Which statement below is incorrect when a circuit has been deenergized by a circuit protective device operation due to an overcurrent condition?

• A. Reset the Circuit Breaker and Re-Energize the Circuit to Locate the Fault.
• B. Deenergize the Circuit and Repair the Fault After Obtaining Proper Authorization.
• C. Replace the Fuses and Then Re-Energize the Circuit to Test the System.
• D. Reset the Circuit Breaker or Replace the Fuses Until Smoke Discloses the Point of the Fault. Then, Deenergize the Circuit and Repair the Fault.

Answer: (D)

When a circuit trips from overcurrent, the priority is safety: deenergize the circuit, secure it, and identify and repair the fault before powering again, with proper authorization and adherence to lockout/tagout procedures. The option that suggests using smoke to locate the fault and repeatedly resetting or replacing fuses to coax smoke is unsafe and inappropriate. Smoke is not a reliable or safe diagnostic method, and continuously trying to re-energize the circuit after a trip can mask the fault, risk arc flash, fire, or further equipment damage. The correct approach is to deenergize, inspect, and repair the fault after obtaining the proper authorization, then re-energize only once the system is verified safe. Replacing fuses or resetting breakers without addressing the underlying fault can lead to unsafe re-energization and ignores the need to correctly identify and fix the fault before restoring power.