Does any brand 2 pole 15 amp circuit breaker fit a Square D or Cutler
Hammer circuit breaker panel box (each about 6 years old)?

On 10/8/2012 3:37 PM, Doug wrote:
Does any brand 2 pole 15 amp circuit breaker fit a Square D or Cutler
Hammer circuit breaker panel box (each about 6 years old)?

If you mean are all circuit breakers interchangeable, the answer is
"no", even all amongst the same vendor.

If you mean are there at least some non-OEM-manufactured breakers to fit
at least some panels, the answer is "yes".

The panel will list the series of breaker(s) approved for it; look for
one that is on that list.

--

Tried Amazon? Or Home depot?
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...cuit%20breaker

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

"Doug" wrote in message
...
Does any brand 2 pole 15 amp circuit breaker fit a Square D or Cutler
Hammer circuit breaker panel box (each about 6 years old)?

wrote in message
...
Cuttler Hammer makes classified breakers for SqD QO or Homeline
panels.
SqD says they are illegal, U/L says they are OK. Inspectors are split
on it.

Best to buy the breaker from the manufacturer that goes in that panel.
They are available.

I agree that it is best to stay with the same company.

Almost any comapny is going to say to stay with their type as a liability
issue.
I was in a sells pitch on some industrial square D equipment and the
salesman was saying one thing, but the manual said something else. You have
to stay with the printed word for the lawyers.

On 10/8/2012 8:26 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
wrote in message
...
Cuttler Hammer makes classified breakers for SqD QO or Homeline
panels.
SqD says they are illegal, U/L says they are OK. Inspectors are split
on it.

Best to buy the breaker from the manufacturer that goes in that panel.
They are available.

I agree that it is best to stay with the same company.

Almost any comapny is going to say to stay with their type as a liability
issue.
....

If they're UL rated for the application, they're UL rated whoever is the
manufacturer.

Of course any manufacturer is going to want to sell their product over
the competitor's. Whether there's any advantage to the consumer is
another issue entirely...

--

Does any brand 2 pole 15 amp circuit breaker fit a Square D or Cutler
Hammer circuit breaker panel box (each about 6 years old)?


*Square D and Cutler-Hammer each have two styles of panels for the
residential market.

Square D QO panels will only physically accept type QO breakers (1/2"
width).
Square D Homeline panels are only approved for Homeline breakers (1" width).
Cutler-Hammer CH panels will only physically accept type CH breakers (Tan
handle).
Cutler-Hammer BR panels are approved for type BR breakers which are also
made by Siemens.

As someone else said, it is best to read the label on the panel cover or
inside of the panel to see what the panel is approved for.

On Tue, 9 Oct 2012 06:35:07 -0400, "John Grabowski"
wrote:


Does any brand 2 pole 15 amp circuit breaker fit a Square D or Cutler
Hammer circuit breaker panel box (each about 6 years old)?


*Square D and Cutler-Hammer each have two styles of panels for the
residential market.

Square D QO panels will only physically accept type QO breakers (1/2"
width).
Square D Homeline panels are only approved for Homeline breakers (1" width).
Cutler-Hammer CH panels will only physically accept type CH breakers (Tan
handle).
Cutler-Hammer BR panels are approved for type BR breakers which are also
made by Siemens.

As someone else said, it is best to read the label on the panel cover or
inside of the panel to see what the panel is approved for.


Thanks. I didn't know this so I'm glad I took pictures of each panel.
Now I hope I can read the important part in the picture or I'll have
to revisit each again .

Cuttler Hammer makes classified breakers for SqD QO or Homeline
panels.
SqD says they are illegal, U/L says they are OK. Inspectors are split
on it.

Best to buy the breaker from the manufacturer that goes in that panel.
They are available.

I agree that it is best to stay with the same company.

Almost any comapny is going to say to stay with their type as a
liability
issue.
...

If they're UL rated for the application, they're UL rated whoever is the
manufacturer.

Of course any manufacturer is going to want to sell their product over
the competitor's. Whether there's any advantage to the consumer is
another issue entirely...

So we mark you down as being OK with a classified breaker (made by one
company but "classified" by U/L to go in another manufacturer's
panel.)

