Refurbished Breakers

GoyimPersuasion

Whats everyone's experience, if any, with refurb breakers? I noticed they are alot cheaper than new breakers, because of this the implication is that they are not in demand for one reason or another. Thanks!

Bob Mariani

never heard of them, but would not want to ever use them either.

jogr

Sounds spooky to me. Most new breakers are pretty cheap. I don't think I'd try to save a few dollars on electrical work. Paint maybe, carpet maybe, wood trim maybe, but not something like electrical.

Scuba_Dave

1st I have heard of them too
I'd rather buy new, not worth the possible problem

junkcollector

"'Refurbished' means they wiped the dust off."

frenchelectrican

For common resdentail breaker I will not even bother using the refurbished breakers for safety reasons.

One., the common breakers don't cost much

Second thing ., with new breakers they are updated verison of that type of breaker.

Third thing ., with refurbished breakers some will not able pass the test and fail miserbale no question asked

The only time I may used the refurbished breaker is very large industrail breakers if the down time get pretty long or serious damage show up.

Merci,Marc

micromind

I've installed a large number of refurbished breakers, but all have been commercial/industrial type, most over 200 amps. Some over 2000 amps.

These breakers can be taken apart and inspected, and they're tested.

1) High voltage test from pole to ground, and pole to pole.

2) Fall of potential test at rated amperage. This basically measures voltage drop across the breaker while it is operating at its rated current. Too much voltage drop usually means a bad contact. Like if it had ever interrupted a fault-level current.

3) Tripping tests. In these tests, overload current is passed through the breaker. This is done at very low voltage (usually less than 5 volts), so as to not damage the contacts when the breaker trips. The thermal trip unit is usually tested at anywhere from 200% to 500% of the rating, the magnetic trip unit is usually tested at 1000% to 3000%.

If the breaker meets the manufacturers specs, it is certified as refurbished, and a copy of the test results are included.

I guess it comes down to just exactly what 'refurbished' actually means. If all they did was clean it, and verify that it can be turned on and off, I'd be more than a bit leery of it. There's no way to know what abuse it has been subject to.

If the breaker is tested as described above, then it is basically a new breaker.

With the proper test equipment, a single-pole breaker can be tested in less than a minute.

I wouldn't install any used breaker in a panel unless I was pretty sure it was properly tested.

Rob

nap

I concur with micromind on this. The only issue is; a refurbished breaker does not have a manufacturers warranty and the manufacturer cannot be held liable for any damage caused by the breaker (of course, unless the OEM is the refurbisher).

and with french that with small breakers, it generally isn't worth the difference in price compared to new.

rgsgww

I would just get a brand new breaker...to get some sleep at night.

DangerMouse

this was covered a couple months ago as well.
see this thread for more opinions.

Refirbushed circuit breakers

DM

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J. V.

I concur with nap and micromind. Industrial breakers are refurbished all the time. The company that I use warranties the breaker similar to the manufacturers warranty. If they cannot warranty the refurbish, you are using the wrong company. In my experience we usually will not refurbish anything under 800 amps. Of course if the breaker is obsolete, we may consider any size provided we can't make a stock breaker work in the application.
I would NEVER consider refurbishing or buying refurbished residential breakers.