[nfs283]

In our new construction home I noticed that there is a Siemens brand outlet for the 40amp oven line.

My electrical engineer buddy told me that this isn't kosher but however a 3rd party inspector passed this panel!

Any more insights?

I'll bring what I get from online research to the builders attention.

 

[Jim Port]

Your friend is correct. The label will have a list of breakers that can be installed in the panel.

 

[SW Dweller]

Cutler Hammer used to make breakers that were UL listed for installing in other MFG panels. Check with Siemens and see if that type of breaker can be used in your panel.

I know of no MFG what will state other companies breakers are satisfactory in their equipment. A like not telling you "all the truth".

 

[C'est Moi]

My bet is that he didn't have the correct breaker at hand so he used the Siemens brand. Btw, it looks used....lol

 

[Frank Lavorngia]

In our new construction home I noticed that there is a Siemens brand outlet for the 40amp oven line.

My electrical engineer buddy told me that this isn't kosher but however a 3rd party inspector passed this panel!

Any more insights?

I'll bring what I get from online research to the builders attention.

This is a fit tight issue. It has nothing to do with the internal workings of the breaker. I would be willing to bet their are over a 100 thousand Siemens breakers installed in BR panels (your type) all over. In fact as an electrical contractor I see it all of the time.
That one looks like it is fitting nice and snug. I have seen them not go down all the way. Perhaps it's the BR breaker in a Siemens panel I am thinking of that does not go down all the way.

Any way it's an easy fix if you want to change it.

BTW Inspectors miss many many non-code compliant issues. If this is your only problem after buying the house. You should be considered lucky.

 

[A Little Short]

My educated guess is that an Eaton 40A breaker wasn't available. I know they are extremely hard to find here. The inspector probably was aware of that and allowed the Siemens breaker. Our inspectors have been allowing this with the understanding that the correct breaker will be put in when available.

 

[seharper]

My electrical engineer buddy told me that this isn't kosher but however a 3rd party inspector passed this panel!

Inspectors don't catch everything. When they miss something, they aren't granting a waiver for that defect. You can't show it to the next inspector and say "the last guy approved it". They'll say "No, the last inspector missed it" and that's the end of the conversation.

This is a fit tight issue. It has nothing to do with the internal workings of the breaker. I would be willing to bet their are over a 100 thousand Siemens breakers installed in BR panels (your type) all over. In fact as an electrical contractor I see it all of the time.

And some of them have poor contact because of the mismatched bus clip, and start series arcing at the bus stab, rendering those 2 or 4 spaces unusable.

Everybody has a different bus stab design. I'm sure there's a story behind how all the 1" panels were designed to be almost mutually interchangeable. I'm sure it has to do with good intentions and then patent wars. And here we are unfortunately.

It's the same in Europe, even though they use DIN rail so there isn't really a technical reason there.

 

[flyingron]

=

Cutler Hammer used to make breakers that were UL listed for installing in other MFG panels. Check with Siemens and see if that type of breaker can be used in your panel.

I know of no MFG what will state other companies breakers are satisfactory in their equipment. A like not telling you "all the truth".

Siemens does not make breakers classified for anything other than their own (and the legacy Murray and ITE) panels.

There were a few goofball panels that were spec'd for multiple breakers. The Reliant generator transfer switch panels still are.

 

[seharper]

Well, Siemens has the QD line specifically (and only) for Square D "QO", but that's no help in a 1" panel. Eaton CHQ line is also (and only) for QO. That's what happens when you overcharge for breakers lol.

Cutler Hammer used to make breakers that were UL listed for installing in other MFG panels.

They still do. It's the Eaton CL line, which is UL-Classified for a particular list of competitor panels. "CL"assified", get it? LOL

 

[flyingron]

Yes, I should have been more explicit. Siemens does not make a classified breaker that fits in the other 1" panels: BR, HOM, GE. Eaton is the only one who makes classified breakers of the major brands for the 1" panels.

There are a few junk breakers that are classified like "DiversiTech" but I wouldn't use those things.