Quote Originally Posted by Big Sexy View Post
I am assuming this was done for demonstration purposes. I cannot imagine any experienced electrician or lineman would have terminated the wires that terribly. A side note I was a a union electrician for many years and have had a 3 phase panel “smoke phases” in my face one time. Can’t say I enjoyed it, but was definitely an experience.
The thing is this may have been done in any number of countries and was most probably used as a construction or temporary panel where just about anyone with a screw driver may have added wires to suit their needs.
If it had been done for demonstration purposes I should think the person activating the breaker would have used a long non conducting device such as a stick to flip the breaker and not have risked personal injury.
It could have even been a staged explosion with combustible media involved for a dramatic effect, but again if so why risk your hand

Side note he did practice the 1 hand in the panel rule LOL