Before You Attempt Circuit Breaker Replacement

Ask any electrician about replacing circuit breakers and the first piece of advice you will get is to turn off the mains before you start working. This is a vital step to avoid electrocution injury, but there is still an electrical hazard in the panel itself because the wires going to the mains still carries current. Your hot bus bar may also have current, and you will need to be especially careful if you have never opened the circuit breaker panel before.

Before attempting any circuit breaker replacement, ask yourself how you will accomplish the job with all the lights out. Some people believe a flashlight will do the trick, but it is very important to have a steady light source such as a battery powered lamp or "electric lantern" that you don't need to hold. You need to be able to clearly see the potential danger spots in your electric panel at all times. Accidentally touching the live wires from the power company can cause a fatal shock. Being able to see and avoid them at all times is crucial. Do not attempt to install new breakers unless you can clearly see all parts of the panel and use both hands to do the work.

High Voltage Safety

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, there are a few high voltage electrical safety issues you should know about when troubleshooting problems with appliances such as televisions and microwaves. Tube-style televisions (which are still sold in stores) have high voltage hazards even with the power off. The same is true of microwave ovens. The chassis or frame of a television or microwave may not be safe to touch with your bare hands when it has been disassembled.

A component called a capacitor can store an electric charge long after the unit has been disconnected; those who don't realize the danger can wind up with a painful or lethal shock. Always work with rubber soled shoes while standing on a rubber mat for protection against an accidental shock. Remove all jewelry as it can conduct electricity if it accidentally comes in contact with part of the unit. If you are working with computer components, an anti-static wrist strap can help prevent damage to circuit boards through accidental static discharge. Appliances should be respected at all times--they can and often are lethal unless the proper high voltage electrical safety precautions are taken.

Circuit Breaker Locks and Safety

If you are considering installing a padlock system on your Cutler Hammer circuit breakers, there are several safety issues to consider. A padlock system can be handy for securing the circuit breaker system in any area easily accessible to others. Cutler Hammer circuit breakers can be locked in either the "on" or "off" position. If you lock a circuit breaker in the "on" position, this does not prevent the breaker from tripping if there is an overload. This is an important safety feature which can prevent electrical fires and other mishaps, but if you are not available to unlock the breaker once it has tripped, power will remain out until you can reset that circuit breaker.

This has the potential to be a serious problem in cases where people require an uninterrupted power supply for assisted living equipment such as respirators or other health care gear. If you need to lock a circuit breaker system, make sure the keys are available to reset the power in your absence. When installing the lock system itself, use only a UL-rated padlock designed for use with the circuit breakers. Anything short of this can void the warranty of your locking system and the Cutler Hammer circuit breakers.

Circuit Breaker Safety

If there is flood damage in the area where your breaker box is installed, it is very important to use caution if you must access your Westinghouse circuit breakers or the mains. The best policy is to call a qualified electrician, but if there is a safety issue that requires you to switch off your mains immediately, use the following precautions.

• Do not stand in water while accessing your Westinghouse circuit breakers.
• Access your breaker panel during daylight hours for maximum safety.
• If you need a light source, use a battery-powered light, no gas-powered light sources or candles.
• If you are blocked from accessing the panel by standing water, use a wooden pole to try to switch off your mains. Do not use a wooden pole with a metal attachment or fitting.

In most cases it's best to let an electrician handle these issues, but safety may demand you shut off the power immediately. Always remember that the presence of water near your Westinghouse circuit breakers seriously increases the danger of electrocution. Use extreme caution if you must access your breaker panel.

Floods And Your Circuit Breakers

If you are in a known flood plain and there is a threat of damage to your home, you may be able to prevent extensive damage to your electrical system by shutting off your Westinghouse circuit breakers and mains before evacuating the area. Even if you only expect minor damage, shut off the mains and breakers to avoid problems later on. In addition to turning off the Westinghouse circuit breakers, if there is time to unplug your appliances, it's advisable to do so. If you experience flood damage you may have hidden problems that won't manifest themselves until the power comes on again. Having your appliances unplugged may prevent them from being affected by those hidden faults once the Westinghouse circuit breakers are switched back on again.

Buying Re-Certified Circuit Breakers

Reusing electrical supplies or purchasing re-conditioned circuit breakers is an excellent way to save money, but you should do a little homework before purchasing a reconditioned power circuit breaker or other electrical products. Does the company doing the re-conditioning or re-certification of your power circuit breakers have a good reputation? Is it owned by a legitimate company? Some vendors employ smaller companies to do their reconditioning work for them; a legitimate company will have high standards in both workmanship and safety design.

