Any value for 120CAFI breakers with the neutral wire clipped off short?

[11bgrunt]

Used breakers pulled from existing QO & HOM panels during panel upgrades..
When the 120V combos were removed, the neutral wire that is part of that breaker was clipped off close to the breaker. There are hundreds of these stored in the corner....
Should they all go to the dumpster?

 

[jim dungar]

The breaker needs the neutral for its test circuitry. If you can't splice it, then you might as well dump them.

 

[infinity]

I agree with Jim, if you have an inch or two of conductor it can be spliced and the breakers can be reused.

 

[ptonsparky]

Why would you even think of recycling old AFCIs?
Standard, yes.
GFCI, yes if the trip function works.

 

[jaggedben]

What a waste.

 

[electrofelon]

Why would you even think of recycling old AFCIs?

I agree. I think generally afci's have gotten a little better as far as nuisance tripping goes, I don't think it's worth using something that may be a few years old and not have the latest revisions.

 

[ramsy]

What a waste.

At $60+.ea that was my initial reaction too. Then I thought why go thru such trouble to make them un-usable?

If house flippers don't care about leaving pigtail when ripping out AFCI's after inspection, maybe the remodel or general contractor didn't do this.

If AFCI's failed in on position, maybe someone didn't wan't contractors using them to pass future inspections, and made sure they were un-usable.

 

[mtnelect]

After a project is completed ... either recycle, or it's going in the dumpster. The customer paid for new material, and using your recycled material could get you in a bind down the road anyway.

What scared me "straight" on hoarding was a neighbor whose husband passed away (Electrical Contractor) and asked me if I was interested in some electrical material, since I was also an electrical contractor. I took a look; the whole garage was filled to the rafters with all types of electrical materials. She stated that her husband never through anything away, and I believe her.

 

[letgomywago]

After a project is completed ... either recycle, or it's going in the dumpster. The customer paid for new material, and using your recycled material could get you in a bind down the road anyway.

What scared me "straight" on hoarding was a neighbor whose husband passed away (Electrical Contractor) and asked me if I was interested in some electrical material, since I was also an electrical contractor. I took a look; the whole garage was filled to the rafters with all types of electrical materials. She stated that her husband never through anything away, and I believe her.

I will reuse metal 4 squares in walls and stuff no problem. Mudrings too. I don't reuse breakers that I sell to people but I do save certain ones that will get me out of a bind like 25 and 35 amp ones that are newer.