Are Circuit Breakers of different brands interchangable
MarkK
They are duals, (2 breakers in one) 20 Amps each.
One breaker is tripping from time to time for no reason that I can see and I
want to replace it to see if that solves the problem. (I know I can swap
two identical breakers to see what happens but read on....)
I see Cuttler Hammer dual breakers for sale on Ebay at a low price, makes it
not worth the time to swap them..
Are the mechanical mounting and electrical connections standardized so that
I can use Cutler Hammer breakers in a panel with Square D's?
I know I need to match the electrical ratings...
thanks
Mark
RBM
"MarkK" <mako...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:iqcog3$5lg$1...@dont-email.me...
>QO will fit. If the Square D that you have are "homeline", than a variety
>of other manufacturers will fit. If the Cutler Hammer you're looking to buy
>is "CH", with a sort of tan colored handle, it'll only fit in a "CH" panel.
>If the Cutler Hammer you're looking to buy is a "BR" with a black handle it
>will fit in the Square D, "Homeline" panel. Personally, I'd just go to
>Depot and get a Square D breaker , although from your description, I doubt
>the breaker is at fault.
Evan
Umm, no they are not, there are very few interchangeable
circuit breakers out there... Circuit breakers are made
to work with certain panels only, the ones they are
listed for... There is much more to it than the amperage
rating of the over current protection on the breaker...
The busbars in different panels are different sizes and
thicknesses and spacings, therefore the socket that
the various breakers have to accommodate the busbars
in the panels they are listed for use in varies depending
on the manufacturer and panel model line type...
Using an incorrect breaker for a panel might not be
obvious as it will "sorta fit" but won't line up properly
with the cutout in the panel cover, won't be in the
proper amount of contact with the busbar and might
not "clamp" into the panel properly...
Some questions for you are:
-- How many actual circuits are there in your panel ?
It sounds like you are pushing maximum occupancy
limits if you have double-breakers (two circuits in a
single-pole single space unit) in your panel...
-- Have you verified that the circuit is not in fact
overloaded ?
The breaker might be working perfectly and tripping
because of an overload condition even though you
aren't aware that one is occurring...
-- Is one of the circuits in the double-breaker used
close to its amperage capacity on a regular basis ?
Those neat-o double-breakers can get hot when they
are used under full load constantly, and with twice
the heat from twice the number of circuits inside
the same space normally occupied by one breaker
device, the smaller components of the two breaker
mechanisms are more susceptible to being deformed
under high load high heat conditions...
Your problem could even be from an overloaded
circuit in an adjacent breaker which has malfunctioned
and failed to trip which is causing one of the two circuits
inside the double-breaker to nuisance trip from overheating...
~~ Evan
Tony Hwang
Hi,
I don't think breakers trip with no reason unless it is defective.
First thing I'd do is switch the load side wires around to see if
problem changes. Then you can decide what to do.
>
DerbyDad03
re: "I see Cuttler Hammer dual breakers for sale on Ebay at a low
price, makes it not worth the time to swap them."
Huh? How long does it take to loosen 2 screws, swap the wires from one
breaker to another and tighten the screws up again?
You could probably do that in less time than it takes to place the
order on eBay.
hr(bob) hofmann@att.net
swap the two wires on two breakers and see if the failure follows the
wire swap or follows the breaker. it is only two screws for heaven's
sake. If you do need a new breaker, take your old one with you to
make sure you get exactly the same shape/mounting,. Every
manufacturer has many various breakers, they change from time to time
due to NEC changes and apparently identical breakers may in fact not
be identical. The store should be able to cross-reference from your
defective breaker to current production if you need a new one. You
don't say how old the breakers are..
mm
>
>"MarkK" <mako...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:iqcog3$5lg$1...@dont-email.me...
>>I have an electrical panel with Square D breakers.
>> They are duals, (2 breakers in one) 20 Amps each.
>> One breaker is tripping from time to time for no reason that I can see and
>> I
>> want to replace it to see if that solves the problem. (I know I can swap
>> two identical breakers to see what happens but read on....)
>>
>> I see Cuttler Hammer dual breakers for sale on Ebay at a low price, makes
>> it
>> not worth the time to swap them..
>>
>> Are the mechanical mounting and electrical connections standardized so
>> that
>> I can use Cutler Hammer breakers in a panel with Square D's?
>>
>> I know I need to match the electrical ratings...
