What Is A Dead Front?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Dead front is defined in Article 100 of the NEC as

being “without live parts exposed to a person on the operating side of the equipment

.” Section 408.38 requires that panelboards be mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes or enclosures designed for the purpose and shall be dead front.

What is a dead front cover?

An electric panel will generally have one or two covers. Panels with two covers have an outer cover (which will open to the side or upwards) and an inner cover, called a “Dead Front”. The dead front cover normally has

the slots / knockouts for the breakers to fit into

.

What is a Deadfront?

:

a switchboard with no live or energized parts on the operating side

.

What is a dead front connector?

The face of a dead front plug is

either factory sealed, secured with screws, or openable only from the back

, so that there is no possiblity of exposing live wires behind the plug prongs. … It is an old-style plug and they have not been legal for sale in the US for many years.

What is the difference between live front and dead front transformers?

Live-front (Porcelain type): The voltage-carrying parts are exposed. Livefront terminations have high voltage connectors, arresters, or fuses are exposed to the operator after cabinet has been opened. Dead-front (separable insulated connector type): Often referred to as deadfront bushings.

What is a dead front GFCI?

A dead-front GFCI is

a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter without receptacle ports

.

Does an electrical panel need a cover?


Panels on the exterior of a home needs to have a cover

. Damaged covers or panels without a cover may allow rain and snow to enter the panel and this could become dangerous, as well as a loss of power may occur.

Can a GFCI be inside a cabinet?

It applies to all five first-level subdivisions in Section 210.8. GFCI protection is required for receptacles installed less than 6 feet from sinks. … This means our measurement of the shortest path to the sink would be through an opening with a cabinet door. Therefore,

GFCI protection is not required for the receptacle

.

What is MSB in ship?

The Main switch board is an intermediate installation in the ship’s power distribution circuit connecting the power generators and power consumers. … Therefore, different safety devices are used on board ship and installed on the

main switchboard

(MSB) and electrical distribution panels.

Do outlets in cabinets need to be GFCI?

Outlets installed inside the cabinets and those hidden behind large appliances, like refrigerators,

do not need GFCI outlets

.

What is an open front plug?

Open front plugs have

an insulating cover over the face of the plug that is easily removable

. This is an old-style plug and they have not been legal for sale in the US for many years. The panel covering the wiring was sometimes even just heavy cardboard, and a damaged or torn off cover exposed live wiring.

Should an open front plug be replaced with a dead front plug?

Replace open front plugs with dead front plugs. Dead front plugs are sealed and present less danger of shock or short circuit.

What is a blank face GFCI used for?

It looks like a push-button wall switch to some people, but is actually a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) device that

provides shock protection for a remote appliance or receptacles

, and is called “dead front GFCI” or sometimes “blank face GFCI.” One is shown above at left, next to a regular GFCI receptacle on …

What is a loop feed transformer?

A loop-feed transformer has

two separate fully rated connection points per phase

. This allows the parallel connection of two or more transformers on one circuit.

What are GFCI plugs?

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet is

a special type of circuit breaker that can automatically shut off power directly at the outlet when it detects an electrical fault

. … Damp areas can make you prone to dangerous electric shock but using a GFCI outlet can greatly reduce your risk of injury.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.