Kick is the informal way operators and electricians describe a protective device opening, usually suddenly and unexpectedly: the breaker kicked, the overloads kicked out, the line kicked on lightning. The word says nothing about the cause, so experienced people follow it straight away with which element operated or what flagged.
Pump 2 kicked on overload again, third time this shift, someone check the impeller before we reset it.
Also heard as
- kick out
- pop
Related terms
Trip
To open a circuit breaker automatically through its protection, or to order a breaker open by command.
Nuisance trip
Protective device opening with no real fault present, usually from bad settings, leakage or transients.
Flag
Indicator on a protection relay showing which element or phase operated; also the verb for it showing.
Same word, different worlds
To gel or cure suddenly, as in a resin kicking in the cup or a CA kicking with accelerator.
Photonics & LasersTo start a Kerr-lens mode-locked laser by briefly disturbing the cavity so a pulse can form.
Concrete & CementTo start setting, usually sooner than the crew expected; a load that kicks stiffens fast.
RailroadingTo shove a cut of cars, uncouple it on the move and let it roll free onto a track.