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>>Well, yes, no, and maybe. If the Square D that you have are "QO", than only
>>QO will fit. If the Square D that you have are "homeline", than a variety
>>of other manufacturers will fit. If the Cutler Hammer you're looking to buy
>>is "CH", with a sort of tan colored handle, it'll only fit in a "CH" panel.
Is that what CH standa for, colored handle?
>>If the Cutler Hammer you're looking to buy is a "BR" with a black handle it
>>will fit in the Square D, "Homeline" panel. Personally, I'd just go to
>>Depot and get a Square D breaker , although from your description, I doubt
>>the breaker is at fault.
How come you doubt it?
Evan
> On Tue, 10 May 2011 21:40:48 -0400, "RBM" <r...@live.com> wrote:
>
> >"MarkK" <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
Because it sounds like the panel in question is almost barely not
overloaded... So if the panel is overpopulated it isn't that much of
a stretch of the imagination that an individual circuit in such a
panel is not likewise over capacity or suffering from voltage drop
due to a longer run with a smaller incorrectly sized wire...
~~ Evan
Smitty Two
<318807a9-7188-45f0...@hg8g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>,
Evan <evan.ne...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> almost barely not
what the devil does that collection of words mean?
RBM
"mm" <NOPSAM...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:uk1ks6dpq4lj63k5k...@4ax.com...
In 40 years as an electrician, I get many calls where the customer has a
tripping circuit breaker. It is very rare when the cause is a defective
breaker. I will say, if the OP has Homeline split circuit breakers (half
size 20-20) type, I've had instances where I've seen those breakers trip
from vibrations near the panel
>
The Daring Dufas
In a business where breakers are being tripped, I go around asking which
desks belong to women and I look under those desks. I'll bet
you know what I find. ^_^
TDD
jamesgangnc
No, you need to get a replacement breaker for your panel. The big box
diy stores have them and they are not expensive.
Stormin Mormon
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"The Daring Dufas" <the-dari...@stinky.net> wrote in
message news:iqdr7o$ttf$1...@dont-email.me...
Doug Miller
>
>In a business where breakers are being tripped, I go around asking which
>desks belong to women and I look under those desks. I'll bet
>you know what I find. ^_^
Space heaters.
Colbyt
In many cases a breaker of a different brand will work just fine.
It will not pass an electrical inspection, at least not here, because the
breakers and the box are rated based on a single brand.
Sometimes the rating standard is exactly the same and it would pass, but the
inspectors take the easy way out. I sorta understand that. Inspecting each
breaker's ratings would be a PITA.
If it looks the same, mounts the same, has the same amperage and fits the
hole in the cover most likely you will be safe using it.
Specific to tandem breakers is the lockout method that prevents too many of
them being in the same box. It might be a hook or nubs on the side. Best
thing is to take the old one with you to the BORG and find an exact match
based on physical size and amps. The local Lowes carries CH breakers, the
Murrys and some of the GE as well as the Homeline are about the same.
There are some really old CH ones that are no longer made. That panel
should be replaced completely as it was recalled.
--
Colbyt
Please come visit http://www.househomerepair.com
tra...@optonline.net
> In article
> <318807a9-7188-45f0-83d3-197a447de...@hg8g2000vbb.googlegroups.com>,
>
> Evan <evan.news.re...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> > almost barely not
>
> what the devil does that collection of words mean?
And aside from those words, what sense does the rest of it make?
It's a long leap that because the guy says his panel has half size
breakers it means that it's overloaded and that is causing the
problem. I'd give the OP some credit for having the sense to
rule that out. It's also not clear that all the breakers are half
size, he could just mean the one in question is.
Red Green
278C8F.005...@news.eternal-september.org:
Well, it's close to virtually almost barely not, but not quite.
Red Green
news:W9KdnUEbC5GpHVfQ...@insightbb.com:
Happen to have any links to that? Don't have one. More a curiosity thing.
DOn't kill yourself looking gor it.
The Ghost in The Machine
YES, YOU GOT LUCKY., THOSE TWO ARE COMPATIBLE.
IT's NO BIGGY..I'VE SEEN EM SWAPPED ALL THE TIME.
BUT IT IS ALL TO OBVIOUS YOU HAVE AN OVERLOAD CONDITION TO DEAL WITH.
BEST THAT YOU SOLVE THST FIRST.
