Question about circuit breakers

[mbrooke]

Marketing hype. And I say this as a person that mostly prefers to install Square D as well.

Square D is most of what I normally see, seen many failures of bus to breaker connections on them. Seen very few "classified" QO breakers in my lifetime as well, never seen one fail, but then haven't seen enough of them to have a good chance of seeing that happen either.

Plug on breakers in general are going to have a risk like that. Bolt on - no so much if tightened properly, but over time connections still can get compromised.

I do not dispute that QO breakers fail in QO panels. In fact all brands have a history of burning up, even bolt ons. My point is that when the breaker does not match the panel, you have no clue if it will hold up as well as the matching one.

 

[kwired]

I do not dispute that QO breakers fail in QO panels. In fact all brands have a history of burning up, even bolt ons. My point is that when the breaker does not match the panel, you have no clue if it will hold up as well as the matching one.

Exactly right, the guy in the you tube video claims the one he was showing failed because it is not classified for the panel, bottom line is we really don't know why it failed.

If it is so likely it will fail because it isn't rated for the panel, why have there been so many over the years that do physically interchange with one another?

To top that off, Homeline fits in just about everything with similar configuration, though not classified to fit anything but Homeline panels. Yet presumably Homeline panels have rejection features so nothing fits them but Homeline breakers.

 

[mbrooke]

Exactly right, the guy in the you tube video claims the one he was showing failed because it is not classified for the panel, bottom line is we really don't know why it failed.

If it is so likely it will fail because it isn't rated for the panel, why have there been so many over the years that do physically interchange with one another?

To top that off, Homeline fits in just about everything with similar configuration, though not classified to fit anything but Homeline panels. Yet presumably Homeline panels have rejection features so nothing fits them but Homeline breakers.

So you are willing to gamble? Again, manufactures have expressed concern that the breakers need to match. Just look at the doors on GE panels that state what replacement breakers to use. Nowhere does it say 'any 1 inch breaker'

 

[kwired]

So you are willing to gamble? Again, manufactures have expressed concern that the breakers need to match. Just look at the doors on GE panels that state what replacement breakers to use. Nowhere does it say 'any 1 inch breaker'

I realize that and generally will put in the correct one.

Still am seeing QO or Homeline in most places anyway, just what is most popular here.

 

[jaggedben]

...Yet presumably Homeline panels have rejection features so nothing fits them but Homeline breakers.

Hardly.

 

[kwired]

Hardly.

I only said that because of what I recall them saying when they first started making that line. Maybe was true then, I haven't tried to put other brands into a Homeline for a very long time if ever to see if that were true.

 

[Jraef]

So you are willing to gamble? Again, manufactures have expressed concern that the breakers need to match. Just look at the doors on GE panels that state what replacement breakers to use. Nowhere does it say 'any 1 inch breaker'

Why would any mfr in their right mind put a label on the door of their equipment stating that you can buy and install a competitor's component inside? Because they are nice? When you finish a job, do you put your own sticker on it with your name so they call you next time, or do you put a generic sticker on that tells the owner to "Call me, or call anyone else, it doesn't matter because we're all just as good as any one of us"?

 

[kwired]

There are meter-loadcenters, power pedestals, and other similar items that are marked to accept multiple types of breakers out there. Ones I recall seeing are usually Midwest (which is a division of GE AFAIK) or Milbank (which typically has any factory installed breakers by Siemens, don't know if they are otherwise associated).

 

[peter d]

I do not dispute that QO breakers fail in QO panels. In fact all brands have a history of burning up, even bolt ons. My point is that when the breaker does not match the panel, you have no clue if it will hold up as well as the matching one.

I agree, this is why I ever take a chance with non-listed breakers. I always use the listed breaker.

Now, have I seen countless non-listed breakers used in panels without trouble? Of course. I still stick with the OEM breaker. Unless it's 4:15 on a Friday.

 

[kwired]

I agree, this is why I ever take a chance with non-listed breakers. I always use the listed breaker.

Now, have I seen countless non-listed breakers used in panels without trouble? Of course. I still stick with the OEM breaker. Unless it's 4:15 on a Friday.

Or you are 50 or even 100 miles from being able to purchase the correct breaker but have another one with you that will "work", and aren't coming back to the site.

Some of you city guys don't have that problem.