"Ignoramus5533" wrote in message
...
I came into possession of a few used 400-600A circuit breakers. Each
is the size of a milk jug. While researching prices on them and such
(they sell for $150-200 on ebay), I learned that some cost many
thousands of dollars new. I saw numbers from $2,500 and higher.

I am curious just what makes them so expensive. Do they have any
precious materials inside? Or what?

i

Bigger frame breakers have always cost a lot more. Larger frame breakers are
can be made to withstand larger fault currents. Interrupt larger current at
higher voltages.
I used to work for an OEM and we had some circuit breakers that were well
over $25000.00 (SPB series) "rebuilt". New more like $40k.

I have installed some medium voltage vacuum breakers that were well over
$100k each.

Unfortunately they are just so much boat anchor material unless you have a
need for one of them. They are not interchangeable.
There is a thriving market in rebuilding, testing and installing such
equipment.

"Ignoramus5533" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:05:31 -0700, SQLit wrote:

"Ignoramus5533" wrote in message
...
I came into possession of a few used 400-600A circuit breakers. Each
is the size of a milk jug. While researching prices on them and such
(they sell for $150-200 on ebay), I learned that some cost many
thousands of dollars new. I saw numbers from $2,500 and higher.

I am curious just what makes them so expensive. Do they have any
precious materials inside? Or what?

i

Bigger frame breakers have always cost a lot more. Larger frame
breakers are can be made to withstand larger fault
currents. Interrupt larger current at higher voltages. I used to
work for an OEM and we had some circuit breakers that were well over
$25000.00 (SPB series) "rebuilt". New more like $40k.

I would understand that, for vacuum units.

I have installed some medium voltage vacuum breakers that were well over
$100k each.

Unfortunately they are just so much boat anchor material unless you
have a need for one of them. They are not interchangeable. There
is a thriving market in rebuilding, testing and installing such
equipment.

I am not sure about interchangeability. My 400-600 A breakers
(Siemens, ITE, Westinghouse etc) simply take 3 wires in and 3 wires
going out. They do not mount on special connector panels, like
residential breakers.

i

Those sound like the "universal or OEM" mounts. Almost everyone makes those
in some form.

"Ignoramus5533" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 14:45:29 -0700, SQLit wrote:

"Ignoramus5533" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:05:31 -0700, SQLit wrote:

"Ignoramus5533" wrote in message
...
I came into possession of a few used 400-600A circuit breakers. Each
is the size of a milk jug. While researching prices on them and such
(they sell for $150-200 on ebay), I learned that some cost many
thousands of dollars new. I saw numbers from $2,500 and higher.

I am curious just what makes them so expensive. Do they have any
precious materials inside? Or what?

i

Bigger frame breakers have always cost a lot more. Larger frame
breakers are can be made to withstand larger fault
currents. Interrupt larger current at higher voltages. I used to
work for an OEM and we had some circuit breakers that were well over
$25000.00 (SPB series) "rebuilt". New more like $40k.

I would understand that, for vacuum units.

I have installed some medium voltage vacuum breakers that were well
over
$100k each.

Unfortunately they are just so much boat anchor material unless you
have a need for one of them. They are not interchangeable. There
is a thriving market in rebuilding, testing and installing such
equipment.

I am not sure about interchangeability. My 400-600 A breakers
(Siemens, ITE, Westinghouse etc) simply take 3 wires in and 3 wires
going out. They do not mount on special connector panels, like
residential breakers.

i

Those sound like the "universal or OEM" mounts. Almost everyone makes
those
in some form.

Yes, that's right. I could screw them to any metal sheet, it seems. I
will double check tonight, they are still in my pickup.

i


Please check the mounts before mounting on a grounded surface. Some of these
breakers have to be put on glastic so the terminals will not arc.