Re: Why deliberately shorting equipment to blow breakers might be a bad idea . . .

[spamTHISbrp@xxxxxxxxx]

dpb wrote:
> spamTHIS...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > z wrote:
> > > Robert Green wrote:
> > > > I can't recall whether it was here in CHA or in alt.home.repair (hence the
> > > > crosspost) but I am certain I read messages from people who short outlets or
> > > > wiring with a screwdriver (instead of using a meter or a fox and hound toner
> > > > set) to find the controlling circuit breaker for that branch.  The article
> > > > below points out the possible downside of that approach:
> > > >
> > > > Missouri: Inquiry Ties Wiring to Fatal Group Home Fire
> > > >
> > > >  http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/20/us/20brfs-Fire.html
> > > >
> > > > By LIBBY SANDER
> > > > Published: December 20, 2006
> > > > Hours before a fire killed 10 people in a group home for the mentally ill
> > > > and disabled on Nov. 27 in Anderson, a maintenance worker trying to repair a
> > > > furnace short-circuited wiring in the attic, where fire investigators said
> > > > they believed that the fire started. ...
> > > >
> ...
> > > Then what the Hell good are the circuit breakers?
> >
> > The problem occurrs when there is some part of the system between the
> > shorting-point and the breaker that is not up to code.
>
> But if that is the case (as at least one poster has said was reported
> in the subject event), it's also the case whether the short is induced
> intentionally or not and so it isn't the shorting that's the
> fundamental problem but the other fault.  If the intentional short
> causes a catastrophic problem, it's highly likely an unintentional one
> will, too.

Yes, that's a given.

Would it be morally wrong to short outlets during a home inspection?

Dave