Certified Fire Investigator Practice Exam

Can a de-energized circuit breaker show a tripped position?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only if it is old

4. Only if it was previously in use

The correct answer is: Yes

A de-energized circuit breaker can indeed show a tripped position due to its design and function. When circuit breakers trip, they move to a specific position that indicates a fault has occurred, such as an overload or a short circuit. This tripped position remains even when the circuit is de-energized, as the mechanism that indicates the tripped status is independent of the power supply. Additionally, this tripped indication serves as a safety feature, allowing firefighters and investigators to identify that an issue has been detected by the circuit breaker, regardless of whether the electricity is currently flowing through the circuit. This characteristic emphasizes the importance of understanding electrical components in fire investigations, as it can provide insights into potential electrical failures or hazards that contributed to a fire incident. While the other options suggest varying conditions under which a tripped position might be seen, they do not reflect the fundamental operation of circuit breakers that allows them to retain their tripped status even when not energized.