getting a new main breaker on a holiday weekend

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tonyou812

tonyou812

Senior Member
Location
North New Jersey
I have a customer that says their 600 main breaker is tripping periodically. The breaker shows signs of water infiltration. I took an amp reading and it is well under the breaker's limit. Is it possible to get a new breaker in NJ this weekend?
 
At least two of my local supply houses are available for "emergency hours". If you regularly deal with a supply house that deals the brand you need, that is where to start.
I have seen main breakers and panels that had to be made at the factory ordered and shipped in a couple of days.
 
Being from a relative "small town" type of area, I just call up the counter guys at home and see who can go in and unlock to sell me something. Saves a lot of time over using the supply house's emergency number, which probably goes through a lot of red tape before it calls the counter guy at home anyhow. Maybe this is now your head's up to start collecting cell phone numbers of your supply house guys.

On a related note, just because you measured an amp draw that's fine now doesn't mean much. You really need to do a megger check.
 
I've had better luck with some of the larger contractors in my area on large frame breakers. As for supply houses opening up I have most of them on Nextel and can reach them fairly easily.
 
tonyou812 said:
I have a customer that says their 600 main breaker is tripping periodically. The breaker shows signs of water infiltration. I took an amp reading and it is well under the breaker's limit. Is it possible to get a new breaker in NJ this weekend?
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what type of breaker?
 
At least its tripping, just changed a 600 on a drug store that would not trip, A tornado went thru the area and they wanted a temporary generator on the store, main would not turn off with the handle, but was finally able to turn it off with the trip test button, but then only "A" and "B" phase opened. Had to cut the service loose and connect the generator there. Ran the store for two weeks on generator until Square D could build a new breaker. There are companies that rebuild old obsolete breakers.
 
tonyou812 said:
I have a customer that says their 600 main breaker is tripping periodically. The breaker shows signs of water infiltration. I took an amp reading and it is well under the breaker's limit. Is it possible to get a new breaker in NJ this weekend?
Click to expand...

What type of breaker? Without posting details you wont get one this weekend. Post details and you probally will have one tommorow if you want.
 
We call our supplier he meets us there and if they have it we buy it otherwise I call my aftermarket guy and lastly I have CBs of all sizes I either have it or install a temporary CB.
 
I dont remember the excact specification of the breaker but it was a 600 amp trip in a 800 amp frame. I called one of my supply guys personal phone and he put me in touch with a guy who owns a company that sell breakers. He got me the breaker and everything worked out. And most importantly I was able to get "Hooters" back on line for labot day weekend. And the best of all was I made a good deal of money in a short time :smile: :grin: :rolleyes: :wink: Which posses another question by me.... do you guys think its bad practice to tip supply house guys for going outside the box for you?
 
tonyou812 said:
Which posses another question by me.... do you guys think its bad practice to tip supply house guys for going outside the box for you?
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Imagine you're the supply house guy . . .

Hint: it was a holiday for him, too. ;)
 
thats what I figured, I tipped him when i went a few days later and another EC friend told me "what for? thats their job now hes gonna expect it when ever he does something special for you" The 200 bucks I gave him was well worth it for me plus it put me in real good with the GM at Hooters. He was thrilled when I made the repairs, and keept thanking me.
 
I am never going to tip a supply house contact, just not going to happen.

The people we call off hours are sales people it is their job to sell us what we need or we can go to another place.

I have no problem taking care of people that do things that are beyond their job. Say I have the roofer move my stock to the roof using their crane, I would take care of the operator
 
iwire said:
I am never going to tip a supply house contact, just not going to happen.

The people we call off hours are sales people it is their job to sell us what we need or we can go to another place.

I have no problem taking care of people that do things that are beyond their job. Say I have the roofer move my stock to the roof using their crane, I would take care of the operator
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Does your company charge extra for holiday or after hours work?:)
 
SEO said:
Does your company charge extra for holiday or after hours work?:)
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You bet, but do you think that guy that opens the supply house is doing that for free?

In 15 years of doing off hour commercial service calls I have never expected a tip and can only remember one person that really wanted to. We had saved a couple 100K of wine in a cooler that had lost power, she wanted to give us drinks.
 
iwire said:
You bet, but do you think that guy that opens the supply house is doing that for free?

In 15 years of doing off hour commercial service calls I have never expected a tip and can only remember one person that really wanted to. We had saved a couple 100K of wine in a cooler that had lost power, she wanted to give us drinks.
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Of course you don't expect one but wouldn't it be nice to at least be offered one you could turn it down.:)
 
I appreciate the generosity but also prefer to NOT be offered the tip. It makes me feel rude to not accept it and unprofessional if I do take it. A nice genuine thank you goes a lot farther anyway.
 
tonyou812 said:
I dont remember the excact specification of the breaker but it was a 600 amp trip in a 800 amp frame. I called one of my supply guys personal phone and he put me in touch with a guy who owns a company that sell breakers. He got me the breaker and everything worked out. And most importantly I was able to get "Hooters" back on line for labot day weekend. And the best of all was I made a good deal of money in a short time :smile: :grin: :rolleyes: :wink: Which posses another question by me.... do you guys think its bad practice to tip supply house guys for going outside the box for you?
Click to expand...


I've taken them donuts from time to time for helping me out.
 
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