Which components often have interlocks requiring power to be off before being opened?

The answer is focused on electrical panel doors, which often have interlocks that prevent them from being opened while power is still supplied to the system. This is a crucial safety feature designed to protect workers from electrical shock or injury. Electrical panels carry high voltage and opening the doors while power is live can expose personnel to dangerous conditions.

Interlocks in electrical panels ensure that the door cannot be opened unless the power is turned off, providing a necessary safeguard in environments where handling or servicing electrical components is routine. This design eliminates the risk of inadvertently touching live components, which can lead to severe accidents or fatalities.

In contrast, while other components like transformers, circuit breakers, and disconnect switches have their own safety mechanisms, they serve different purposes and may not always have interlocks specifically preventing access while powered. Transformers do not typically feature interlocks on their enclosures; rather, they focus on cooling and load management. Circuit breakers are designed to interrupt current flow during faults but don’t necessarily restrict access unless integrated within a panel that has interlock features. Disconnect switches are usually designed to isolate power but may not enforce access limits like locked panels do.