Should all breakers be "bolt in" ?

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mcclary's electrical

mcclary's electrical

Senior Member
Location
VA
If you feel like trippling the cost of a breaker, other than that, lighting and other small loads will run for years and years with a stab in.
 
J

jim dungar

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
I prefer the engineered connection of Square D QO and Cutler Hammer CH breakers over the un-torqued screw connection of an equivalent bolt-on breaker. Yes there are exceptions, like re-used/abused breakers, and the 'generic' plug-on connection that every manufacturer sells.
 
Sierrasparky

Sierrasparky

Senior Member
Location
USA
Occupation
Electrician ,contractor
jim dungar said:
I prefer the engineered connection of Square D QO and Cutler Hammer CH breakers over the un-torqued screw connection of an equivalent bolt-on breaker. Yes there are exceptions, like re-used/abused breakers, and the 'generic' plug-on connection that every manufacturer sells.
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While the surface area is usually larger with a bolt-on unit than a push in . Why do you claim that the QO is more engineered than anything else out there?
Why would a QO be better than a bolt on?
 
mxslick

mxslick

Senior Member
Location
SE Idaho
480sparky said:
What's the difference between a stab-on breaker on a bus bar and sticking a cord plug into a receptacle?
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Simple: A cord plug gets inserted and removed multiple times, which helps to "wipe" the contact surfaces which can prevent oxidation build-up which could cause heating issues. A stab-on breaker typically stays in place all of its' life.

By the same token, a stab-on breaker won't eventually lose spring tension from multiple remove-insert cycles. :)
 
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wireguru

Senior Member
I vote for neither. I want a panel with wire in/wire out breakers like a QOU, and big ilsco blocks with lugs for the feeder and tap conductors from the block to each breaker. Would keep the homeowners out of the panel :)
 
J

jmellc

Senior Member
Location
Durham, NC
Occupation
Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
I've done lots of troubleshooting & mostly seen that quality breakers like QO and CHch snap on tightly to the busbars and don't give much trouble. Old Fed Pacific & Zinsco were/are terrible stab type. I don't like GE or Siemens much either. I've worked on brand new GE panels and could hear arcing in the panel before handing over to customer. I won't install new GE for that reason. So far, I think SQD Homeline is much better than others of that type. I do like bolt ins for industrial areas with high vibration. Vibration is a powerful enemy. 1 place I did a lot of work has Wsths & CH bolt in panels that have served well, also has I-Lines. I love I-Lines.
 
M

mull982

Senior Member
quogueelectric said:
I have noticed that a large motor load tends to burn up stablock connections so I advise bolt on for motor loads.
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We have had several Size 5 motors on which we have had problems with these stabs burning up and the wire between the stabs and the line side of the breaker burning up.

I have heard that it is recommended to use a bolt in breaker for these size 5 starters.
 
brian john

brian john

Senior Member
Location
Leesburg, VA
When we do IR's we seldom see connections issues with QO's but see numerous bolt CB's and connections issues. Most issues are loose bus hardware and/or stripped hardware.
 
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