Electrical panel lockout

An electrical service panel system, the system comprising:

• an electrical service panel including a backbox and a panel cover removably securable to the backbox at least by a first peripheral screw and a second peripheral screw, and a door hinged to the panel cover between the first peripheral screw and the second peripheral screw;
• and
• an electrical service panel lockout device to block access to the interior of the electrical service panel, the device comprising:
• an outer tube including a first slot extending from a first end of the outer tube toward a second end of the outer tube and configured to receive the head of the first peripheral screw via the first slot to the interior of the outer tube;
• an inner tube including a second slot extending from a first end of the inner tube toward a second end of the inner tube and configured to telescope with respect to the outer tube across the panel cover and the door from a first position to a second extended position to receive the head of the second peripheral screw via the second slot to the interior of the inner tube;
• a locking means for locking the inner tube in the second extended position with respect to the outer tube to block removal of the panel cover from the backbox and to block opening of the door with respect to the panel cover;
• and
• an extension member comprising:
• an extension tube including a third slot extending from a first end of the extension tube toward a second end of the extension tube and configured to extend the outer tube to receive the head of the first peripheral screw via the third slot to the interior of the extension tube;
• and
• a coupling extending from the second end of the extension tube and configured to be inserted inside the first end of outer tube to secure the extension tube to the outer tube.

A method of blocking access to the interior of an electrical service panel that includes a backbox, a panel cover removably securable to the backbox at least by a first peripheral screw and a second peripheral screw, and a door hinged to the panel cover between the first peripheral screw and the second peripheral screw, the method comprising:

• providing an outer tube configured to receive the head of the first peripheral screw to the interior of via a first slot in the outer tube that extends from a first end of the outer tube toward a second end of the outer tube;
• securing an extension tube to the outer tube via coupling that extends from a second end of the extension tube and inserts into the first end of the outer tube;
• receiving the head of the first peripheral screw to the interior of the extension tube via a second slot in the extension tube that extends from a first end of the extension tube toward the second end of the extension tube;
• telescoping an inner tube with respect to the outer tube from a first position across the panel cover and the door to a second extended position to receive the head of the second peripheral screw to the interior of the inner tube via a third slot in the inner tube that extends from a first end of the inner tube toward a second end of the inner tube;
• and
• locking the inner tube in the second extended position with respect to the outer tube to block removal of the panel cover from the backbox and to block opening of the door with respect to the panel cover.