Push-matic

Status
Not open for further replies.
Weaver Road

Weaver Road

Member
Location
Willington, CT
Not sure where to start this thread, but safety is certainly a question with this one!

I just came across (on an inspection) a very old panel branded as "push-matic"

Is there any knowledge of these amongst the readers here? This building may get renovations, and/or a change of use. If this thing is known to be a problem, or if there have been recalls, I would like to identify that now so it can be fixed during the upcoming work.

Thanks
:confused:
 
Dennis Alwon

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
are these the old ITE brand pushmatic breakers? I think I may have one or 2 in the basement. I know they don't make them but I have not heard of many issues with them other than getting parts.
 
cowboyjwc

cowboyjwc

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Simi Valley, CA
I moved out of a house just 5 years ago that was built in '57 and had one of these panels and never had a problem with it. I did have to replace one breaker that went bad, but luckly I'm a pack rat and have a bunch of them.
 
ultramegabob

ultramegabob

Senior Member
Location
Indiana
push-matics are all over the place in my area, there is nothing really wrong with them other than they are getting pretty old and they discontinued makeing replacement breakers for them. It doesnt take very many 2 pole or tandem breakers to make it worth just changeing out the panel to something modern. the biggest problem I have found with the breakers is the little plastic part that rotates and says on/off when you press the breaker in likes to break free and jam up the breaker. If there is money in the budget, I would suggest changing the panel out, and hang onto the breakers for service calls...
 
ultramegabob

ultramegabob

Senior Member
Location
Indiana
the last I heard, as of this year Pushmatic breakers were no longer in production, you can only get what is still left in the warehouses.
 
J

jim dungar

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
ultramegabob said:
the last I heard, as of this year Pushmatic breakers were no longer in production, you can only get what is still left in the warehouses.
Click to expand...

I guess Siemens needs to update their on-line catalog.
 
J

jim dungar

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
ultramegabob said:
if you look at the bottom of the online catalog you posted, it says 2006
Click to expand...

Yep, but I got to it directly from the Siemens website today, as I was typing my response.
 
S

stevemcmahon

New member
Push-a-matics

Push-a-matics

While Siemens has stopped making the BullDog or push-a-matic breakers they are still readily available in "generic" form from various breaker companies (ul listed, too). Common wisdom has always been that siemens (ITE back then) discontinued the pushmatics because they were to reliable--lasted to long--and they were not selling any replacement parts.

My church campus has several pushmatic panels in use since the early 60's and the breakers hold out and last better that newer panels. Meaning I am more like to have to change out a non-pushmatic than a pushmatic even though they are older.

They always say---they dont make them like they used to.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top