The guy on the other side would say the manufacturer's installation
instructions say you have to use their breakers so it is a 110.3(B)
violation (not following the Mfg instructions)


*I was in the supply house last week when a guy came in looking for Murray
circuit breakers. They don't sell Murray, but they carry Siemens which
makes Murray and the breakers are identical down to the type and listing.
The guy asked me where he could get Murray and I told him that Home Depot
carried them. I also told him that Siemens was approved for Murray panels.
He said that he put Siemens breakers in, but the inspector insisted on
Murray and would not approve the job unless they were changed. The guy
wasn't an electrician so I suspect that there were other issues going on and
the inspector was driving home a point.

I've never seen a QO breaker made by Cutler-Hammer. The Homeline panel
labels that I have read have only had approval for Homeline breakers.

On Tuesday, 9 October 2012 09:27:31 UTC-4, John G wrote:

*I was in the supply house last week when a guy came in looking for Murray
circuit breakers. They don't sell Murray, but they carry Siemens which
makes Murray and the breakers are identical down to the type and listing.
The guy asked me where he could get Murray and I told him that Home Depot
carried them. I also told him that Siemens was approved for Murray panels.
He said that he put Siemens breakers in, but the inspector insisted on
Murray and would not approve the job unless they were changed. The guy
wasn't an electrician so I suspect that there were other issues going on and
the inspector was driving home a point.

Likewise, my local electrical supply place offered me an in-stock alternative to a Siemens Q-series breaker but asked me if it was going to be inspected. They say they're identical but some inspectors won't pass them if they notice.

It's the "per manufacturer's instructions" catch.

Chip C
Toronto

On 10/9/2012 7:27 AM, John Grabowski wrote:

Cuttler Hammer makes classified breakers for SqD QO or Homeline
panels.
SqD says they are illegal, U/L says they are OK. Inspectors are split
on it.

Best to buy the breaker from the manufacturer that goes in that panel.
They are available.

I agree that it is best to stay with the same company.

Almost any comapny is going to say to stay with their type as a
liability
issue.
...

If they're UL rated for the application, they're UL rated whoever is the
manufacturer.

Of course any manufacturer is going to want to sell their product over
the competitor's. Whether there's any advantage to the consumer is
another issue entirely...

So we mark you down as being OK with a classified breaker (made by one
company but "classified" by U/L to go in another manufacturer's
panel.)

The guy on the other side would say the manufacturer's installation
instructions say you have to use their breakers so it is a 110.3(B)
violation (not following the Mfg instructions)


*I was in the supply house last week when a guy came in looking for
Murray circuit breakers. They don't sell Murray, but they carry Siemens
which makes Murray and the breakers are identical down to the type and
listing. The guy asked me where he could get Murray and I told him that
Home Depot carried them. I also told him that Siemens was approved for
Murray panels. He said that he put Siemens breakers in, but the
inspector insisted on Murray and would not approve the job unless they
were changed. The guy wasn't an electrician so I suspect that there were
other issues going on and the inspector was driving home a point.

I've never seen a QO breaker made by Cutler-Hammer. The Homeline panel
labels that I have read have only had approval for Homeline breakers.

The QO panels will only have approval for SquareD QO breakers. SquareD
takes great exception to using classified breakers in its panels. No
manufacturer will have classified breakers on their panel labels because
that manufacturer has not tested the classified breakers.

CH product info for CH classified breakers (625kB pdf):
http://www.eaton.com/ecm/idcplg?IdcS...me=SA00304001E

The guy on the other side would say the manufacturer's installation
instructions say you have to use their breakers so it is a 110.3(B)
violation (not following the Mfg instructions)


*I was in the supply house last week when a guy came in looking for Murray
circuit breakers. They don't sell Murray, but they carry Siemens which
makes Murray and the breakers are identical down to the type and listing.
The guy asked me where he could get Murray and I told him that Home Depot
carried them. I also told him that Siemens was approved for Murray
panels.
He said that he put Siemens breakers in, but the inspector insisted on
Murray and would not approve the job unless they were changed. The guy
wasn't an electrician so I suspect that there were other issues going on
and
the inspector was driving home a point.

I've never seen a QO breaker made by Cutler-Hammer. The Homeline panel
labels that I have read have only had approval for Homeline breakers.


Look at the CHQ series
http://www.eaton.com/ecm/idcplg?IdcS...me=SA00304001E

Like I said, you can find inspectors on both sides of this issue. Some
say that if it is OK with U/L:it is OK with them. Others say the
manufacturer's label rules.
CH went so far as to come out with a label of their own that you put
in the panel when you use their breaker with the U/L approval number.


*Thanks for the info Gfretwell. I wonder how many supply houses stock them?