DTE
Well-known member
Just curious, does anyone have a shop without switches for the lights , where the breakers are used to turn the lights off and on ?
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Using the breakers as the switch
- Thread starter DTE
- Start date
vmusch
Well-known member
Yes I do, I hate it and I am changing it soon. It was something I let another person talk me into did not seem like a big deal at the time. Several things, the panel is really not conveniently located, I must leave the panel door open. A switch we can install anyplace. The breakers are not really designed to be flipped 3-4 times day. When someone else is with me I have to turn the lights off and on, to much trouble to explain the clearly marked breakers..........
doan
Well-known member
And.... I switch plus a box and a few wire nuts is less than $2
89GLH
Well-known member
My buddy has a 40x60 shop with the panel right next to the entrance door, and he just flips the main breaker on when he gets started, and flips it off when he leaves for the night. Easy to verify the meter, no bleeding circuits. All the cordless stuff charges when hes working, no big deal waiting for stuff.
APEowner
Well-known member
I used to run a motorcycle repair shop that was setup that way. It worked fine. The panel was right next to the door an I could kill everything on the way out.
When I built my NY shop however, I put switches for all the lights by the door. It accomplished the same thing and seemed more appropriate somehow. I can't say that it worked any better or worse however.
When I built my NY shop however, I put switches for all the lights by the door. It accomplished the same thing and seemed more appropriate somehow. I can't say that it worked any better or worse however.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Many commercial places I worked at were like that except for a couple of "night lights" that could not be turned off.
Alan Douglas
Well-known member
The company I worked for did that: breakers off every night except for certain ones painted orange. After 20 years or so, the breakers started failing.
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
The hardware store I worked at in HS was setup that way. Real smart having to walk through a dark store in the morning to turn all the breakers on...NOT!
hd54kh
Well-known member
Just thinking.... isn't a breaker an overload device and not designed as a switching device.
Terry
Terry
danfromsyr
Well-known member
yep, panel box is right next to the door.
though I only switch the 3 lighting circuits and the compressor circuit..
leave all the others on..
I don't have a master breaker at the top
breaker panel was old when I bought the place 18yrs ago.. still working fine..
though I only switch the 3 lighting circuits and the compressor circuit..
leave all the others on..
I don't have a master breaker at the top
breaker panel was old when I bought the place 18yrs ago.. still working fine..
Just thinking.... isn't a breaker an overload device and not designed as a switching device.
Terry
The SWD rating means it suitable for switching flourescent luminaries.
Trey T
Well-known member
If you have lighting running 24hrs, there's no reason to have a switch. If you turn it off nightly, use a switch .... plain and simple.
There maybe a different school of thoughts on it but for me, if you have to switch it on and off, you want it to be user friendly and have a switch.
There maybe a different school of thoughts on it but for me, if you have to switch it on and off, you want it to be user friendly and have a switch.
trainer
Well-known member
We used to have that setup at work, but the breakers would only last a few years.
There's 8 lighting circuits, each 120v-20 amps. Now they are switched using 3 contactors and 3 regular switches to operate the contactors.
We could have switched them all on a single switch , but this configuration lets us switch off sections of lights if needed.
There's 8 lighting circuits, each 120v-20 amps. Now they are switched using 3 contactors and 3 regular switches to operate the contactors.
We could have switched them all on a single switch , but this configuration lets us switch off sections of lights if needed.
nehog
Well-known member
I use the breaker to switch my compressor (I only use it occasionally). Works fine, but never (in my case) for lights as it is behind the door when I open the door. If it was beside the door I might have considered it, but since I have six (seven if you count the outdoor light) switches fed by two breakers, switches were also cheaper.
My garage is set up with the overhead fluorescent lights on 3 breakers. The panel is right behind the entry door and I switch them on most times I'm in there. I do have a switch inside the door with two regular bulbs on it so I have light to see the panel, and to run in and grab a tool or something if needed.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
The SWD rating means it suitable for switching flourescent luminaries.
The only breakers I have seen that have SWD labeled on them are the Eaton CH breakers. I didnt think every brand of breaker was SWD rated. Do u know if other brands are?