Where necessary to prevent ___, an automatic overcurrent device protecting service conductors supplying only a specific load, such as a water heater, shall be permitted to be locked or sealed where located so as to be accessible.

Where necessary to prevent ___, an automatic overcurrent device protecting service conductors supplying only a specific load, such as a water heater, shall be permitted to be locked or sealed where located so as to be accessible.

• A. Tripping
• B. Corrosion
• C. Heat buildup
• D. Tampering

Answer: (D)

An automatic overcurrent device that protects service conductors for a single load, like a water heater, may be locked or sealed to prevent tampering. The idea is to keep the protective device in place and unchanged, so unauthorized people can’t bypass or defeat the protection, even though the device must remain accessible to authorized personnel for work or testing. This purpose directly aligns with preventing tampering. The other options don’t address safeguarding the protective function: preventing tripping would defeat the protection mechanism, and corrosion or heat buildup aren’t the issues solved by locking or sealing in this context.

An automatic overcurrent device that protects service conductors for a single load, like a water heater, may be locked or sealed to prevent tampering. The idea is to keep the protective device in place and unchanged, so unauthorized people can’t bypass or defeat the protection, even though the device must remain accessible to authorized personnel for work or testing. This purpose directly aligns with preventing tampering. The other options don’t address safeguarding the protective function: preventing tripping would defeat the protection mechanism, and corrosion or heat buildup aren’t the issues solved by locking or sealing in this context.