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Symptoms of Electrical System Damage
If your Westinghouse circuit breakers or other types are somehow damaged by flood waters, or if your electrical system is damaged, you will notice symptoms which require immediate shutdown of your mains until the problem can be addressed. A circuit breaker which does not trip properly will allow an overload in your system to create excessive heat and other potential problems.
When the power is restored after a floor or other structural damage to a home or apartment, do you notice a burning smell? If you can't locate a fire or open flame, that smell could indicate your wiring is overheating, melting or burning. A properly functioning Westinghouse circuit breaker will trip before this happens, but when you have building damage, it's possible your breakers may also be affected. Do you notice sparking or hear a sizzling sound? These are also indications you should shut off your Westinghouse breakers and contact a qualified electrician.
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Are Circuit Breakers Interchangeable?
If you need to replace your Westinghouse circuit breaker but it is out of stock or otherwise unavailable, you may be tempted to purchase one that is similar and use that breaker instead. Before trying to use a different make or model than your Westinghouse circuit breakers, check the breaker panel or owner's manual for the panel to find the list of compatible circuit breakers. Breakers are not automatically interchangeable even if they have similar power ratings, poles, amp and volt ratings. Never use a breaker not specifically designed to work in your electrical panel as there may be design differences which render that breaker incompatible with your setup. Westinghouse breakers may be interchangeable with a variety of other types, but your owner's manual will give you the final word on what replacements to use.
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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.
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Buying Circuit Breakers
When buying Westinghouse circuit breakers or other electrical supplies from an electrical supply store, it's important to know what kind of support you get from the vendor itself. You may be able to take full advantage of a manufacturer's warranty, but mailing in defective parts is time consuming and may require you to purchase replacement Westinghouse circuit breakers to use in the meantime. Before buying your circuit breaker supplies, ask the vendor what kind of warranty support is offered. The best vendors offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and allow you to return or exchange your purchases. It's important to make a distinction when you return between a product you simply didn't care for and one that doesn't function properly. That can make all the difference in case of restocking fees or simple exchanges.
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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.
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Where are Air Circuit Breakers Used?
Air circuit breakers are much like other types, except they use compressed air to extinguish the electrical arc, breaking the circuit. Westinghouse breakers designed in this way are not used in residential applications, instead they are meant for industry purposes. Air circuit breakers are used to protect power lines, building complexes and other general-protection purposes. They can also be installed to protect specific parts of an operation such as a specific machine or set of machines within a plant or factory. Generators and motors can also be safeguarded with air circuit breakers. One advantage of using air circuit breakers is that they can be adjusted for a specific reaction time before tripping; instantaneous, short delay or "real time" delay.
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What are "Replacement Only" Circuit Breakers?
Some circuit breakers made for home use may be labeled "for replacement use only" and "not for CTL assemblies". It may be rare to see this type of labeling on modern Westinghouse circuit breakers or other brands, but it does cause some confusion when it is encountered for the first time. An example of a CTL assembly is a lighting/appliance "load center". These are designed to accept only a full-sized circuit breaker and should not have half-size or mini-circuit breakers placed into them. A circuit breaker made in a smaller size than what is required in the appliance load center may be labelled "not for CTL assemblies" since installation into an appliance load center would be a potential hazard.
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What Happens if My Circuit Breaker Doesn't Trip?
Your Westinghouse circuit breakers are designed to trip when there is an overload or similar problem in the electrical system. If you run a hair dryer and an air conditioner on the same circuit, for example, there is too much of a power draw on that circuit. Too much power is a hazard, and the circuit breaker trips to cut the power before an electrical fire or other damage can result.
If the circuit breaker did not trip, the overload would most likely result in a fire. Electricity generates heat as it flows through the system. The normal amount of heat created does not pose a danger to your home or appliances, but when there is too much demand for power, the extra electricity causes the system to heat up even more. Once there is enough heat to melt insulation or ignite nearby materials, a serious fire hazard exists. The Westinghouse circuit breaker is made to cut off the electricity before a dangerous amount of heat is generated.
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