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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 Unlike some products, there is a big demand for old, outdated or worn-out Siemens circuit breakers.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.
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Repeated Tripping of Pushmatic Circuit Breakers
Siemens breakers and Pushmatic breakers may trip repeatedly for a variety of reasons. Do you notice your Siemens circuit breaker tripping even while you are away and there is limited use of electricity? There could be a number of causes. It's easy to immediately suspect a faulty breaker, but if replacing the Siemens breaker doesn't correct the problem, inspect a few other parts of your electrical system.
One overlooked culprit is your lights. Are you running all bulbs at the proper wattage? If you have a light fixture rated for a certain wattage but the bulb exceeds the specifications, you may encounter electrical problems including circuit breaker tripping. Sometimes the bulb itself may flame out, which is a fire hazard all by itself, but if it does manage to survive being used in the wrong lamp, you may encounter repeated issues with your circuit breakers tripping.
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Installing New Circuit Breakers
Whether you are installing Pushmatic breakers, Siemens QT circuit breakers or any other type, it's important to read the fine print on both the circuit breaker instructions and the breaker box. If you are not installing a specific type of circuit breaker in accordance with the instructions for the breaker box, you may risk voiding your warranty or creating an electrical hazard depending on the installation. Some circuit breaker boxes are designed for specific types of breakers or configurations of those circuit breakers.
If your Siemens circuit breakers are not right for the type of breaker box or if the breaker box is too full to accommodate a new breaker, do not perform "unauthorized" modifications to the breaker box or the Siemens breaker itself. Alterations to a breaker box or Siemens circuit breaker specifically provided for in the manual or instructions can be performed if you know what you are doing, otherwise consult with a professional to get suggestions on acceptable alternatives to your current setup.
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What is an Electrical Fuse?
An electrical fuse is different than a Siemens breaker or other brands of circuit breaker. Where circuit breakers are able to be opened and closed repeatedly with the use of a switch, an electrical fuse is a one-time use device. As long as current flows normally and there are no electrical faults, the fuse keeps the circuit connected and the electricity flowing.
Electrical fuses are made with something called a "fusible element". This element is able to handle normal current, but when there is an overload or short circuit, the fuse melts, breaking the flow of electricity. Some fuses are designed to react to heat. When a thermoelectric fuse is overheated, the element melts. A variation on the thermoelectric fuse is the alloy fuse, which has a combination of metals in the fusible element designed to melt at a certain temperature. Siemens breakers are more expensive than electrical fuses, but the single-use nature of fuses makes them less practical for most residential needs.
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Tripping Circuit Breakers and Damaged Appliances
It's easy to miss the connection between a damaged appliance and a constantly tripping Siemens circuit breaker. If you are frequently going to the breaker box to reset Pushmatic breakers or other types, do a quick check around your house or apartment; has someone recently dropped a hair dryer? Has any other appliance been damaged recently? A loose wire or connection inside a damaged appliance can create conditions that cause your circuit breakers to trip.
It is a simple (but time consuming) thing to narrow down the list of possible appliances by unplugging them all and operating each one on a particular circuit one by one. If your Siemens breaker trips with a toaster or hair dryer, but not with a different type of appliance drawing about the same electrical load, chances are you've found your damaged appliance. It may be possible to unplug the device, inspect it and tighten or reconnect a loose wire, but doing so may void your warranty. Double check before attempting any do-it-yourself repair work .
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What is a Pushbutton Circuit Breaker?
A Siemens Pushmatic breaker is identical to other circuit breakers in function--it cuts the power if there is an overload or fault. The breaker differs from other Siemens circuit breakers because instead of a switch, the circuit is turned on and off by a button. When the circuit is tripped, the button pops out, indicating it has been turned off. It's easy to reset Pushmatic breakers, simply push the button in and the circuit is turned back on.
A circuit breaker may trip repeatedly if there is a problem such as a wiring fault or short circuit. If you have never used a Pushmatic breaker before, you may think the assembly is faulty if the circuit trips shortly after resetting it. Don't assume it's the fault of the Siemens breaker itself, treat this problem the same as you would with the traditional switch-type circuit breaker and troubleshoot the source of the electrical fault. If you can't locate the problem, get the advice of a professional.
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Replacement Breakers or Upgraded Panel?
If you are considering the installation of a swimming pool, hot tub, tanning bed or other item which requires more electricity than a standard appliance, you may need to consider upgrading your circuit panel. Some electrical issues can be addressed by adding a better Siemens circuit breaker, installing a sub panel and switching the load to new breakers, but there are some needs which simply require a better panel.
If you live in a house that more than 20 years old, you may already be running electrical loads on a circuit breaker panel which is inadequate for modern needs. Adding a freezer unit, hot tub or tanning bed may be too much for the old panel. Your Siemens circuit breakers may already be tripping too much if you're using an old system. Worse yet, your circuit breakers may not be tripping when they are supposed to. Resist the temptation to overtax your electrical system. Ask a qualified electrician about upgrading to a better circuit breaker panel in conjunction with the installation of your new pool, hot tub or other items.
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