I had a electrician install a new breaker box on the outside of my
house where the old one was. The install was done Friday and
yesterday, Sunday (house is vacant) I found the main breaker tripped
and loose (I think off it's track). I called the electrician back
Monday and he was very prompt to fix it but I was not there when he
did. When I came to inspect it later the same day, I found that the
main circuit breaker was firmly in place and on but in the middle of
the breaker (main breaker looks like 2 breakers side by side with
one
lever) was a screw and washer tightened to it in the space between
the
two breaker as if it was assisting to keep the breaker in it's
present
position.

That is the way some brands work (Cutler Hammer for one).
The screw is the legal hold down

Sorry, but this
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/3676626...839537/sizes/o) just
looks wrong and jury-rigged to me, and I would also be concerned about
the screw and washer cracking the face of the breaker.

If the breakers aren't securely attached to the bus without adding
hardware, isn't there something wrong with either this particular
panel
or with the design of the damn thing?

I wouldn't want this sucker outside my house.

That is the way those breakers are supposed to work and the hold down
is required by code for one that is back fed like that

I agree, it looks perfectly legitimate to me



You guys must know what you are talking about. I debated about
calling the electrician's company but did so a little while ago. I
asked about the screw and he said it was required by code to prevent
taking out the main breaker without taking out the screw first. Maybe
that explains the notches in the sides of the breaker tho it doesn't
explain why it wasn't there in the first place. Oh well I'll assume
the three of you are correct and just let it go. Thanks for the reply
to both of you.

It's probably a convertible panel which can be used as a main breaker
panel with the proper main breaker and hold down screw. They probably just
neglected to install the screw. This can be verified if you give us the
make
and model of the panel


I will but it will be tomorrow. I don't recall seeing the name on the
breakers but I'll look more closely at both the panel and breakers.
thanks again.


*It looks like a Cutler-Hammer "BR" panel.