Home Security: Breaker Box

[james_bond_007]

After moving here several years ago from the Midwest, I've always wondered why the Breaker Boxes of many houses are located outdoors.

All of the ones I encountered in the Midwest were indoors: either in a house, a garage, or a shed.

I've heard various rumors, such as
a) Required by code in many cities
b) So if there is a fire, the fire department can shut off the power

But it has always puzzled me as to the real reason.

It seems odd that, if during a rain/electrical storm, a breaker trips, I have to go OUTSIDE and stick my hands in the breaker box to reset the breakers. ...seems UNSAFE.
(I have no fear of resetting the breaker, but DO have a fear of lighting zapping the box in a rainstorm WHILE I'm doing it, am pretty wet from rain, and am a good 'conductor')

Also, if "I" were a burglar, one of the first things I'd do is snip off the sheet metal hasp on the breaker box, by the lock, or pry of the cheap built-i n cylinder lock, and turn off the power.
Perhaps there are more secure boxes than the one I have seen ?

OR


NOTE: Neighborhood is 25-30 years old

[nogaroheli]

Wow, having it outside does seem crazy. Mine have always been inside the garage so I doubt it's a code requirement. I'd be interested to hear the reason for them being outside.

[Wulf202]

Why would you turn off the power if you were a burglar?

[Alpha2]

Mine is in the garage, 21 year old house, or thereabouts.

Burglars turn off the power to disable landline phones, (doesn't work, only turns off the ringer, but hey, they're not the brightest bulb in the box), burglar alarms, and generally discumbobulate the residents.

Or so I'm told.

[68Charger]

Umm- what about your power meter? most of them are secured with a "seal", that once removed the meter can be pulled off (which cuts off the main power feed to the house)..

I think the OP is concerned about home invaders (not burglary)

[BushMasterBoy]

Make sure a ground rod is close to the box and a large wire connected to the ground! We are a little above sea level here! We have dry lightning and even winter lightning.

[TheGrey]

Mine is outside, too, along with the meter. It caught on fire in September 2012. I'd LOVE to know the logic behind having it outside.

[rbeau30]

I am also concerned about this... Since you posted this, I realize that a simple padlock on that little tiny ring really is not going to stop anybody.

PLUS! How far away is your nearest outdoor Electrical outlet? Plug in an angle grinder, and voila! you are in most any security feature you could install.

Mine has a camera (CCTV and Game camera that I move around all the time) pointing right at it that is motion activated.

[rondog]

They're probably outside because it's cheaper for the builders when the cheap bastards are building these modern crackerbox houses. Anything to save a buck and inflate profits a hair. FWIW, I have a Master padlock on mine just to discourage mischief - teenagers have been known to fiddle with things they shouldn't.

[def90]

The house I rented in Boulder had it on the outside, girlfriends house in Evergreen has it outside and my sisters brand new home (in 2000) in Highlands Ranch had it on the outside. I'm also from the midwest and I work in home construction, never saw a box outdoors until I moved here.