TGITM
PAT ECUM
bob haller
a heavily loaded circuit that trips perodicaly will eventually become
more sensitive and trip more.
I have seen this in my job too.
I used to fix machines at a circuit breaker manufacturer. it was a
fascinating plant, sadly 2/3rds has been torn down only a small
facility remains today... with very few workers:(
Tom Horne
> "MarkK" <makol...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
There is an exception to the breaker of a different manufacturer not
passing electrical inspection. If the breaker of a different
manufacturer is Classified for use in that panel board it will pass
inspection if the inspector is competent.
[QUOTE]98. Classified and Listed Compatibility List - A circuit
breaker that is both Classified and
Listed is marked on the side with the statement:
"This circuit breaker is Listed for use in circuit breaker enclosures
and panelboards intended and
marked for its use. This circuit breaker is Classified for use, where
the available short-circuit current
is 10 kA, 120/240 V ac or less, in the compatible panelboards shown in
Publication No. ______
provided with this circuit breaker. When used as a Classified circuit
breaker, do not use in
equipment connected to circuits having an available system short-
circuit current in excess of 10 kA,
120/240 V ac. If additional information is necessary, contact
[Classified circuit breaker
manufacturer's name]."[/QUOTE]
As one example many of the Cutler Hammer breakers are Classified for
use in other manufacturers panels.
--
Tom Horne
Mark
> As one example many of the Cutler Hammer breakers are Classified for
> use in other manufacturers panels.
>
> --
>
> - Show quoted text -
the situation is a home not commercial, it's not MY home.
the breaker in question that trips from time to time feeds the gas
furnace, nothing else
when I go to check things out, I can start and stop the furnace and
blower many times and the breaker doesn't trip. I don't see anything
out of sorts in the furnace. No wires rubbing on sheet metal etc. I
have some experience with things electrical.
A week or so goes by and the breaker will have tripped.
The breaker may be getting old and tripping on the start up surge of
the blower...
The panal has Square D dual style breakers. Its been that way since
the house was built.
Throwing a "new" ebay breaker in there to see what happens is the
easiest as long as its <$10 or so.
So I sould have asked two questions?
1) Will a Cuttler Hammer Breaker FIT and WORK in a Sqaure D panal?
2) Is it legal?
Mark
John Grabowski
* It will not fit in a Square D QO panel. A Cutler Hammer CH (Tan handle)
breaker will only fit in a Cutler Hammer CH panel. The other type of Cutler
Hammer breaker (Black handle) may fit in a Square D Homeline panel, but it
is not approved for that. Check the labeling on the panel or cover and it
will tell you what circuit breakers are approved for that panel.
hr(bob) hofmann@att.net
Is it soo difficult to just switch two wires and see if the fault is
with the breaker or the circuit???
k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz
You dirty old man!
k...@att.bizzzzzzzzzzzz
wrote:
If $35 is "not expensive". I'd swap some wires before replacing things.
The Daring Dufas
Bingo! I love it when they plug it into the battery backup power supply.
I wind up fixing a computer that's been fed dirty power, repairing or
replacing the battery backup unit and or associated power strips that
have melted. Oh look, a receptacle, I can plug in my 1500 watt ceramic
heater and keep my legs warm! o_O
TDD
Colbyt
"Red Green" <postm...@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:Xns9EE259CD3...@69.16.185.252...
Red,
I don't and that recall was more than 25 years ago for panels made at least
35 years ago. I recall it because we had a store using that panel.
The owner did not want to upgrade the service so we just kept replacing
breakers as they died. The building is still in use so it has not burnt
down since then. :)
Colbyt
Power Electric - Orange County CA.
>
> I have an electrical panel with Square D breakers.
> They are duals, (2 breakers in one) 20 Amps each.
> One breaker is tripping from time to time for no reason that I can see and
I
> want to replace it to see if that solves the problem. (I know I can swap
> two identical breakers to see what happens but read on....)
> I see Cuttler Hammer dual breakers for sale on Ebay at a low price, makes
it
> not worth the time to swap them..
> Are the mechanical mounting and electrical connections standardized so that
> I can use Cutler Hammer breakers in a panel with Square D's?
> I know I need to match the electrical ratings...
> thanks
> Mark
Just swap the two wires and see if the other breaker trips.
If it does, you do not need a breaker, you need an electrician to
determine and correct the fault.
--
mako...@yahoo.com
Mark