are commonly used in commercial applications to ensure that trips are verified before power is restored.