Never purchase a reconditioned power circuit breaker from a company that you can't research properly. A reconditioning shop owned by a respected company is more likely to set (and enforce) high standards. A legitimate company has nothing to hide and there are good reconditioned power circuit breakers on the market; the work is only as good as the company which puts those items on the market.

Can My Used Siemens Breakers Be Recycled?

Siemens breakers and other brands are made with simple designs which make them perfect for reutilization. Unlike some products, there is a big demand for old, outdated or worn-out Siemens circuit breakers. Surplus buyback programs, store credit plans and other incentives are offered for breakers; depending on the make and model of your Siemens circuit breakers you should consider saving your old breakers until you have a small collection to sell back.

This is especially true if you have a system which uses obsolete breakers. These circuit breakers can be re-worked and put back on the market just the same same as their modern counterparts. The one thing you should not do with your old breakers, whether they are Siemens QT circuit breakers, Pushmatic breakers or any other model, is throw them in the trash or recycling bin. Until you know for sure what the buyback value of your old breakers might be, it's best to hang on to them until your collection has grown to the point where you can earn a good amount of store credit.

Can I Use a GE Circuit Breaker as a replacement for Another Brand of Circuit Breaker?

If you need replacement circuit breakers, it may be tempting to save money by swapping your old make and model with a set of GE breakers or other brands. It can be tricky to order replacement circuit breakers that aren't the exact make and model of the ones previously used in your system. When placing an order, it's best to speak directly to a customer service rep to learn what types of GE circuit breakers may be compatible with your breaker box.

You may be able to locate less expensive replacement General Electric circuit breakers to use, but if they don't match the configuration of your old circuit breakers they may be incompatible. How many poles do you need? How many volts and amps? Know the specs of your old circuit breakers and have them ready when ordering the replacement circuit breakers.

Cutler Hammer Circuit Breaker Padlocks

If your circuit breakers are in a public area, you may wish to add a little extra security to your electrical system. Did you know some brands can be handle-locked? Some types of Cutler Hammer circuit breakers allow installation of a padlock assembly. These padlocks can be placed in the left or right pole position and can protect up to a four-pole circuit breaker. Once installed, a padlock system can lock the circuit breaker into the "on" or "off" position.

It's very important to respect the same rules for installing a Cutler Hammer circuit breaker padlock system as you would any electrical component. A padlock doesn't use electricity, but any time you work around circuit breakers, the power should be completely off. You'll find instructions in the owner's manual requiring "no voltage present" conditions prior to installation. Remember that all warranties for circuit breakers, accessories and padlocks are voided if you do not follow the instructions to the letter.

Bus Plugs: Circuit Breakers

Bus plugs come in three basic configurations. A fusible switch uses fuses to prevent power overloads. The circuit breaker bus plug is similar in that it offers protection from overloads by stopping the flow of electricity--literally breaking the circuit as the name implies. Circuit breakers are found in most modern buildings, while fusible switch bus plugs may be in use for older homes, offices and historic landmarks.

Circuit breaker bus plugs close the circuit by "tripping". The circuit breaker switches off, and must be turned back on again to restore power. Unlike fusible switches, there are no fuses to replace after an electrical overload. This makes circuit breaker bus plugs more advantageous because no replacement purchases are needed. That doesn't mean a circuit breaker can't be damaged in some cases. Depending on the electrical fault, you may need to replace a circuit breaker bus plug. In some instances there may be partial power available to a home or office, in others you may have no electricity at all until the circuit breaker is replaced.

Bus Plugs: Fusible Switch

The fusible switch is a type of bus plug typically found in older homes or apartments. When electricity passes through the system, there is always a danger of overload. With no protection from overloads, your appliances would be destroyed and there is great potential for fires as a result. The fusible switch contains a fuse to protect the home. In the fusible switch bus plug, the fuses are designed with an element which is destroyed in the event of a power overload. When the fuse is intact, the circuit is complete and energy can pass through.

When the fuse element is melted, the circuit is broken and electricity does not flow. This keeps the overload from reaching your appliances. Once the element is melted, that fuse must be replaced. This type of bus plug is replaced in newer buildings by the more efficient circuit breaker system, which requires no replacement of burnt-out fuses.