Reconditioned breakers? use or not use

[S. BROWER]

Found a website for Pacific Coast Breakers. They sell new and reconditioned breakers. Will build and place panel and breakers and anything to save money can be considered.

Not sure how or why reconditioned breakers are availble and should they be considered.

Anybody use these? Reccomendations? 1/2 the cost is something to consider, however, do not want to comprimise the new structure.

 

[dwilliams35]

I've been buying stuff from them for work: of course, that's 480v breakers that retail new for four grand: little different animal. I've never had any problem with any reconditioned breakers I've got from them, though.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Found a website for Pacific Coast Breakers. They sell new and reconditioned breakers. Will build and place panel and breakers and anything to save money can be considered.

Not sure how or why reconditioned breakers are availble and should they be considered.

Anybody use these? Reccomendations? 1/2 the cost is something to consider, however, do not want to comprimise the new structure.

A reconditioned draw out power CB (Air CB) as used in large installations say 600A, 3Phase 600V, and rebuilt/tested by a A2LA certified facility --maybe --but a cheap molded case CB -- No! MCCB are not made to come apart and are not intended to be reconditioned - perhaps in India or Ceylon. Not the place to save $2.75 -- You would be better off buying re-threads.
Spend the money!

 

[v8garage]

I don't think this is the place to be cutting corners. Household style breakers are not that high to start with. The cost savings would be negligible.

 

[trainer]

I think I'd get a used breaker before a reconditioned one. Imagine what the failed cores are like before they re-do them...

 

[tfi racing]

The molded case household style breaker "reconditioning" just means someone cleaned the dirt and grime off of them.I have bought, sold and installed thousands of used breakers,and wouldn't hesitate continuing to install them.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

The molded case household style breaker "reconditioning" just means someone cleaned the dirt and grime off of them.I have bought, sold and installed thousands of used breakers,and wouldn't hesitate continuing to install them.

Well...they really are not "reconditioned" then like reconditioned power ckt breakers are they? I bet they don't even test these "reconditioned" breakers to see what their inverse current-time characteristic are, let alone there instantaneous performance. Molded case breakers cannot come apart to inspect their contacts and inner stabs. You have no reason to have any confidence in their history - and in short, they are someone else's garbage cleaned up for market. Maybe you use them - but I would not, and I would not do business with you

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Went to the PCB web site and checked out their reconditioning protocol for
MCCB residential riveted. The PEARL spec is here:

http://www.pearl1.org/standards/Standard_1213_Feb_2003_R3.pdf

IF they do everything they say on this spec and IF the reconditioned breaker carries the PEARL sticker, then and only then the breaker may be OK.

However, still no great bargain - these used breakers are almost as much as new - what is the skinny here? I can see going to PCB IF I had the need for an obsolete breaker that can;t otherwise be had - but not for a breaker in production or in stock.

 

[S. BROWER]

Rinny Tin Tin, I agree. I looked at Home Depot for the same breakers and they in fact are cheaper. Just starting the investigation process and had my eyes opened in many areas.

The site is really a great source of information, that many contractors are not willing to share.

KEEP UP THE GREAT RESPONSES.