"Antique"? GFCI

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g-and-h_electric

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Location
northern illinois
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supervising electrician
Hey guys, ran into this relic on a panel changeout for a municipal pool.

As I am reading the tag on it is it merely a GFCI. Therefore, can I replace it with a "plain old" panel mount GFCI breaker? I could find little more online about either the device or company than an article showing a similarly marked unit and mentioning that it is a GFCI.

It would make my changeout of an FPE "stab-loc", to a bolt on panel look so much nicer, if I didnt have to put this box of questionable operation and safety back in service

Thoughts???


Howardgfci_2.jpg
 
I completely agree with your reasoning.

Can you show us the device itself?
please1.gif
 
Just searching I found this from a June 1966 Radio-Electronics magazine on pages 88-89:

DIFFERENTIAL CIRCUIT BREAKER, model E102, the Rucker Electrical Safety Sentry for ground -fault protection.
Protects against faults in home appliances, swimming pools, and home and industrial tools.
Current balance protection: 110 -130 volts; 50-60 Hz; 0-50 amps;
sensitivity to earth leakage currents: 50 mA. Earth resistance: 2,400 ohms.
Trips in 50 msec at 50 mA. Maximum overcurrent protection: 50 amperes.
Ternperature range: -40 to +150 °F. Humidity: to 100 %. 7't x 4',3 x 3 % in.
-Electronics Div., Rucker Co.

Rucker_GFI.png
 
The term should be "historic". Of you are goong to remove it please don't scrap it. I can check eith Mike Holt to see if he would be interested.
 
Didnt get to that site today to get pictures, of the whole unit, should be there on Monday..... Anyway since the building was built around 1980 I am thinking that any "standard" class A GFCI should work. I really do not feel comfy putting this one back in service as it protects a pool light.

With that being said, the leadtime and and cost of an EATON "bab series" bolt on 20 amp single pole GFCI are ridiculous. Any reason that I couldnt use a faceless GFCI, and a regular breaker (the install is indoors, and immediately adjacent to the panel)?

And Tom, I wont throw the unit out. I will let everyone know when it is mine to "dispose" of .....


Howard
 
g-and-h_electric said:
Any reason that I couldnt use a faceless GFCI, and a regular breaker (the install is indoors, and immediately adjacent to the panel)?
Click to expand...
I would think that any compliant type of GFCI in the circuit should be fine, as long as circuit length and other characteristics aren't a nuisance-trip issue.
 
I lived in Concord, CA (where Rucker was) in the 70s back when I was an apprentice. Rucker was in the news back then because they had a big issue with the IBEW. The workers voted to unionize, the company refused to accept the vote even though most of them voted yes. I was working at a steel mill near by, we were going to strike in sympathy but it never happened (I don't know why, I was too young to care back then). Rucker sold out a few years later and disappeared and the only reason I know that is because my first job in Engineering in the 80s was at a company that was in their old building. People would still come to the door looking for them to try to get help with their products.

At 50mA trip threshold this thing was not (what would become) Class A anyway and would only be suitable as "equipment ground fault" today. For a swimming pool, it was not meeting current code, so if you replace ANYTHING you lose the grandfather clause it was probably enjoying and have to replace it anyway.
 
I did see about the strike and all. In fact that was the only info I could find about the company.

The old panel was of all things a FEDERAL PACIFIC, "stab-loc". Replacement was dictated by the addition of air-conditioning for the offices, and a new bathroom. Took one look at the panel pics and said this has to go. Aside from the brand, local code requires bolt on for all non residential applications. I was told that the original install was by a local union shop, I an shocked (bad pun) that they would have used FPE.

Anyway, I am hoping that come spring the pool light will be "happy" on a 5 mA GFCI. As a loyal follower of the pool safety articles I wont leave the old GFCI there. Even if it passed 5mA test, at the age I wouldnt trust someone's life with the reliability (tho made in USA, should be better than the overseas ones of today)

Let us as the "gods of electricity" for no leakage from the pool light on a new 5Ma GFCI come spring!


Howard
 
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