What is PanelSafe?
PanelSafe is a device, which is permanently mounted to the
dead front of a circuit breaker panel that allows individual
or multiple circuits to be locked off simultaneously.
Why is it important to lock off cir cuits?
OSHA, in its standard 1910.147, requires power to be
locked off at the power source any time routine
maintenance of equipment, lighting or machinery is being
performed. The procedure is called lockout/tagout.
How is PanelSafe attached to the dead front?
It should be attached using the self-tapping screws that are
provided (no shavings will fall into the panel). It is a good
practice to always turn off the power.
Will it fit all my panels or just the Square D
load center that I see in your literature?
It will fit any manufactured panel.
How can PanelSafe work on any panel?
It works based on the distance of the centers from breaker
handle to breaker handle. You start by measuring the
distance from the center of the top breaker to the center of
the breaker handle directly beneath it. Then you count the
number of breakers on one side of the panel. Using these
two measurements you are ready to order the proper unit.
Suppose the panel has a bead running down
the center keeping the PanelSafe unit from
laying flat?
On distribution panels (usually GE) where a raised, round
bead runs down the center of the dead front the slotted
shim (PS-SH2) must be used. It fits over the bead and
provides a flat surface on which to mount the PanelSafe
unit. These are available only in pairs.
I have ITE panels and they have a V notch
extending down the length of the dead front.
Can PanelSafe work on these units?
Yes, you would use the V-notch shim, PS-SH4 to make the
installation.
I have a destruction panel where the body of
each breaker extends out beyond the level of
the dead front. How do I r emedy that?
By using either PS-SH1, which is an 1/8" shim, or PS-SH3,
which is an 1/2" shim. This shim is used primarily on
Square D and some GE panels where the breaker is exposed
1/2" abov e the dead front. If either of these doesn’t work
then you may hav e to mak e a shim that will fit correctly.
Maintenance people should hav e no trouble figuring this out.
When are of fset brackets used?
They are used with a P anelSafe unit when break ers are
recessed below the dead front and no area is available to
mount a PanelSafe unit by standard means. Theses are only
available in pairs and are either 2" long (PS-OB1) or 3 1/2"
long (PS-OB2).
Suppose I can’t mount a PanelSafe unit down
the center of a panel.
This would probably occur because there is no center (only
the plastic breaker casing) or because the pins used to
secure the breaker in the off position will not reach the
breaker handle in the off position. These panels require
multiple PanelSafe units and in many, if not most cases,
offset brackets. The offset brackets, PS-OB1 or PS-OB2,
may be mounted to the rise on the outside of the panel.
The PanelSafe is then attached to the offset brackets.
Remember, if you are mounting the PanelSafe on offset
brackets, you will now need to Pull the breaker to the off
position because the unit is positioned to the outside of the
breaker handle. This requires that a hook pin (PS-HP) be
used. It would probably be wise to order an extra package
of hook pins when this situation occurs.
Can I lockout twin, half-size or piggyback
breakers?
Yes. Where twin or piggyback breakers are being used,
you should order PS-SP05. This pin allows you to lockout
either twin alone by simply rotating the pin 180° for either
the top or bottom breaker.
You mention in the literatur e that a cir cuit can
be secured “on”. Wher e would it make sense
to do that?
A circuit can be secured “on” when it is po wering something
that you don’t want inadv ertently turned of f. Examples w ould
be fire alarm systems, computer systems, runway lights at
airports, etc. Drug companies particularly like this feature
since they often ha v e experiments running that w ould be
rendered useless if the power w ould be turned of f.
If the circuit is secur ed “on”, will it trip?
Yes, it will still trip because the breakers trip internally.
3M™PanelSafe™Lockout System
Frequently A sked Questions