When the overload circuit breakers are open, what condition exists?

When overload circuit breakers are open, it indicates that the electrical circuit has acted to prevent damage caused by excessive current. This action is primarily protective and retains the condition of the primary system. As a result, the primary remains energized, meaning that electrical power is still present at that level.

While the secondary could potentially be affected, the status of the primary being energized is crucial because the circuit breakers are designed to mitigate overloads without necessarily shutting down the entire system. Therefore, the primary components and related equipment could still be operational, assuming no other faults exist elsewhere in the system.

This is vital for linemen and electrical technicians, as they need to understand that breakers protect circuits but do not inherently denote complete system shutdown, allowing for continued operation of other components or systems unless stated otherwise.