When circuit breakers are installed with the switch operation either UP or DOWN, pulling DOWN on the handle turns the breaker ___.

When circuit breakers are installed with the switch operation either UP or DOWN, pulling DOWN on the handle turns the breaker ___.

• A. OFF
• B. ON
• C. TRIPPED
• D. RESET

Answer: (A)

The handle movement on a circuit breaker controls whether the circuit is connected or disconnected. When you pull the handle downward, the internal mechanism drives the contacts apart, opening the circuit. That downward movement is the position that results in OFF, so pulling DOWN turns the breaker OFF. (The ON position is achieved when the contacts are closed, which is the opposite handle direction in the installation being described.) If a trip occurs, the breaker would be in the TRIPPED state, and you’d need to RESET after a trip to reclose it.

The handle movement on a circuit breaker controls whether the circuit is connected or disconnected. When you pull the handle downward, the internal mechanism drives the contacts apart, opening the circuit. That downward movement is the position that results in OFF, so pulling DOWN turns the breaker OFF. (The ON position is achieved when the contacts are closed, which is the opposite handle direction in the installation being described.) If a trip occurs, the breaker would be in the TRIPPED state, and you’d need to RESET after a trip to reclose it.