Sq D I Line breakers

[MNSparky]

I have a customer that would like to upgrade the feed to his space from 100 to 300 or 400amps to support new equipment he's putting in. The space is fed from 2000a Sq D I Line switchgear. I've never worked on I Line and am not familiar with it, it's not too common around here. I see there are FA and KA frame breakers in this gear and it appears that a longer LA frame breaker would fit, but I haven't tried so I'm not certain. Can anyone confirm this before I order the $1000 breaker?

It looks from the top picture below that there are openings below the 225amp KA frame breaker. My customer's current breaker is the smaller breaker #9 in the picture on the bottom. Thanks for the help

 

[jim dungar]

Your bus bar assembly should have a part number on it.

Your mounting base looks like it can handle a larger L frame breaker (the old FA, KA, and LA breaker numbers are now obsolete). The wireway cover would have extensions on it which would be removable if it was intended to be used with L frame breakers.

 

[MNSparky]

All the wireway covers were solid, no removable extensions. I'll try to get back there to see if there is a part number on the bus bar assembly. Anything else I should look for?

 

[jim dungar]

All the wireway covers were solid, no removable extensions. I'll try to get back there to see if there is a part number on the bus bar assembly. Anything else I should look for?

The wireway is pretty much the key.
After zooming in, it looks like your K frame breaker is mounted into the last set of slots on the mounting pan, so you won't be able to install an L frame.

I think the new I-line breaker family has 250A breaker that fits in the old KA space.

 

[MNSparky]

Sounds good, I'll go that route. Thanks for the help.

 

[kwired]

Also note an L frame breaker will need 6 inches of width instead of 4.5 inches of the breaker mounting space.

If it is 2000 amp gear it about has to have places that will accept these larger frame breakers, possibly even in every possible mounting position.

Age of existing might factor into what might been options when it was new.

 

[jim dungar]

If it is 2000 amp gear it about has to have places that will accept these larger frame breakers, possibly even in every possible mounting position.

Not always the case for older gear, say pre 2000, now it is ways that way

The L frame and larger breakers have never mounted on the right hand side.

 

[MNSparky]

I stopped by the site again and found the label in the second picture which suggests that L frame breakers can go in the gear. The top picture is of the K frame 225amp breaker above the blank inserts in the bottom picture. I've never installed an L frame breaker and understand they are a little longer than a K frame, does it look like there is enough room for one? I know they are wider, I can remove the two blank inserts and install a smaller one. Thoughts?

 

[MNSparky]

A couple more pictures

 

[jim dungar]

That is a generic label.
Your wireway cover won't work with an L frame breaker without being field modified.

 

[MNSparky]

View attachment 2559764

Looking at this picture, I see the breaker has hooks that hook into the oval slots. Seeing as this K frame is in the last set of oval slots I'm guessing the L frame won't work. I haven't looked at the left side (Jim said the larger breakers never go on the right), perhaps I'll stop by again tomorrow and investigate the left side... Good thing it's 5 minutes from the shop.

 

[kwired]

That is a generic label.
Your wireway cover won't work with an L frame breaker without being field modified.

Looks like the wireway cover is wider on the left than the right. Did you possibly need to order a different cover if you intended to use any the larger frame breakers? Would then need the "blank extensions" in any positions you used a smaller frame breaker to fill the gap it leaves.