circuit breaker brand equivalencies...

[seamlyne]

I recently had a Siemens 200 amp breaker panel installed in the house. I can't find Siemens breakers close to home, but the guy at the local DIY store assures me that Murray breakers are compatible, as are SquareD Homelines.

True?

- Wm


Measure with a micrometer
Mark with a crayon
Cut with an axe.

[HayZee518]

There are many breakers that are interchangeable with panels. Murray, GE, Siemens, Westinghouse, Challenger, Arrow-Hart, Crouse-Hinds. Some have a metal clip right where the clip fits over the stab. This will only fit a panel that has cut-outs on the bus stab. Dedicated panels have ONLY their breakers to fit. Some Square "D" - Cutler Hammer are like this.

[Rewired]

I have seen this done a lot up here around this area. Most contractors favour Cutler Hammer panels but will stuff in ITE/Siemens or Westinghouse breakers. They do work but I have heard on occasion where there have been problems in the panel not having anything to do with the mismatched breakers, and the supplier / manufacturer knowing this voids warranty on that panel!! Sounds absurd I know but it happened. I have also heard of Electrical inspectors not passing new installations because they see mismatched breakers in the enclosure.

It puzzles me how there are different manufacturers of breakers and panels with the same style of breaker, Square-D especially.. Up here there is no such thing as a "homeline" panel or breaker although I have seen one, anything here made by Sq-D is "QO" or "QOB" (bolt on) style.
No "Murray" and "Arrow hart" up here and Challenger used to be "Sylvania bolt on" type breakers long ago, those are long since discontinued and $$$ if you need one.
G.E and Siemens.. LONG since I have seen a breaker with those names anywhere here! How things change eh!

A.D

[HayZee518]

You ought to be here in upstate New York - I mean waaayyy upstate near canada. Customers still use Murray boxes and Bulldog disconnects. Most meter installations are outside and there are still many, many old style single phase 110 services in use - no 220! The meter looks like a clock in a sort of weatherproof box which isn't waterproof anymore. We are serviced by Niagara Mohawk and they still seem satisfied with the 110 service.

[Rewired]

HayZee519: Wow, those 110V services still exist??!!?? I have never ever seen one of those anywhere around here, just reminants of when people disconnected those 30A 110V services to upgrade to 60A 110/240V YEARS ago.. Now,insurance companies are forcing people to upgrade to the code minimum of 100A (outdoor metering).. I don't really see why because you and I both know the worst that can happen if you overload the service is it will blow a main fuse ,not start a fire.
Also, houses with aluminum, must be rewired, they won't insure those firetraps anymore.

Up here there was a company called "CEB", it stood for "Canadian Electrical Box" (and stampings).. They used to make fuse panels that weren't too bad, they were all copper buss bar. Key word being "were". They switched to aluminum buss bar with a Sylvania main breaker (that is now something like $100+ Cdn to replace if ya cook one).. These panels were nothing but trouble, fires and hot connections were common. We also had some bizarre manufactures such as "Triangle" and "Murray Jensen" that made fuse panels at one time but went under shortly after they were introduced, so parts weren't availible and I know this because we were stuck with one back in the late 60's when they built this place. Since then I have upgraded to a nice big 100A 48 cct FPE panel, Added 3 other sub panels elsewhere around the house where needed, a "generator panel" (all FPE)and generator set that came in quite handy during last years blackout.

A.D

[HayZee518]

Rewired - I'll take my digital camera to the site and ask the homeowner if I could take a shot of it and include it in here. Now to convince him that the pix is for display only not an insurance claim! You ever hear of St Regis Falls NY that's where I'm from.

[Rewired]

HayZee518:
Ahh cool I would like to see that actually!

St Regis? I can't say I have heard of it off the top of my head but I am going to look it up for sure!
I am from Hamilton Ontario Canada actually, between Niagara falls and Toronto..

[HayZee518]

Rewired I know where hamilton is - I used to live in Buffalo. Look on the map for the cornwall border now drop down into ny about an inch and a half and go slightly east - St Regis Falls