Nobody in town had a 20amp siemans breakers so I used a eaton breaker. In fits and works. Now I'm reading about compatibility and make start a fire. Regardless I plan on putting the right breaker in once home depot gets one. Is this something I should be concerned about? Just a home owner trying to get the microwave working lol.
Eaton breaker in Siemens panel
- Thread starter Tudmutt
- Start date
- Status
JJWalecka
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
siemans will state only siemans breakers are listed
JJWalecka
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
I would change it. seimans breaker in a seimans panel
qcroanoke
Sometimes I don't know if I'm the boxer or the bag
- Location
- Roanoke, VA.
- Occupation
- Sorta retired........
If it will give you a warm fuzzy go ahead.
But there are panels out there with the wrong breakers in them but they fit and will never be a problem. They are just not listed to be in that panel.
And I have never seen " an Eaton breaker in a Siemens panel could cause a fire" in anything I have ever read.
letgomywago
Senior Member
- Location
- Washington state and Oregon coast
- Occupation
- residential electrician
It'll work and probably won't burn up but if it does it'll be on you no warranty. If you get an Eaton Classified then it's legal but HD won't have that.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
And, just to mention it, it's not actually breaker maker that must be compatible, but breaker type.
It works out because each manufacturer usually has their own breaker type: CH, QO, BR, MPT, etc.
It works out because each manufacturer usually has their own breaker type: CH, QO, BR, MPT, etc.
- Location
- Tennessee NEC:2017
- Occupation
- Semi-Retired Electrician
Do you not have a supply house in your town? I only go to the "Big Box" if I need something after the SH closes, or something they don't carry. Maybe wire if it's on sale.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Most of those breakers that ’fit’ will work. CYA and replace it when possible but you should have been able to tell if was making good connection to the buss when installed. Its not rocket science.
Birken Vogt
Senior Member
- Location
- Grass Valley, Ca
Seems like 80% of the panels in my town are Siemens or CH-BR and have both types installed side by side by hacks. With a little bit of HOM thrown in. Never seem to catch fire.
letgomywago
Senior Member
- Location
- Washington state and Oregon coast
- Occupation
- residential electrician
I've seen large breakers have issues when not seated right but 15 and 20 amp ones just don't have enough of a resistance to heat up the connection
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
IDR what brand they were now but I was warning the homeowner about incorrect brands as i took the panel cover off. Two fell out. Easiest sell I ever made.
letgomywago
Senior Member
- Location
- Washington state and Oregon coast
- Occupation
- residential electrician
Challenger?
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
I don't remember. 30 plus years ago?
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
To be clear, the breakers that fell out were not the same mfg as the load center.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
Apparently a pushover.
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
The Eaton CL series breakers are UL Classified for use in most Siemens panels. The Eaton BR series are not. Using a breaker that is not listed for use in a panel is a Code violation.
The BR breakers will not spontaneously combust or anything. But using a breaker that is not listed for use in a panel runs a risk in terms of your homeowners insurance policy. IF there is a problem with a cause that can be traced to that circuit, the fact that the breaker is a Code violation and not listed for use in that panel gives them and automatic out on having to pay for the damages. In addition, if you go to sell the house and sign the declaration stating that all work was done to Code, you are technically committing fraud.
So is it a risk to put it in for a week or two? If it was an Eaton CL Series, no. If it was an Eaton BR, not much.
The BR breakers will not spontaneously combust or anything. But using a breaker that is not listed for use in a panel runs a risk in terms of your homeowners insurance policy. IF there is a problem with a cause that can be traced to that circuit, the fact that the breaker is a Code violation and not listed for use in that panel gives them and automatic out on having to pay for the damages. In addition, if you go to sell the house and sign the declaration stating that all work was done to Code, you are technically committing fraud.
So is it a risk to put it in for a week or two? If it was an Eaton CL Series, no. If it was an Eaton BR, not much.
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