black00lightning
Well-known member
I purchased some Siemens 120v 20a and 240v 30a breakers based on the stores "expert" opinion for a 200A Square D box for my new workshop. Any problems or should I return them?
Will Siemens Breakers fit a Square D Box?
- Thread starter black00lightning
- Start date
OP
black00lightning
Well-known member
GuyllFyre
Banned
QO panel.
Use the matching breakers.
Return the Siemens. They may or may not work but I wouldn't put any money on it.
My old ITE panel uses Siemens breakers and I know they don't fit Square D and vice versa.
When the main 100A died the other day, it cost me near $200 for my old panel.
I could have bought a whole new panel for that money but then it would need breakers and installation...I just needed power back ASAP, it had been out all night.
Use the matching breakers.
Return the Siemens. They may or may not work but I wouldn't put any money on it.
My old ITE panel uses Siemens breakers and I know they don't fit Square D and vice versa.
When the main 100A died the other day, it cost me near $200 for my old panel.
I could have bought a whole new panel for that money but then it would need breakers and installation...I just needed power back ASAP, it had been out all night.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
They won't fit at all in a million years.
Return them and cuss out the "expert" that gave you that info.
Return them and cuss out the "expert" that gave you that info.
OP
black00lightning
Well-known member
Going to Lowe's tomorrow for sure. Thanks guys. I'm trying to hook up a 240 v plug for the table saw. Thinking I may need it for ripping. Have to do 2500 sqft of solid bamboo for the new house. It has a distressed hand scraped look.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Whatever 'expert' 
told u that needs to be taken out back behind the store and spanked! 
DO NOT put non listed/the wrong breakers in a panel...
told u that needs to be taken out back behind the store and spanked! DO NOT put non listed/the wrong breakers in a panel...
OP
black00lightning
Well-known member
Is there a list of the correct breakers and are they all Square D? Excuse my ignorance, I've done some electrical but this is my first project where I have to do all the circuits. I also will have to finish the roughed in full bath, insulation, sheetrock, painting and flooring in my woodshop.
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
They won't fit at all in a million years.
Return them and cuss out the "expert" that gave you that info.
They call them siemens because they couldn't spell junk!
GuyllFyre
Banned
Just buy Square D QO breakers.
There's a whole rack of them.
Then there's the Homeline with their matching breakers.
Then there's the "other ****" that doesn't fit QO and Homeline.
I have to buy the "other ****" until I can upgrade my service and put in a new box.
There's a whole rack of them.
Then there's the Homeline with their matching breakers.
Then there's the "other ****" that doesn't fit QO and Homeline.
I have to buy the "other ****" until I can upgrade my service and put in a new box.
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
Only square d qo breakers will fit in that panel period,The homeline panels will fit other breakers but it shouldn't be done except in a temp/emergency situation.
Speedy Petey
Well-known member
Actually they will not fit.Only square d qo breakers will fit in that panel period,The homeline panels will fit other breakers but it shouldn't be done except in a temp/emergency situation.
Homeline have an extra tab on the buss bar to reject pretty much every other 1" style breakers, with the exception of Cutler-Hammer CL series, which are classified breakers to legally fit into most 1" breaker style panels.
I have seen other breakers put into HOM panels and it's SAD that someone would leave it that way. They stick way out and even prevent the cover from being put on properly.
Siemens does manufacture a UL classified "QD" frame breaker for QO load centers, a local supply house carries them but I cannot see any reason to use them (Eaton Cutler-Hammer also has them) . Unless the manufacturer is out of business, use the same brand of breaker as the panel, all is well that way.
OP
black00lightning
Well-known member
Well, I took the Siemens breakers back and bought some Square D QO breakers. 8 - 20a 120v and 5 - 30a 240v breakers. Hope these work.
toplessHO
Well-known member
if you know anything about breakers youll use the QOs even if there was another that fit.
bgeery
Active member
The Square D breakers are still the fastest tripping mini-breakers made. You want to use them, even if something else does fit the panel.
OP
black00lightning
Well-known member
Glad I bought the Square D QO breakers then.
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
I come across homeline panels from time to time with other peoples breakers,I see homeline breakers in other peoples panels a lot more often.
sberry
Banned
There is no reason to put anything other than whats listed for it, its the cheapest anyway.
Now, did the guy proclaim to be an expert or was that read in to this? The Menards has a couple guys that are, one moved here near family to a more retirement town etc. He said he has a boss understands all this and doesn't jamb him all up.
He aint hustling stock, straightens a few things up on his way by, they got a plumma same way, legit master, I tried to throw him a curve on something I was sorting thru and he knew every thread without looking at the package. They got some younger sprouts hustling it around there aint all too dumb.
I would say the trainings better than the orange store. They got masters too but not sure how it filters down and the store layout may actually be better in a Menards. They got 2 dept desks right out on the floor and enough manpower staged so someone can keep their head up most of the time.
Now, did the guy proclaim to be an expert or was that read in to this? The Menards has a couple guys that are, one moved here near family to a more retirement town etc. He said he has a boss understands all this and doesn't jamb him all up.
He aint hustling stock, straightens a few things up on his way by, they got a plumma same way, legit master, I tried to throw him a curve on something I was sorting thru and he knew every thread without looking at the package. They got some younger sprouts hustling it around there aint all too dumb.
I would say the trainings better than the orange store. They got masters too but not sure how it filters down and the store layout may actually be better in a Menards. They got 2 dept desks right out on the floor and enough manpower staged so someone can keep their head up most of the time.
sberry
Banned
Most of the help at orange means well, they just get people lap in to the areas that are guessing and often give the customer what they ask for.
It can be a bigger problem when sending others shopping. Send a note, says 30A 4 wire dryer recept. It must be an upsell technique and sometimes return it due to the fact but I get 2, one 30 and one 50 in case I didn't know which one I wanted.
It can be a bigger problem when sending others shopping. Send a note, says 30A 4 wire dryer recept. It must be an upsell technique and sometimes return it due to the fact but I get 2, one 30 and one 50 in case I didn't know which one I wanted.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
He clarified this in his first post
"I purchased some Siemens 120v 20a and 240v 30a breakers based on the stores "expert" opinion"
And homeline breakers are not classified to be used in ANY panel, just listed for SQ D panels only, the SQ D company is not fond of classified breakers being used in their panels and if someone was of that opinion makes sense they would not submit the breakers for testing to allow them to be classified for competitive makes.
The whole classified / listed game is a bunch of BS, if they fit, they should be listed for competitive makes or be made non-interchangeable / not compatible with other makes, at least with load centers.
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
Even if it wasn't a code violation it still drives me nuts seeing mismatched breakers in a panel,its part of my **** retentive ***** way of doing things I guess.
OP
black00lightning
Well-known member
There was a guy at the Orange store I used to go to that was a former licensed electrician that would give me invaluable advice on how to do a specific job.
OP
black00lightning
Well-known member
After I purchased the recommended QO breakers I got ready to install a 240v circuit. This is what I found.
There are 2 QO120CAFI and 1 QO120DF. I looked them up on the net and was shocked at their cost. Can someone explain what function they provide? They are providing power to 2 T8 lamps and to 2 series of GFCI 120v plugs. The breaker by itself is one that I purchased, not hooked yet.
Thanks for helping a novice.
There are 2 QO120CAFI and 1 QO120DF. I looked them up on the net and was shocked at their cost. Can someone explain what function they provide? They are providing power to 2 T8 lamps and to 2 series of GFCI 120v plugs. The breaker by itself is one that I purchased, not hooked yet.
Thanks for helping a novice.
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