Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
Replacing 200A breaker with new 300A breaker. Could there be issue with it psychically fitting in the board/frame size?
New Breaker
- Thread starter Alwayslearningelec
- Start date
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Typically yes, especially if it is old GE.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
Would it be able to be replaced? What may have to be done in order for it to fit?
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
I would think you would need to talk with someone at GE. Besides physically fitting you also need to make sure they make a proper bus/finger kit for it, assuming the frame sizes are different.
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
Physical space and bus bar connection assemblies.
Check with a local rebuild st or maintenance shop.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
It's Siemens.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
It's Siemens not GE.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
The GE shown in part of the work Gear
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
Ok, replace "GE" in posts #2 and 4 with "Siemens"
. I am somewhat familiar with Siemens, what sort of equipment is this? Is it a panel board or a switchboard?
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
Do you know at the existing breaker is? Is it a QJ?
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
Ok, replace "GE" in posts #2 and 4 with "Siemens"
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
Definitely not a QJ.
electrofelon
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
Not sure what that is. My first thought it's an FD which is a 250 amp frame,but I actually have one sitting right here it doesn't look quite like it. If you're lucky it's a JD frame which is 400 amp, but it doesn't look like that either. Not sure what else it could be.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
So how could anyone even accuratley price the replacment of this?
- Location
- Wisconsin
- Occupation
- PE (Retired) - Power Systems
You need to know the model number of the existing breaker or if there is existing space for a 400A frame. This is what RFI's are for. Get a readable picture of the entire existing switchboard, or a copy of the original switchboard drawings.
I have seen many contractors be surprised once they saw they needed to relocate existing breakers to make space for the new ones.
Knightryder12
Senior Member
- Location
- Clearwater, FL - USA
- Occupation
- Sr. Electrical Designer/Project Manager
Site survey before you bid.
MyCleveland
Senior Member
- Location
- Cleveland, Ohio
If this is a plan/spec job…the author of the plans is responsible to work through this.
It is NOT your job to resolve this nor is it ALL the other bidders.
What happens if for what ever reason a 400 amp cannot be added, are you on the hook for suppling a new section.
Send an RFI to the GC informing him the plans are incomplete.
You do need to develop contacts for each gear manufacturer so when these type of issues come up you have someone to reach out to for solid answers.
Knightryder12
Senior Member
- Location
- Clearwater, FL - USA
- Occupation
- Sr. Electrical Designer/Project Manager
I agree with your statement to a point. As design professionals, we do not always have the ability or the accessibility to find this information out as some places have underwriters insurance that will not allow us (designers) to open up panelboards or switchboards. But, knowing that, we should have the owner set up a time when their electrical contractor, or an electrical contractor to be there so they can pull the covers and gather said information. But again, we do not this information going in a lot of the times.